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Index
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1 - The Foundations of Legal Analysis
A. Statutes
B. Case Law
1. Common Law and Precedent
2. The Power of Precedent and Stare Decisis
C. Hierarchy of Courts
D. Jurisdiction
E. Types of Authority
Practice Exercises
Chapter 2 - Rules
A. Enacted Law
B. Case Law
1. Express Rules
2. Implied Rules
3. Rule Synthesis
C. Tests
1. Element Test
2. Balancing Test
3. Totality of the Circumstances Test
Practice Exercises
Chapter 3 - Inductive Analysis and Analogical Reasoning
A. Analogical Reasoning
1. The Three Triggers: Jurisdiction--Legal Issue--Facts
2. The Analogical Model
3. Critical Facts
4. Case Synthesis
B. Analogical Strategies
1. Narrow Analogy
a. Part One--State the Point of the Analysis
b. Part Two--State the Narrow Fact Comparison
c. Part Three--Apply the Court's Reasoning
d. Step Four--Conclude
2. Broad Analogy
Practice Exercises
Chapter 4 - Deductive Analysis & Rule-based Reasoning
A. Deductive Reasoning--The Syllogism
1. The Model
2. Deductive Reasoning & Legal Argument
3. Identifying Flaws in a Syllogism
B. The Structure of a Deductive Argument Using Rule-based Reasoning
a. Part One--State the Point of the Analysis or Conclusion
b. Part Two--State the Rule
c. Part Three--Explain the Rule
d. Part Four--Apply Law to Facts
e. Part Five--Conclude
C. Deductive/Inductive Combination
Practice Exercises
Chapter 5 - Statutory Analysis
A. Statutory Construction
1. The Plain Meaning Rule
2. Construing Ambiguous Statutes
B. Tools of Statutory Construction
1. Maxims
a. In Pari Materia
b. Ejusdem Generis
c. Noscitur a Sociis
d. Avoid Surplusage
e. Remedial Statutes
f. Expressio Unius est Exclusio Alterius
g. Presumption of Internal Consistency
h. Titles Are Not Controlling
i. Constitutional Questions
j. Lenity
2. Legislative History
3. Cases Construing Statutes
C. Statutory Interpretation and Deductive Argument
Practice Exercises
Chapter 6 - Policy-based Reasoning and Other Considerations
A. Policy
1. Identifying Policy
a. Case Law
b. Statutes
B. Types of Policy Arguments
1. Judicial Administration Policy Arguments
2. Normative Arguments
3. Institutional Competence Arguments
4. Economic Arguments
5. Fairness and Justice Arguments
C. How to Use Policy
1. To Support a Legal Argument
2. To Analyze a Case of First Impression
3. To Limit the Scope of the Law
4. To Expand the Scope of the Law
D. Other Considerations
1. Judicial Conservatism
2. Credibility
Practice Exercises
Chapter 7 - The Legal Argument: CREAC
A. CREAC Explained
1. The C in CREAC
2. The R in CREAC
3. The E in CREAC
4. The A in CREAC
5. The Final C in CREAC
B. The CREAC Argument: Inductive Analysis or Analogical Reasoning
C. The CREAC Argument in a Multi-issue Problem
D. The CREAC Argument: Deductive Argument or Rule-based Reasoning
1. The CREAC Argument: Rule-based Analysis Using an Expressed and Unambiguous Rule
2. The CREAC Argument: Rule-based Analysis for an Unexpressed Rule
3. The CREAC Argument: Rule-based Analysis Using an Ambiguous or Vague Rule
E. Fourteen Tips When Using CREAC
1. Analyze One Issue at a Time
2. Conclude Only the Single Issue Analyzed
3. Offer All Rules Required to Analyze the Issue
4. Explain the Law before Applying the Law
5. In the "A" Section, Start with the Point of the Argument
6. For Inductive-type Arguments That Compare Facts:
a. State the Fact-to-Fact Analogy
b. Prove the Significance of the Analogy
7. For Deductive-type Arguments Consider the Syllogism
8. Don't Be Conclusory
9. Don't Fight the Law or Your Client's Facts
10. Avoid the Stretch Argument
11. Remember the Alternative Argument
12. Anticipate and Analyze the Opponent's Argument
13. Organize the Analysis around a Common Theme
14. Be Flexible
Practice Exercises
Conclusion
Glossary of Terms
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