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Writing legal documents in clear, straightforward language that is easy to understand for non-lawyers.

A concise statement framing the main question or problem at the heart of a legal dispute.

References to previous judicial decisions that guide the current legal analysis and reasoning.

The process by which courts interpret and apply legislation.

A common organizing principle for legal analysis, constructing arguments logically through identifying an issue, stating the relevant law, applying the law, and concluding.

The court’s legal decision on the issue presented in a case; the binding part of the judicial decision.

The reason or rationale for the holding in a judicial decision.

A legal principle derived from earlier judicial decisions that binds future cases with similar facts and legal issues.

A reference to an authority, such as a case, a statute, or a regulation, that supports a legal argument.

A narrative description of the circumstances and details surrounding a legal case.

An argument that bases its persuasion on broader social considerations, often public policy.

Comments by a judge that are not necessary to the decision and do not have the binding force of precedent.

Writing to persuade, such as in briefs or persuasive legal memos, often advocating for a particular legal outcome.

The background and records of the legislative process of a law, often consulted in statutory interpretation.

The combination of multiple legal authorities and precedents to form a coherent argument in legal analysis.

Legal writing meant to convince the reader of a particular position or argument.

The process by which legal professionals evaluate and interpret laws, fact patterns, and precedent to form legal arguments.

An argument made to oppose another argument; a good legal writer anticipates and rebuts counterarguments.

The process of identifying and retrieving information necessary to support legal decision-making.

A written document presented to a court arguing why one party to a case should prevail.

Additional information or citations that are placed at the bottom of the page of a legal document.

A formal document that provides an in-depth analysis of the legal issues pertinent to a specific situation, often used internally in law firms.

Drawing comparisons between similar cases and legal principles to reason and argue a position.

A separate opinion written by a judge who disagrees with the majority's decision in a case.