Question

1. To prepare a case brief, you must perform a “close reading of the case.”

2. A close reading is a slow-paced review of your case that may be performed in one or more sessions until the reading is completed. The purpose is to better understand the material and to take notes on the material so to preserve the important parts of the content for later reference.

3. Make a copy of the case you will brief. This is your working copy for you to “annotate.” Annotating is a tool used for close reading—Annotating is simply taking notes in the margins and highlighting the key elements of the writing.

4. Often paralegals annotate cases noting the key components of the case so that later they can quickly compile those elements in their case brief. That is, when reading a case, you may not find the information neatly grouped together but rather it could be spread throughout the case. For example, the Rules of Law could be in the beginning and then later in the case.

5. Here are some common annotations (but you are free to do whatever works for you):

a. Procedural History=PH

b. Facts=F

c. Issues=I

d. Holding= H (I usually star or highlight the holding in a case.)

e. Rules of Law=RL

f. Analysis=A

g. Conclusion=C

6. The more you practice, these terms will become second nature to you. Don’t give up! This takes practice. Over time, you will become more and more efficient at briefing a case. There is not a better way to build your foundation of legal knowledge.