Georgie Clayton 2022©
LPC: PRACTICAL LEGAL RESEARCH PLR RECORD CARD
PRACTICAL LEGAL RESEARCH AND WRITING
PLR RECORD CARD
Legal Practice Course
*Before summarising the problem, three stages must have been undertaken:
Summarising the problem after first read
Identifying the material facts
Identifying the legal issues
Summary of problem(s)
*Based on the material facts and the legal issues, what is the summary of the problem?
(Legal) Search terms
*Make sure these are not retrospective, i.e., do not mention a term that you don’t have
anywhere in the memorandum or summary of problem.
*Make sure they are the most useful to the issues and are listed in order of priority.
*Consider synonyms.
*Consider legal search terms – non-legal search terms are less likely to get you an
answer.
Issues/client objectives
*Think of these as legal objectives – i.e., put the client’s objectives into legal terms
What does the client want to achieve?
What is the client complaining about?
What must you determine before you can answer the question?
LAW SCHOOL 1
LPC: PRACTICAL LEGAL RESEARCH PLR RECORD CARD
PRACTICAL LEGAL RESEARCH AND WRITING
PLR RECORD CARD
Legal Practice Course
*Before summarising the problem, three stages must have been undertaken:
Summarising the problem after first read
Identifying the material facts
Identifying the legal issues
Summary of problem(s)
*Based on the material facts and the legal issues, what is the summary of the problem?
(Legal) Search terms
*Make sure these are not retrospective, i.e., do not mention a term that you don’t have
anywhere in the memorandum or summary of problem.
*Make sure they are the most useful to the issues and are listed in order of priority.
*Consider synonyms.
*Consider legal search terms – non-legal search terms are less likely to get you an
answer.
Issues/client objectives
*Think of these as legal objectives – i.e., put the client’s objectives into legal terms
What does the client want to achieve?
What is the client complaining about?
What must you determine before you can answer the question?
LAW SCHOOL 1
