IRAC Analysis & Writing a Case Brief
Legal Analysis & Case Briefing
Introduction to Case Reading [Youtube] 2015 by Center for Innovation in Legal Education
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE CASE BRIEF ANALYSIS
Lawyers approach legal issues with a structured, thorough analysis. To learn health law material, it is helpful to apply a similar approach. The standard approach for legal analysis is called IRAC, for:
1) ISSUE 2) RULE 3) ANALYSIS 4) CONCLUSION
When applying this approach, analyzing a particular case is called “briefing” the case. To complete a brief, you should do the following:
- Identify significant legal issue(s) in the case.
- For each issue, identify the legal rule that is relevant to that issue.
- Use the legal rule to analyze the facts of the case.
- Address each requirement of that legal rule.
- Use a relevant fact to analyze each requirement.
- Then, connect the facts to the rule with an appropriate explanation.
4. Finally, make a reasonable conclusion based on your analysis.
Legal Writing: What is IRAC? [YouTube] 2015 by Lori Kornblum
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE CASE BRIEF ASSIGNMENT
Format the briefing case using the following sections:
- CASE NAME: Title of paper
- FACTS: State any relevant circumstances of the case. Remember, no opinions, please.
- ISSUE(S): This is the legal “question” you are asking the court to resolve. Be concise. (example: Was there a legal contact? Was it breached?)
- DECISION: What is the court’s “answer” to the question on the issue?
- REASONS: This is why the court ruled the way it did; use your legal terms from the chapter.
- MANAGERIAL IMPLICATIONS: What is the significance? Consider that you have been hired to address the issue in this case; how will you prevent future similar litigation for the organization? Remember to tie in the content from the chapter.
When you begin, list the relevant facts and think about what seems to be the most important facets of the case. These facts can help you develop your analysis. When you get stuck on what to do next in your analysis, look back at the facts and see if one of those facts can help you get started again. The issue is the question for the court to determine, and the decision is the court’s answer. Finally, when you are done with the legal analysis, you should step back and ask yourself, “What does this all mean for you as a healthcare executive or administrator? How can you prevent this type of litigation from happening again?”
