Scribd
Upload
2K views4 pages

The FIRAC Method of Legal Writing

The document describes the FIRAC method of legal writing, which stands for Facts, Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion. It explains that FIRAC is used to organize case briefs and evaluations. Each element of FIRAC is then defined: facts summarize the relevant case details, the issue states the legal question, the rule identifies governing law, analysis applies the law to the facts, and the conclusion answers the original issue.

Uploaded by

hpatel0014407
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
2K views4 pages

The FIRAC Method of Legal Writing

The document describes the FIRAC method of legal writing, which stands for Facts, Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion. It explains that FIRAC is used to organize case briefs and evaluations. Each element of FIRAC is then defined: facts summarize the relevant case details, the issue states the legal question, the rule identifies governing law, analysis applies the law to the facts, and the conclusion answers the original issue.

Uploaded by

hpatel0014407
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

Belleville High School Law Related Education

F.I.R.A.C. Method of Legal Writing

• FIRAC is an acronym for Facts, Issue, Rule, Analysis,


Conclusion.
• It is a method for organizing legal writing tasks, such
as case briefs, and creating a concise evaluation of the
case at hand.
• The case brief should be formatted the same as a
memorandum of law, with the following heading;
Belleville High School Law Related Education
F.I.R.A.C. Method of Legal Writing

I. FACTS:
The first step in the FIRAC method of legal writing is a summary
of the facts of the case. This summary should be a concise
statement of those facts relevant to the issue at hand.
II. ISSUE:
The next step is to identify the legal issue or issues raised by the
facts of the case. The issue is the precise question of law raised by
the specific facts of the case. The issue should be stated in an
objective manner. Stating the issue objectively means to write the
issue in a manner that fairly and completely presents all the key
facts and not to construct it in a manner that favors an outcome.
Belleville High School Law Related Education
F.I.R.A.C. Method of Legal Writing

III. RULE
The next step is to identify the rule of law that governs the issue. The legal writer
will need to research the law to determine the rule of law that governs the issue.
The rule of law that applies to the issue may be statutory law (statute, ordinance or
regulation) or it may be case law (legal precedent set forth in court opinions)
IV. ANALYSIS
The fourth step of the FIRAC method legal writing is your analysis. In this step,
you will determine how the rule of law applies to the issue based on the specific
facts of the case. Proper analysis requires you to:
1. Identify the elements of the rule of law;
2. Apply each of the elements of the rule of law to the specific facts of the case.
3. Consider any potential counter-arguments that might be made to the analysis.
Belleville High School Law Related Education
F.I.R.A.C. Method of Legal Writing

V. CONCLUSION:
The fifth and final step of the FIRAC method is the conclusion. In
the conclusion you answer the question originally raised by the
legal issue. Only by going through the process of formulating a
well-stated issue, researching the applicable rule of law, and
analyzing the law as applied to the facts, can you reach a viable
conclusion.

If the issue, rule and analysis sections of one’s legal writing project
are well developed, the conclusion will be logically supported.

You might also like