1. Unit 3 Case Anatomy FIRAC method of research
PA201 Legal Research
Unit 3
Case Anatomy
FIRAC method of research

2. PA201 Unit 3
Questions so far?

3. PA201 Unit 3 FIRAC Method of Research/Writing What does this mean?
Have you been able to use this yet?
What problems are you having?

4. FIRAC is an acronym for: Facts Issues Rule of Law Analysis Conclusion
PA201 Unit 3
FIRAC is an acronym for:
Facts
Issues
Rule of Law
Analysis
Conclusion
Every case brief includes each piece.

5. Using this method, you can create a case brief.
PA201 Unit 3
Using this method, you can create a case brief.
That simply means an outline of the case, used for studying, sending a memo to your supervising attorney, etc.
This breaks down a court decision into a more readable form.

6. what are the facts of a case?
PA201 Unit 3
Facts:
what are the facts of a case?

7. What is/are the issue(s) in a case?
PA201 Unit 3
Issues:
What is/are the issue(s) in a case?

8. What are the rules (rule of law) that apply to the case?
PA201 Unit 3
Rules:
What are the rules (rule of law) that apply to the case?

9. What is the analysis of the case?
PA201 Unit 3
Analysis:
What is the analysis of the case?

10. PA201 Unit 3
Conclusion:
What is the conclusion?

11. The FIRAC method is used universally
PA201 Unit 3
The FIRAC method is used universally
Once you become familiar with it, it will become second nature to you
You will use it forever
I learned it in law school 20+ years ago and I still use it!
It is the best way to organize legal writing

12. The Anatomy of a Published Case
PA201 Unit 3
The Anatomy of a Published Case
What does that mean?

13. Case Name Court Editorial Summary Headnote The attorneys The judges
PA201 Unit 3
Case Name
Court
Editorial Summary
Headnote
The attorneys
The judges
The court's opinion

14. PA201 Unit 3

15. PA201 Unit 3

16. Whew…that’s a lot of new information for many of you.
PA201 Unit 3
Whew…that’s a lot of new information for many of you.
What questions do you have?
Don’t be frustrated….this is a lot of info at once. You’ll get used to this the more cases you read and look at!

17. Unit 3 assignment: Samantha Smith fact pattern.
PA201 Unit 3
Be sure to do the quiz for Unit 3; must be taken by tomorrow night, no exceptions. There is a quiz for Unit 4 also; it is due next Tuesday night.
Unit 3 assignment: Samantha Smith fact pattern.

18. Unit 3 written assignment
Please conduct the basic research for this problem, using Lexis. Then provide the following information:
Find two cases that are mandatory authority for this problem.
Provide the following two items:
A short brief of each case. A proper brief should include: the full bluebook citation, the facts, issue, rule, analysis and conclusion.
Based on the findings of your research write a short FIRAC analysis applying one or both of the cases to the client’s problem

19. Unit 4 assignment
We filed a complaint in trial court alleging negligence on the part of the store and seeking damages for Samantha’s injuries. In its answer to our complaint that we filed last month, the store alleges that Samantha had a duty to avoid the spill in the aisle. The store claims that she is at much as fault as they are. Further they allege that she was too distracted by her 2 year old son in the cart, who was misbehaving, to notice the floor.
Part I:
Please search for a statute in Indiana that discusses comparative fault. Please provide the full citation to the statute as well as a short FIRAC applying it to this case. Your FIRAC should be in the form of a short interoffice memorandum.
Part II:
Try finding a comparative fault statute for another state. Give the full citation and a short summary of the statute.

20. Let’s go to Lexis
We’ll work on the Unit 4 assignment