IRAC Method

A IRAC Method is a legal analysis method that organizes legal reasoning through a structured approach using issue identification, rule identification, rule application, and conclusion generation.

• Context:
  • It can (often) facilitate Logical Argumentation.
  • It can (often) be used in Law School Examinations and Legal Practice.
  • It can be applied to Legal Questions (such as complex legal problems).
  • It can facilitate communication of complex legal concepts by providing a clear framework.
  • ...
• Example(s):
  • One applied to analyze whether a bailment exists in a legal memo by identifying the issue, stating the rule of bailment, applying it to the case facts, and concluding the likely outcome.
  • One applied to determine the liability in a tort case by systematically addressing each component of IRAC.
  • As applied in a LegalBench Benchmark (a legal text benchmark that evaluates the legal reasoning).
  • One in (Bench-Capon, 2020).
  • ...
• Counter-Example(s):
  • CREAC or MIRAT, which modify the IRAC structure for different purposes.
• See: Legal Writing, Legal Analysis, CREAC, MIRAT, Case Analysis, Legal Education, Contract Analysis, Contract Negotiation.

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References

2024

• (Wikipedia, 2024) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IRAC Retrieved:2024-6-4.
  • IRAC () is an acronym that generally stands for: Issue, Rule, Application, and Conclusion. It functions as a methodology for legal analysis. The IRAC format is mostly used in hypothetical questions in law school and bar exams.

2020

• (Bench-Capon, 2020) ⇒ Trevor Bench-Capon. (2020). "Explaining legal decisions using IRAC.” In: CEUR Workshop Proceedings, Volume 2669, Pages 74-83.
  • NOTE: It explores how the IRAC method can be used to explain legal decisions by focusing on the central issues of a case.

2019

• (Arifin et al., 2019) ⇒ Ridwan Arifin, Riska Alkadri, Dewi Puspa Sari, Lilies Resthiningsih, and Amarru Muftie Holish. (2019). "Improving law student ability on legal writing through critical and logical thinking by IRAC method.” In: Indonesian Journal of Advocacy and Legal Services, Volume 1, Issue 1, Pages 107-128.
  • NOTE: It examines how the IRAC method enhances law students' critical and logical thinking skills, improving their legal writing abilities.

2002

• (Sinclair, 2002) ⇒ Michael BW Sinclair. (2002). "What is the R in IRAC.” In: NYL Sch. L. Rev., Volume 46, Pages 457.
  • NOTE: It discusses the significance of the "Rule" component in the IRAC method and why it has become popular in legal education.

1990

• (Bittner, 1990) ⇒ Marie Bittner. (1990). "The IRAC method of case study analysis: A legal model for the social studies.” In: The Social Studies, Volume 81, Issue 5, Pages 227-230.
  • NOTE: It discusses the use of the IRAC method as an instructional tool to help students understand and evaluate legal cases.

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