Introducing FOLIO: Federated Open Legal Information Ontology

We are excited to announce FOLIO - the Federated Open Legal Information Ontology - a project that formalizes a shared standard for legal data and knowledge.

Our goal is to transform FOLIO into much more than a shared knowledge graph. Having learned from the successes and failures of prior efforts, we are committed to building a transparent, open, and community-driven ecosystem for legal data standards.

A Community-Driven Approach

The FOLIO initiative officially began its journey in August 2024, bringing together legal professionals, technologists, and innovators from various backgrounds. This diverse group is united by a common goal: to create a truly open and sustainable standard for legal information.

Institutional Home

FOLIO is a project funded and supported by ALEA Institute, a public non-profit organization¹ dedicated to advancing the legal and ethical use of AI.

As the world’s most comprehensive and open knowledge graph, FOLIO is critical to supporting the reliable use of generative AI in the legal domain. ALEA is committed to supporting FOLIO’s growth and development as a public good.

Upcoming Community Engagement

First Town Hall Meeting

Mark your calendars! The FOLIO community will be holding its first town hall meeting on September 6th, 2024. This event will provide an opportunity for members to discuss the future of the standard, share insights, and contribute to shaping FOLIO’s priorities and roadmap.

The inaugural town hall meeting will be held virtually and open to the public:

• Time: Friday, September 6 · 2:00 – 3:00pm (America/New_York, UTC-4)
• Video call link: https://meet.google.com/yrx-bcpy-req
• Phone (US): +1 574-404-3442, PIN: 741 706 847#
• Other Phone: https://tel.meet/yrx-bcpy-req?pin=4674467436258

While we encourage all interested parties to attend and participate in this important event, the meeting will be recorded and made available for those who are unable to join live.

New Discussion Forum

To facilitate ongoing collaboration and knowledge sharing, we are launching a new discussion forum for the FOLIO community. This platform will serve as a central hub for members to share experiences, provide feedback, and exchange ideas that will drive the evolution of FOLIO.

While we’re still in the early stages of setting up this forum, you can sign up and begin discussions today at https://discourse.openlegalstandard.org/.

Resources in Development

We are actively working on expanding our resources to support the implementation and adoption of FOLIO.

In the coming weeks, we will be releasing more information about our GitHub repository and API resources, providing developers and organizations with the tools they need to integrate FOLIO into their workflows.

Join the FOLIO Community

We invite stakeholders from across public and private sectors to join the FOLIO community and contribute to the development of this critical standard.

Stay tuned for more updates, and we look forward to your participation in shaping our shared legal futures with FOLIO.

For more information about FOLIO and how to get involved, please visit our website or contact us at folio@aleainstitute.ai.

Notes

1. The Institute for the Advancement of Legal and Ethical AI, authorized to conduct business under the name “ALEA Institute,” was incorporated in August 2024 and is seeking an IRS exemption under 501(c)(3). Its governance material, including its Form 1023 and future financials, will be available on https://aleainstitute.ai as soon as it is filed.