FAQ: How do I format a legal memo?

Formatting a Legal Memo

A legal memo is a record that is intended to help a legal team research and review case law, investigate facts about a case, apply those facts to the law, and determine the possible outcome of a case.

A standard legal memo should have the following:

• A heading: The heading should say ‘Memorandum’ and include the recipient, the author, assignment submission date, and the subject.
• A question: The question is a one-sentence statement that includes the jurisdiction and generalities of how the law applies to the overall legal question.
• Brief answer: The brief answer is a four to five sentence briefing that predicts the legal answer to the question(s).
• Statement of facts: The statement of facts is a section that provides the core information of the legal matter and provides information from similar, past legal proceedings.
• Discussion: The discussion reinstates the facts and law related to the case. Over several paragraphs, you will discuss the main legal topics to address and analyze issues.
• Conclusion: The conclusion provides a hypothesis of how the law will apply to the case and provides recommended next steps on how to proceed

Check your rubric for specific requirements and ask your instructor if you have any questions. Consult the resources below for general information.

Resources

Books

The library has books and eBooks in our collection which can help you with legal writing. To find books and eBooks on legal writing, please use the Multi-Search or the Online Library Catalog. Online students may place a hold on print books and they will be mailed to your address within 1-3 business days.  Sample titles in our collection include:

• Strategic Legal Writing This link opens in a new window (ebook)
• The Lawyer’s Guide to Writing Well This link opens in a new window (ebook)
• The Elements of Legal Style (book)
• Legal Research and Writing (book)
• Legal Writing: Process, Analysis, and Organization (book)
• Legal Research, Writing, and Analysis (book)

Articles

You can also find articles about legal writing by using the search box on the library home page, multi-search.   A sample search might look like this:  legal writing AND memorand*
Once you run your search, look over on the left side of the search results for the “limit by subject term” section and check the box for memorandums or memoranda to further refine your results.

Here are a few articles in our collection:

• “How to Prepare a Powerful Memo” This link opens in a new window
• “Legal writing as good writing: tips from the trenches” This link opens in a new window
• 'Alexa, Write a Memo': The Promise and Challenges of AI and Legal Writing This link opens in a new window

Web Resources

• How to Write Good Legal Stuff This link opens in a new window by UCLA law professor Eugene Volokh and Indiana University law professor J. Alexander Tanford
• Writing a Legal Memo This link opens in a new window infographic by the Law Library of Monash University
• CUNY School of Law Legal Writing Center This link opens in a new window
  • Drafting a Law Office Memorandum This link opens in a new window
  • Drafting a Case Status Memo This link opens in a new window