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Description

Legal Methodology: Qualifying Facts, Conducting Research and Drafting the Memo

Structure a legal analysis and produce a memo the recipient can genuinely act upon

  • 0.43 days — 3 h
  • In-person or virtual
  • Foundation
  • Up to 6 participants

A question arrives by email and it is often poorly framed. The junior legal professional rushes to the search engine, gathers documents with no order of priority and delivers a memo that sets out the state of the law without answering the question. Yet the recipient expects a clear position and the practical consequences of that position.

This three-hour workshop covers the full chain of handling a legal question. It addresses reframing the request, qualifying the facts, conducting research and ranking sources, then drafting the memo. Each participant works a case from end to end and compares their output with that of the group.

Learning objectives

  • Reframe an imprecise request into a workable legal question
  • Qualify the facts against the relevant legal categories
  • Organise documentary research and rank the sources identified
  • Build reasoning that moves from the applicable text to the solution of the case
  • Draft a memo in which the answer appears in the opening lines

What makes this programme different

A single case is handled from the initial request through to the memo delivered
Participants' memos are compared on the clarity of the answer given
Source ranking is practised on genuine research results

Programme

1Framing the Question

Understanding what is actually being asked

  • Reframing the request and identifying the recipient
  • Sorting material facts from incidental ones
  • Legal qualification of the facts retained
  • Defining the scope of the answer

2Researching and Ranking

Finding the useful source and knowing when to stop

  • Order in which sources should be consulted
  • Critical reading of a decision and identifying its scope
  • Checking that texts are up to date
  • Building a traceable research file

3Reasoning and Drafting

Delivering a memo that can be used

  • Building the reasoning from the text to the case
  • Structure of the memo and placement of the answer
  • Wording caveats and areas of uncertainty
  • Practical recommendations addressed to the recipient

Who is it for

Junior legal professionals · law firm associates · trainee lawyers and professionals required to handle legal questions.

Prerequisites

Initial legal education or regular legal practice

Dates & locations

12 scheduled dates between November 2026 and December 2027. Seats are confirmed in the order enquiries are received.

November 2026

December 2026

January 2027

February 2027

March 2027

April 2027

May 2027

June 2027

September 2027

October 2027

November 2027

December 2027

None of these dates suit you? We open additional sessions on request, and any programme can be run privately for your team.

Practical details

Before the programme
Online positioning questionnaire. Your development objectives are shared with the trainer, who tailors the practical case studies to your context.
Teaching methods
Theoretical input, workshops and practical case studies. Digital course materials and method sheets provided.
Assessment
Multiple-choice tests and role-play exercises. Assessment of learning at the start and end of the programme, with immediate and 60-day follow-up evaluations.
After the programme
One year of access to the e-learning platform. Self-assessment of the skills acquired and a 30-day follow-up session with your trainer.
How to register
Registration online or on the basis of a quotation.
Lead time
11 working days after confirmation of registration.
Accessibility
Accessible to people of determination. Contact our accessibility coordinator to design a suitable solution: contact@mpf-academy.ae
Start dates
Rolling intake: in addition to the scheduled sessions, this programme can start on request.