Asked by Samantha Marshall on Jul 22, 2024

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List and define the components of an internal legal memorandum.

Legal Memorandum

A document written by an attorney or paralegal presenting research, analysis, and legal arguments related to a specific legal issue or case.

Internal Legal

Pertaining to or within the legal processes, decisions, or documents of an organization or institution.

Components

Individual parts or elements that collectively form a system, machine, or piece of equipment.

  • Define the basic components necessary for an internal legal memorandum.
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AR
Ashley RichmondJul 24, 2024
Final Answer :
An internal memorandum is made up of the following six components:
• Heading-The heading of a legal memorandum contains the following four pieces of information:
◆ The date on which the memo was submitted
◆ The name of the person for whom the memo was prepared
◆ The name of the person submitting the memo
◆ A brief description of the matter, usually in the form of a reference line
• Statement of the facts-The statement of the facts introduces the legal issues by describing the factual elements of the dispute. Only the relevant facts (those with legal significance) are included in this section. Facts should be presented objectively, and the paralegal should never omit any facts unfavorable to the client's case. The statement of the facts should also contain a logical and concise description of the events surrounding the conflict. One way to accomplish this is a chronological presentation of the facts.
• Questions presented-The questions presented address the legal issues arising from the factual circumstances described in the statement of the facts.
• Brief conclusion-The brief conclusion (or or brief answer) sets forth succinct responses to the questions presented in the previous section. The responses may vary in length from a simple "yes" or "no" followed by a one-sentence summary of the reason for the answer, to a full-paragraph explanation of a complicated issue.
• Discussion and analysis-The discussion and analysis section of the legal memorandum contains a discussion and legal analysis of each issue to be resolved. This section should be
organized into separate parts when multiple issues are involved. The reader expects to find a thorough analysis of the law. Points of law should be identified and supported with proper citations. You may also include quotes from cases or texts of statutes.