FIRAC- Legal Writing
Students,

I did a quick google search to help assist you with legal writing. We briefly touched on FIRAC and I just wanted to make sure everyone understood what I was saying. If you want to see examples, google "FIRAC" or "IRAC" for assistance. Please read:
FIRAC stands for Facts, Issue, Rule, Application, Conclusion. It is one way to structure legal analysis. An effective essay (no matter the overall length) follows some form of the FIRAC structure where it is organized around each of these elements for each and every issue and subissue identified as a legal problem. FIRAC is an extremely useful tool in organizing any law related essay answer. It is not the only way to structure an answer, but it helps to make sure all bases are covered. So, until you achieve the level of mental and written fluency where you can weave together rule and fact in a seamless tapestry and transition between thoughts without loss of either the substance or your reader, you might choose to rely on some form of FIRAC to keep focused. Use FIRAC as tool for organizing your thinking and your writing.

F - Facts
What facts give rise to the dispute? Include the facts essential to the story such as names, dates, and acts, plus all other facts that make a difference—that is, what facts if changed might lead to a different result.
I - Issue
What is the disagreement implicated by the facts? Make your issue statement as specific as possible to the particular dispute. The issue asks how a legal doctrine relates to the specific facts of the case.
R - Rule
What pre-existing rule does the court apply to the facts at hand? Think of the pre-existing rule as the starting point for the court’s analysis. A - Application/Analysis
How did the court apply the pre-existing rule to the specific facts of the dispute? What were the steps in its reasoning? Look for arguments based on one or more of the following: * precedent * statutory language * need for the decision in the facts * logic * fairness * utility * public policy
C - Conclusion/Holding
What conclusion did the court come to in this case? Think of the holding as the ending point of the court’s analysis, where the court decides how the pre-existing rule applies to the particular facts before it. Sometimes the holding becomes a new rule of law for subsequent cases with similar facts.

I hope this helps,
Shanese Rivera