Legal Research Memorandum
8 weeks · 0 milestones
Write a real legal research memo on a specific, named legal question. Document your research methodology (which databases were searched, what search terms were used, and which jurisdictions were covered), cite primary sources (statutes, cases, regulations) throughout, and reach a clear conclusion. Proof is the memo plus a challenge from a qualified lawyer or law academic who identifies one source or argument the memo missed — your written analysis of how that source or argument affects your conclusion is a required part of the proof.
Milestone map
Milestone map
3 milestones
Select a real legal question arising from a factual scenario — a contract dispute, a regulatory compliance question, a tort liability question, or a public law challenge. Identify the applicable legal sources: statutes, regulations, and primary cases. Produce a legal research plan covering the source hierarchy, applicable jurisdictions, and an initial assessment of whether the law is settled, contested, or unsettled on this question.
Proof required
Research plan document (300+ words) covering: the factual scenario, the legal question framed in legal terms, applicable sources identified by name and jurisdiction, source hierarchy, and initial assessment of settled/contested status with reasoning.
What gets checked
- Legal question is framed in legal terms — not just 'is this allowed?'
- Source hierarchy is identified correctly — primary sources before secondary, statute before case law where applicable
- Initial settled/contested assessment is reasoned, not asserted