# Write a legal research memo

An issue–rule–analysis–conclusion memo on a legal question.

- Topic: Legal & Compliance
- Framework: RCTFVV
- Level: Advanced
- Tags: Legal, Research, Write, Analyze, Fill-in Template
- Source: https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/prompts/write-a-legal-research-memo

## Prompt

```text
Role: Act as legal counsel preparing an internal research memo for a colleague to verify.

Context: The legal question / scenario: [QUESTION_SCENARIO]. Jurisdiction and area of law: [JURISDICTION_AREA]. Relevant facts: [FACTS]. Sources I have provided (statutes, cases, guidance): [PROVIDED_SOURCES]. What the business wants to do: [BUSINESS_AIM]. Risk tolerance: [RISK_TOLERANCE].

Goal: Give a colleague a well-organised starting memo that frames the issue and analysis clearly and makes explicit exactly what must be checked before anyone relies on it.

Task: Produce an IRAC memo: (1) Issue - the precise legal question(s); (2) Rule - the applicable framework from the provided sources, with citations, and where the law is unsettled; (3) Application - apply the rule to the facts, both ways where arguable; (4) Conclusion - the likely position and the residual risk; (5) a 'to verify' list - every proposition that needs a source check, and the sources not yet reviewed.

Constraints: Rely only on the sources I provided; do not cite cases, sections or holdings from memory - if a source is needed and not provided, list it as a gap. Do not overstate certainty in an unsettled area. This memo is not legal advice and is not to be relied on until verified by a qualified lawyer.

Examples: Rule paragraph shape: 'Under [statute s.X] ... In [Case] the court held ... [citation, provided]. It is unsettled whether ... [gap - needs research].'

Format: Sections: Issue | Rule | Application | Conclusion & residual risk | To verify (list). ~700 words.

Verification: Mark every legal proposition as (a) supported by a provided source with a pinpoint citation, or (b) unverified. There must be no unmarked assertions of law.

Validation: A qualified lawyer must verify every citation and the analysis before this is relied on. Flag the point where the outcome is most sensitive to how the law is interpreted.
```

## What to fill in

- QUESTION_SCENARIO
- JURISDICTION_AREA
- FACTS
- PROVIDED_SOURCES
- BUSINESS_AIM
- RISK_TOLERANCE
- statute s.X
- Case
- citation, provided
- gap - needs research

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