法律英语之Legal Memo-最新范文

法律英语之Legal Memo

A legal memo or a legal memorandum is a specific type of essay

dealing with a legal issue. The legal memo is usually written

and researched by a paralegal, a law student, or lawyer. It

contains these basic elements： statement of facts, issues,

conclusions, discussions of the law pertaining to facts,

citations of previous applicable cases, and recommendations

based on this discussion.

Order of the information contained in a legal memo can

differ. Usually one begins with a statement of facts. This

section of the legal memo is usually a brief but succinct

paragraph that states the relevant facts at hand. A statement

of legal issues that underlie the facts tends to follow the

statement of facts.

At this point, a conclusion may be offered which will direct

the discussion of previous cases dealing with the stated issues

in the legal memo. Alternately, the conclusion may come at the

end of a legal memo. Format depends upon the law firm for which

one is practicing or working, or the way in which a law school

dictates format if one is writing a sample legal memo. 外语#

A conclusion can then be followed by a discussion of all

relevant examples of law, or rulings that prove a conclusion

and suggest logical recommendations. This section involves a

great deal of research to show that the lawyer is justified in

taking whatever position she does. Everything must be cited

according to the preferences of the firm or school.

Based on discussion and citation, the legal memo may

conclude with recommendations on how to proceed, and how best

to help a client with a legal issue. Generally, the legal memo

is just a part of the legal process.

A longer version of the legal memo, which may be presented

to a judge when numerous decisions must be made, is a legal brief,

citing all relevant sources that “prove” an attorney‘s stance

on the law. These briefs, like the legal memo, support arguments

for certain kinds of rights and rulings accorded to a client.

To the layperson, the legal memo is just one way in which

lawyers gather research to effectively argue or settle a case.

It is similar to a research paper, but tends to be organized

into very clear sections, and is law specific.