The Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction


CALI Lesson Detail


Edward Martin
Professor of Law
Samford University Cumberland School of Law

Approximate completion time 2 hours.


To run this Lesson please visit the new CALI website here.

How to Brief a Case

This is an exercise designed to introduce first-semester law students to the basic elements of a typical case "brief" and to teach them general methodology for writing their own briefs. The exercise consists of three parts: (1) an introduction to the purposes and uses of a case brief; (2) a detailed examination of each of the ten components of a typical case brief (with examples); and (3) two actual cases that students are asked to read and then to brief, using the methodology described in this exercise. A sample brief for each of the two cases is also provided, thereby allowing students to correct and modify their briefs by way of comparison.


lwr09