Knowing the reader, providing a statement of facts, defining the question, providing a brief answer, analyzing the law, ensuring proper citations, and formulating conclusions are the key elements of writing a legal research paper. The paper needs to be objective and brief. It should assist the reader in comprehending how the law applies to a specific situation. This will assist the reader in making a decision.
Keep in mind who will be using your research paper. A lawyer, a judge, or a layperson could be the reader. Certain legal jargon is likely to be understood a lawyer or judge. This could save you from having to explain certain legal terms that only lawyers are likely to understand.
If the research is for a layperson, certain legal terms may be unfamiliar. As a result, legalese should be avoided in favor of plain language. Explain any legal terms that you can’t get rid of.
Use subheadings to organize each section of your legal research paper. For instance, “Statement of the Facts,” “Questions Asked,” and so on. Your research paper will be easier to read if you use subheadings. It will also make it easier for the reader to locate specific sections.
Begin writing a clear statement of the facts for your legal research paper. The facts do not include opinions or conclusions; rather, they describe the events that lead to a legal issue. These facts will inform the reader about who, what, where, and how a situation occurred. The facts are allegations if they haven’t been proven yet. Make sure the reader understands whether the facts are true or false.
Next, make a list of all the questions your research paper will address. This section is also known as “Questions Presented” or “Issues Presented.” The questions arise as a result of the facts being stated. Key facts should be included in the questions. Make sure to ask each question in a concise manner.
Write a brief response to each legal question. A detailed legal analysis of the legal issue is not included in the short answer. Rather, it is a succinct response to the question posed. One or two sentences should suffice as a short response.
After that, your paper should provide an analysis of the law. This section should explain how the law applies to the facts of the problem you’re looking into. Your personal opinions should not be included in the analysis. Instead, it should talk about how courts have applied the law to facts in cases that are similar to yours.
Both favorable and unfavorable cases should be included in the analysis. This will assist in maintaining objectivity. A biased tone in a paper will not assist a reader in making objective decisions. The goal of a legal research paper is not to persuade the reader.
Cite the laws and other legal materials that you use in your legal research paper with proper citations. The Harvard Law Review Association publishes the Uniform System of Citations, also known as “the blue book,” which is used as a guide legal professionals in the United States. The blue book explains how to abbreviate, italicize, and organize citations.
The conclusion is the last section of a legal research paper. The paper should be summarized in the conclusion. It should also include options for dealing with the issues raised each question. This section may also include reader recommendations.