COLLOQUIUM: Sarah Lawsky, "Formalization and Rule-Intensive Law"

Event Type

Seminar/Symposium

Sponsor

Siebel School of Computing and Data Science

Location

HYBRID: 2405 Siebel Center for Computer Science or online

Virtual

Join online

Date

Nov 3, 2025   3:30 pm  

Originating Calendar

Siebel School Colloquium Series

Zoom: https://illinois.zoom.us/j/83679125156?pwd=VtqiBohfwD9XLfsoMoyV5CKDFUjyG3.1

Refreshments Provided.

Abstract: 
This presentation provides a survey of my research on the formalization of rule-intensive law, in particular U.S. tax law. Projects discussed will include the development of the semantics underlying a domain-specific programming language designed to derive correct-by-construction implementations of certain law; the use of formalization to locate contradictions in the law, with recommendations for how those encoding tax law should handle those contradictions; a discussion of tax forms as formalization, including a discussion of the computer code underlying the IRS's e-filing program; and a discussion of potential future projects, including collaborative projects.

Bio: 
Sarah B. Lawsky, the L.B. Lall and Sumitra Devi Lall Professor of Law, studies tax law, computational law, and the intersection of the two. Her recent work focuses on the formalization of tax law. Professor Lawsky’s research arguing for using a particular nonstandard logic to formalize tax law is the conceptual foundation for the domain-specific programming language Catala, which is the project of a team of computer scientists and lawyers.

Before joining the University of Illinois, Professor Lawsky taught at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, UC Irvine School of Law, and George Washington University Law School. Before entering academia, she worked as a tax lawyer for large law firms.

For more information, visit the personal website of Professor Lawsky: https://www.sarahlawsky.org/

Part of the Siebel School Speakers Series. Faculty Host: Mahesh Viswanathan

Meeting ID: 836 7912 5156
Passcode: csillinois

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