Case briefing is the art of summarizing complex legal issues as they apply to specific factual situations. As you practice writing briefs, you must present the crucial facts of a case in a very condensed form without excluding any pertinent information. In addition, you must determine the rule of law that applies to the problem. Often, the policy behind the law is important to the disposition of the case. Though challenges may arise when briefing a case, the end result provides a concise report of the significant aspects of a case, making the case easier to incorporate into any policy-related project on which you may be working.
To prepare for this Discussion:
- Reflect on your briefing experience from this week's Application Assignment. Consider any unexpected challenges that you encountered.
- Review the articles, "How to Brief a Case" and "The Critical Thinker's Case Briefing Model," to refresh your memory about the elements of a successful case brief if needed.
- Identify at least two challenges you encountered when writing your case brief and reflect on how you addressed each.
- Consider how case briefing would be relevant to your career as a public administrator or policy practitioner.