SKILL ROADMAP 14 · CORE LEGAL SKILLS

Legal Problem Solving

Facts → Issues → Law → Options → Risks → Recommendation

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This roadmap has 5 steps, 5 checkpoints and 1 projects.
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1 What this path is

Legal problem solving is the ability to take a messy real situation, spot the legal issues and recommend a practical course of action.

Everyone. It is what clients and employers ultimately pay for.

Sort the facts.
Learn: to separate relevant facts from noise and spot missing facts.
Practise: by listing what you would ask a client after reading a fact pattern.
Spot the issues.
Learn: to identify every legal issue, including the less obvious ones.
Practise: with problem questions from exams and moot propositions.
Apply the law.
Learn: to apply rules to facts rather than just stating rules.
Practise: by answering problem questions in the issue, rule, application and conclusion pattern.
Develop options.
Learn: that most problems have several legal routes, such as negotiation, notice, litigation or arbitration.
Practise: by listing three options for one problem with their costs and timelines.
Assess risks and recommend.
Learn: to weigh risk, cost and the client's goals.
Practise: by writing a one page recommendation for a client.

You solve real client problems with sound judgment and practical advice.

These checklists are for honest self assessment. They are not an official certification.

Ask to sit in on client discussions and attempt your own recommendation before hearing the senior's.

Worked problems and recommendation notes.