NFPA Paralegal Core Competency Exam (PCCE)Legal Writing and CommunicationEasy
A paralegal is drafting a legal memorandum for a supervising attorney regarding a complex contract dispute. The attorney has emphasized the need for a clear, concise, and objective analysis of the legal issues and applicable law. Which of the following sections is typically dedicated to presenting the legal rules, statutes, and case law relevant to the analysis?
- AStatement of Facts
- BQuestion Presented
- CConclusion
- DDiscussion
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Discussion
The Discussion section of a legal memorandum is where the legal rules, statutes, and case law are presented and applied to the facts of the case. This section forms the analytical core of the memorandum.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. The Statement of Facts section provides a neutral recitation of the relevant factual background.
- B. The Question Presented section states the legal question the memo aims to answer.
- C. The Conclusion section provides a concise answer to the legal question and a summary of the analysis.
Legal Memorandum Discussion Section
The core analytical section of a legal memorandum where legal rules and precedents are explained and applied to the facts of the case.
- Presents relevant legal authority (statutes, case law).
- Applies the law to the specific facts.
- Provides a reasoned analysis of the legal issues.
Memory trick: QP, SF, D, C: Quick Paralegal, See Facts, Discuss Carefully, Conclude.