NALA Legal Research & Writing

Question 1

What is the primary purpose of legal research?

Accepted Answer

To locate and interpret relevant laws and legal precedents

Answer

To gather opinions from clients.

Answer

To fill out court documents without oversight.

Answer

To create fictional legal scenarios.

Question 2

Which source is considered primary authority in legal research?

Accepted Answer

Court decisions and statutes

Answer

Legal encyclopedias.

Answer

Law review articles.

Answer

Practice guides.

Question 3

What is the correct structure for a legal memorandum?

Accepted Answer

Heading, issue, facts, discussion, conclusion

Answer

Greeting, summary, references.

Answer

Introduction, story, epilogue.

Answer

Facts only.

Question 4

Which database is widely used for online legal research?

Accepted Answer

Westlaw and LexisNexis

Answer

WordPress.

Answer

Google Scholar only.

Answer

Wikipedia.

Question 5

What is the role of citations in legal writing?

Accepted Answer

To properly credit legal sources and support arguments

Answer

To make the document longer.

Answer

To confuse opposing counsel.

Answer

To create hyperlinks.

Question 6

What is 'shepardizing' a case?

Accepted Answer

Verifying the case's precedential value

Answer

Summarizing the case facts.

Answer

Memorizing the judge's opinion.

Answer

Printing a hard copy of the case.

Question 7

Which part of a case brief outlines the court's legal reasoning?

Accepted Answer

Reasoning

Answer

Facts.

Answer

Issue.

Answer

Holding.

Question 8

Which writing style is typically used in legal documents?

Accepted Answer

Formal and objective

Answer

Informal and narrative.

Answer

Casual with idioms.

Answer

First-person perspective.

Question 9

What does IRAC stand for in legal writing?

Accepted Answer

Issue, Rule, Application, Conclusion

Answer

Issue, Resolution, Action, Code.

Answer

Information, Record, Apply, Conclude.

Answer

Identify, Reflect, Argue, Close.