Research project in law

In collaboration with Örebro University, Åbo Academy (Finland), Essex Business School (United Kingdom), Gakushuin University (Japan), Linköping University (Sweden), Meiji University (Japan), the University of Antwerp (Belgium), the University of Gävle (Sweden), and the University of Genoa (Italy), a range of projects are being conducted under the same cluster. These involve not only legal science at Gävle but also business administration, with Aihie Osarenkhoe and Daniella Fjellström participating in FIRE. Over the years, FIRE has resulted in numerous subprojects, several of which have received substantial external funding. The focus of FIRE concerns digitalised financial information in an AI-driven society.

Researchers: Magnus Kristoffersson (leader), Eleonor Kristofferson and Hanna Grylin, Aihie Osarenkhoe (business administration), Daniella Fjellström (business administration).

Mis(sing) Information is an interdisciplinary project initiated in collaboration with Bielefeld University (Germany), Canterbury University (New Zealand), and Örebro University. The project takes as its starting point the so-called post-truth society and revolves around questions of misleading information and fake news. The University of Gävle contributes primarily to research on situations where misleading information, or lack of information, is used as a means to commit various forms of economic crime such as tax offences, benefit fraud, and money laundering. The project also examines the legal frameworks governing the use of AI tools to combat such crimes.

Researchers: Magnus Kristoffersson (leader), Eleonor Kristoffersson and Hanna Grylin.

This project explores how generative AI and large language models (LLMs) are transforming the legal profession, not only in routine tasks but also in core competences such as legal research, legal reasoning, and linguistic analysis. The research is based on empirical studies and international benchmark environments (including LegalBench, LegalBench RAG, and MultiLegalPile) to assess the extent to which LLMs can replace or enhance legal work.

A central focus lies on the effects on junior lawyers, where early professional training risks being replaced by AI-based solutions. The project also examines which tasks may shift towards more advanced responsibilities and what new forms of competence might be required for legal practice.

Drawing on both productivity studies and regulatory frameworks (e.g., the EU AI Act), the project analyses the implications for legal doctrine, professional autonomy, and the future of legal education. By mapping how tasks are redistributed between humans and machines, the project seeks to clarify how the legal profession can be reshaped so that AI enhances quality and legal certainty rather than reducing lawyers to editors of machine-generated drafts.

Researchers: Magnus Kristoffersson (leader), Hanna Grylin, Aihie Osarenkhoe (business administration).

The subject is represented in the programme Sweden against Organised Crime (SMOB), module no. 2, which is run by Södertörn University. Within the project, work is carried out on training and skills development among the project’s financiers, including the Swedish Social Insurance Agency, the Swedish Economic Crime Authority, the Swedish Public Employment Service, the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise, the Swedish Trade Union Confederation, among others.

Researcher: Börje Leidhammar

This research concerns taxation and the social security affiliation of seafarers. Taxation and entitlement to social security benefits are governed by different regulations, which may result in a seafarer being taxed in Sweden but lacking entitlement to benefits under the Swedish social security system. The reason lies in the possibility for shipping companies to register vessels in countries with less favourable social security benefits than those in Sweden, or in countries where such benefits are entirely absent. These countries are often referred to as flag of convenience states. Since the 1970s, it has become increasingly common for shipping companies to register vessels under flags of convenience to reduce costs for seafarers. This development can have negative consequences for the individual seafarer, who may thereby risk losing entitlement to pension, parental allowance, and other social benefits.

PhD student: Daniel Andersson

Main supervisor: Magnus Kristoffersson
Assistant supervisors: Hanna Grylin and Mikael Ek

This research addresses children’s right to housing when they have been subjected to, or have witnessed, domestic violence. Domestic violence constitutes a violation of the child’s human rights. Children have a right to a safe upbringing, which forms part of their fundamental personal needs. The guardian has a responsibility to ensure these needs are met. If a child experiences domestic violence, the non-violent guardian is obliged to leave the perpetrator in order to provide the child with security. Despite housing being recognised as a human right, permanent housing is not a legally enforceable right. The guardian’s financial situation – which in some cases may be affected by economic abuse – together with housing shortages and the absence of a legally enforceable right to permanent housing, can constitute barriers to leaving the perpetrator and thereby fulfilling the child’s need for a safe upbringing free from violence.

PhD student: Candice Ståhl

Main supervisor: Eleonor Kristoffersson
Assistant supervisor: Hanna Grylin