CLI Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CLI facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. What fiduciary duty applies to investment analysis? → Act in the client's best interest with loyalty, care, and full disclosure
2. What is a plea bargain? → Negotiated guilty plea
3. Which piece of equipment is commonly used by CLI field investigators to document subject activity in low-light conditions? → Night-vision or infrared capable camera
4. What is the primary legal requirement a CLI investigator must meet before conducting covert surveillance on a private individual in the US? → Have a legitimate, lawful purpose related to the investigation
5. What fiduciary duty applies to portfolio management? → Act in the client's best interest with loyalty, care, and full disclosure
6. What fiduciary duty applies to tax strategies? → Act in the client's best interest with loyalty, care, and full disclosure
7. How should portfolio management performance be reported to clients? → Provide accurate, complete, and timely performance reporting with appropriate benchmarks
8. What is the standard of proof in a criminal trial? → Beyond a reasonable doubt
9. Which of the following is an ethical responsibility of a Certified Legal Investigator? → Maintaining client confidentiality
10. What regulatory compliance requirement applies to portfolio management? → Full compliance with all applicable federal, state, and industry regulations
11. How should conflicts of interest be managed in portfolio management? → Identify, disclose, and mitigate all actual and potential conflicts of interest
12. What is the recommended approach for documenting surveillance observations in a written report? → Use precise, objective descriptions including time stamps and specific behaviors observed
13. Which legal doctrine protects individuals from surveillance in areas where they have a 'reasonable expectation of privacy'? → The Fourth Amendment expectation of privacy standard
14. A CLI investigator conducting mobile surveillance observes the subject enter a private residence. What is the correct action? → Use zoom equipment from a public vantage point
15. Which method is used to verify the validity of a case law? → Shepardizing
16. What role does organization play in case preparation? → It improves accessibility and court presentation
17. How should investment analysis performance be reported to clients? → Provide accurate, complete, and timely performance reporting with appropriate benchmarks
18. Which report section typically contains the investigator's background research, sources consulted, and methodology? → Investigative Background and Methods
19. What does 'mens rea' refer to in criminal law? → The guilty mind
20. What continuing education requirement supports estate planning competence? → Ongoing education in regulatory changes, market developments, and best practices
21. How should financial planning performance be reported to clients? → Provide accurate, complete, and timely performance reporting with appropriate benchmarks
22. What continuing education requirement supports financial planning competence? → Ongoing education in regulatory changes, market developments, and best practices
23. Which behavior best reflects professionalism in legal investigations? → Maintaining respectful and ethical conduct
24. In most US states, using pretext to impersonate a law enforcement officer during an investigation is: → A criminal offense
25. Which of the following is a felony? → Murder
26. How should conflicts of interest be managed in investment analysis? → Identify, disclose, and mitigate all actual and potential conflicts of interest
27. Why is it important for a CLI investigator to document the exact time and GPS coordinates when conducting field interviews? → To corroborate the investigator's presence and the chronology of events if challenged
28. What does the term 'chain of custody' refer to in investigative documentation? → The documented chronological record of evidence handling from collection to court
29. What tool is commonly used to find legal precedents? → Westlaw
30. Which of the following is most important in writing a legal report? → Accuracy