INTRODUCTION TO IRAC

1
INTRODUCTION TO IRAC
2
IRAC

• Issue - What question or questions is/are
  presented by the facts?
• Rule - What is the governing law for the issue?
• Application How does the rule apply to these
  unique facts?
• Conclusion The answer to the issue, which is
  supported by the application/analysis of the
  facts to the rule?

3

• "The language of a fact pattern suggests the
  Issue(s)."

4
WHAT IS AT ISSUE?

• When reading a fact pattern, consider
• Facts and circumstances
• Buzzwords
• The call of the question
• Multiple parties and issues
• Non-issues and threshold issues

5
The Issue Statement Should

• Be one sentence
• Be framed as a yes/no question
• Contain a factual aspect relevant to the question
  posed to the court
• Contain a legal aspect, which identifies a
  substantive legal question.
• Address a specific rule or element.

6
RULES

• Issues are covered by rules of law.
• Ask yourself what rule(s) would have to be
  applied to the issue in order to resolve it.

7
RULE STATMENT

• When reading a fact pattern, consider
• Authority
• General Rule
• Elements or parts of the general rule
• Exceptions and/or defenses
• Policy

8
APPLICATION/ANALYSIS

• Compare the facts to the rule to
• form the Analysis.

9
APPLICATION/ANALYSIS

• Which facts support that the rule/element
  requirement has been met?
• Which facts tend to show that the rule/element
  requirement has not been met?
• Why are certain facts relevant?
• How do these facts satisfy this rule?
• How much weight should be given to each fact?
• How do these facts further the public policy
  underlying this rule?

10
CONCLUSIONTake a Position

• From the analysis you should weigh the facts and
  make a judgment as to whether or not the facts
  support the rule/element requirement.
• If your analysis provides more than one viable
  alternative, you should conclude for each
  alternative.