Hi, welcome to the Australian Law Students Law Info Podcast,
Your go to podcast for legal insights in 4 minutes or less.
I'm Nick Hodgkinson. Today we're talking about how to
write a good case note. With writing case notes it's
really important to start strong.
Begin with an introduction which tells your reader what type of
law you're discussing, the main issues and what the court
decided. You should ask yourself whether
or not the case is a big deal. Whether it's set a rule or
followed an old one, your introduction is like a road map
for the reader. Next, you want to lay down the
facts. They're the building blocks of
your case notes, so you should highlight the important stuff
and give a bit of background too.
Remember to keep it simple. Who were the parties involved?
What happened, and what arguments did their counsel
throw around? We aren't writing a novel, so
just set the stage. Third, tell us what the court
decided. Share the outcome for each
important issue and why the court said what it said.
Point out any special rules and if the judge said something
interesting but not directly related.
If some judges didn't agree or dissented, tell us why. 4th Dive
into the details and this is the meat of your case.
Note this is where you get to share your thoughts.
Talk about what's already there and what's against the court's
decision. Dig into their reasons.
Are they good or a bit iffy? Try to guess how this case might
affect others in the future. You could also think about the
questions that the court didn't answer.
It's your chance to show off your legal brain. 5th you want
to bring it all together with a solid conclusion.
Remind the reader why the case matters and what might happen
next. If the decision is a really big
deal, explain why. Again, keep it short or long,
depending on the length of your case.
Note. So remember, writing case notes
is a little bit like telling a story.
It's not just a summary, it's your take on things.
As you start writing your case notes, ask yourself, did the
case break some old rules? Did it deal with a big issue?
Is it the first of its kind? Make a case, so to speak, for
why the decision matters and there you go.
That's a simple guide to rocking your case notes.
Join us next time on the Australian Law, Students Law and
for podcast. As always, if you have any
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