Office Memo
WHAT IS AN OFFICE MEMO AND HOW DO I WRITE ONE
List these headings in your memo. Please do not forget to list the headings - Facts, Issue and Short Answer, Analysis, Counter-Argument, Rebuttal, and Conclusion.
The office memo combines your ability to explain the law along with your ability to apply the law. In the Office Memo, you make a determination of the likely outcome based upon your review of the law and the facts in a case.
In the memo, you will write about the facts in a client's case and the law pertaining to the client's case. Most importantly, you will apply the law to the client's situation. Further, you will learn to anticipate what the opposing side's position will be and how to address the issues raised by the opposing side.
In next week's practice assignment, you will learn how to write an office memo. The practice office memo will be based on the Foster fact pattern. You will use the third party custody cases that you read for this fact pattern i.e. Pastore and Ross.
FACTS
In the Office Memo, you will need to discuss the facts in the client's situation. In this section, you simply state the pertinent facts in an organized manner. The facts should be separated into paragraphs based upon topic.
Just include the key facts i.e. facts that the Court would consider crucial in the case. Write short paragraphs with related information so that it will be easy to follow.
ISSUE
After discussing the facts in the case, the next thing that you will need to do is discuss the legal issue. For example, in the Foster fact pattern, Ms. Foster contacted you because she wants custody of her foster children. What is the legal issue involved in her case? (hint: third party custody). The issue should be addressed by posing the question that your memo will address. The issue should be written in question format. You should review the sample office memo in Module 4.
The issue should address the legal issue involved in the case i.e. inform the reader of
List these headings in your memo. Please do not forget to list the headings - Facts, Issue and Short Answer, Analysis, Counter-Argument, Rebuttal, and Conclusion.
The office memo combines your ability to explain the law along with your ability to apply the law. In the Office Memo, you make a determination of the likely outcome based upon your review of the law and the facts in a case.
In the memo, you will write about the facts in a client's case and the law pertaining to the client's case. Most importantly, you will apply the law to the client's situation. Further, you will learn to anticipate what the opposing side's position will be and how to address the issues raised by the opposing side.
In next week's practice assignment, you will learn how to write an office memo. The practice office memo will be based on the Foster fact pattern. You will use the third party custody cases that you read for this fact pattern i.e. Pastore and Ross.
FACTS
In the Office Memo, you will need to discuss the facts in the client's situation. In this section, you simply state the pertinent facts in an organized manner. The facts should be separated into paragraphs based upon topic.
Just include the key facts i.e. facts that the Court would consider crucial in the case. Write short paragraphs with related information so that it will be easy to follow.
ISSUE
After discussing the facts in the case, the next thing that you will need to do is discuss the legal issue. For example, in the Foster fact pattern, Ms. Foster contacted you because she wants custody of her foster children. What is the legal issue involved in her case? (hint: third party custody). The issue should be addressed by posing the question that your memo will address. The issue should be written in question format. You should review the sample office memo in Module 4.
The issue should address the legal issue involved in the case i.e. inform the reader of