法律英语中的LegalMemoAlegalmemooralegalmemorandumisaspecifictypeofessaydealingwithalegalissue.Thelegalmemoisusuallywrittenandresearchedbyaparalegal,alawstudent,orlawyer.Itcontainsthesebasicelements:statementoffacts,issues,conclusions,discussionsofthelawpertainingtofacts,citationsofpreviousapplicablecases,andrecommendationsbasedonthisdiscussion.Orderoftheinformationcontainedinalegalmemocandiffer.Usuallyonebeginswithastatementoffacts.Thissectionofthelegalmemoisusuallyabriefbutsuccinctparagraphthatstatestherelevantfactsathand.Astatementoflegalissuesthatunderliethefactstendstofollowthestatementoffacts.Atthispoint,aconclusionmaybeofferedwhichwilldirectthediscussionofpreviouscasesdealingwiththestatedissuesinthelegalmemo.Alternately,theconclusionmaycomeattheendofalegalmemo.Formatdependsuponthelawfirmforwhichoneispracticingorworking,orthewayinwhichalawschooldictatesformatifoneiswritingasamplelegalmemo.Aconclusioncanthenbefollowedbyadiscussionofallrelevantexamplesoflaw,orrulingsthatproveaconclusionandsuggestlogicalrecommendations.Thissectioninvolvesagreatdealofresearchtoshowthatthelawyerisjustifiedintakingwhateverpositionshedoes.Everythingmustbecitedaccordingtothepreferencesofthefirmorschool.Basedondiscussionandcitation,thelegalmemomayconcludewithrecommendationsonhowtoproceed,andhowbesttohelpaclientwithalegalissue.Generally,thelegalmemoisjustapartofthelegalprocess.Alongerversionofthelegalmemo,whichmaybepresentedtoajudgewhennumerousdecisionsmustbemade,isalegalbrief,citingallrelevantsourcesthatprove“anattorneysstanceonthelaw.Thesebriefs,likethelegalmemo,supportargumentsforcertainkindsofrightsandrulingsaccordedtoaclient.Tothelayperson,thelegalmemoisjustonewayinwhichlawyersgatherresearchtoeffectivelyargueorsettleacase.Itissimilartoaresearchpaper,buttendstobeorganizedintoveryclearsections,andislawspecific.