CHS 16 & 17

OFFICE LEGAL
MEMORANDUM

BASIC RESEARCH
MEMORANDUM
FORMAT
 BASIC RESEARCH
MEMORANDUM FORMAT

• HEADING--To, From, Date,

Office File No., Subject
• STATEMENT OF
ASSIGNMENT--Description
of topic covered
 BASIC RESEARCH
MEMORANDUM FORMAT

• ISSUE--Legal question
analyzed--Includes rule of law,
question, and key facts
 BASIC RESEARCH
MEMORANDUM FORMAT

• BRIEF ANSWER--A brief,

precise answer to the issue
 BASIC RESEARCH
MEMORANDUM FORMAT

• STATEMENT OF FACTS--
A brief statement of the
background and key facts
 BASIC RESEARCH
MEMORANDUM FORMAT

• ANALYSIS--RULE OF LAW--
Rule of law that applies to the
issue--constitution, statute, legal
principle, court decision, etc.
 BASIC RESEARCH
MEMORANDUM FORMAT

• ANALYSIS--CASE LAW--
Case law that illustrates the
application of the rule of law to
the facts--citation, summary of
facts, applicable rule of law,
principle, or test, etc., from case
 BASIC RESEARCH
MEMORANDUM FORMAT

• ANALYSIS--APPLICATION--
How the rule of law, principle, or
test from the court case applies to
the client’s case
 BASIC RESEARCH
MEMORANDUM FORMAT

• COUNTERANALYSIS--
Counterargument(s) to the
position taken in the analysis
 BASIC RESEARCH
MEMORANDUM FORMAT

• CONCLUSION--Summary of
the entire memo--brief summary of
law presented and how it applies
• RECOMMENDATIONS--
Comments, next steps, etc.