THE BUSINESS SCHOOL

CENTRE FOR LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE STUDIES

ASSIGNMENT COVER SHEET
Assignment 4 – Legal Memorandum

COURSE NAME Legal Research and Writing

COURSE CODE + SECTION

SEMESTER Winter 2023

PROFESSOR’S NAME

MARKS ALLOTED 80

WEIGHTING 25%

DATE ASSIGNED Week 13

DATE DUE

STUDENT NAME

STUDENT NUMBER

READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY

FORMAT REQUIREMENTS:

PAGE LENGTH N/A

SPACING 1.5

FONT 12 pt

CITATION STYLE McGill

 ASSIGNMENT 4 – LEGAL MEMORANDUM – Winter 2023
Instructions:
1. The assignment is due Friday April 21st at 11:59 pm. An electronic copy must be
filed in the eCentennial drop box. Late assignments will not be accepted as
this is the final.

2. Choose an area of law that is within the paralegal scope of practice and do
a legal memo on that area of law. Research the issue(s) and prepare a legal
memorandum for the file summarizing your findings. Your memorandum must
cite at least 3 legal authorities. “Legal authorities” include cases, statutes and
regulations. You must cite one statute or regulation and two similar
cases/decisions.
Review the Law Society Act, By-Law 4 to confirm the Paralegal scope of practice.

3. The memorandum should be prepared according to the method we discussed

during class. The structure should follow the rubric below. (READ THE RUBRIC)
4. Citation: Use proper citations for all cases, statutes and regulations referred to in
your case memo.

RUBRIC: ASSIGNMENT 4
Heading Heading in the format Heading was No heading, or
5 marks discussed in class, generally in the proper heading was not
properly formatted and format and accurate, formatted properly, or
accurate but included a few was mostly inaccurate
errors
0-2 marks
5 marks 3-4 marks
Introduction States what the The introduction There is no
10 marks researcher has been generally explains the introduction, or the
asked to do and why – purpose of the introduction is not
the question the research, but there applicable or
researcher has been are some issues or appropriate
asked to consider. inaccuracies

8-10 marks 5-7 marks

0-4 marks
Facts The facts are clearly Facts are generally Vague and
10 marks stated and are clear and organized, disorganized
organized but some minor
confusion Missing some
 Any assumptions are important facts or
noted A few important facts included many
were omitted or a few irrelevant facts
No irrelevant facts are irrelevant facts were
included included Assumptions included
that were not identified
No material facts are An assumption was as such
omitted included that was not
identified as such

5-7 marks
8-10 marks
0-4 marks
Issue(s) The issue to be Generally the The issue is
10 marks researched is clearly appropriate issue is inaccurate, doesn’t
stated with the identified, but it is apply to the facts, or is
appropriate degree of vague, too broad or something other than
specificity and not formatted as a an issue
reference to the facts question or a
“whether” statement
The issue is formatted
as a question or a
“whether” statement

8-10 marks 0-4 marks

5-7 marks
Law At least three relevant, At least one relevant, There are no relevant,
10 marks applicable authorities applicable authority is applicable authorities,
are stated (1 statute + stated or the authorities are
2 cases) described inaccurately
The relevant sections
The relevant sections or ratios are set out The relevant sections
or ratios are set out but the description is or ratios are not set
clearly and accurately. somewhat vague or out, or the description
confused. is vague, confused and
Mini/Micro case brief inaccurate.
of each case cited
0-4 marks
5-7 marks
8-10 marks
Discussion The discussion was The discussion was The discussion was
10 marks clear, concise, generally clear, vague, inaccurate or
accurate and concise, accurate and disorganized
organized organized, but there
were a few examples The IRAC format was
The issue (or parts of of confusion, not followed in the
the issue) were inaccuracy or discussion of the issue
analyzed, using the disorganization
 authorities and The discussion of the
following the IRAC The IRAC format was legal rule and the
format generally followed, but application of the rule
not entirely were inaccurate
The discussion of the
legal rule and the The discussion of the
application of the rule legal rule and the
were correct and application of the rule
concise were generally
correct, but there were
a few minor problems

5- 7 marks 0-4 marks

8-10 marks
Conclusions A clear statement of The conclusions are Conclusion is incorrect
10 marks the answer to the on the right track but a or difficult to follow
issue reached by bit vague or confused
applying the law to the Conclusion does not
facts Any obvious need for refer to the law or the
further research or facts
If there is any facts is not clearly
requirement for further identified
information or
research, it is clearly
stated 5-7 marks 0-4 marks

8-10 marks
References A reference section The reference section No reference section
5 marks was included includes most was included, or
sources, and most reference section was
All sources were cited citations were done mostly inaccurate or
properly generally formatted
Citations (format and A few issues with the incorrectly
punctuation) were description of the
correct sources cited, missing Most sources missing
sources or the form of from reference section
citation
5 marks 0-2 marks
3-4 marks
Organization Format follows Format generally Format generally does
and instructions follows instructions not follow instructions
Presentation
5 marks Language is clear and Language is mostly Language is often
concise and clear and vague or
professional in tone professional, but unprofessional
some issues with
 Format looks clarity Format does not look
professional and professional, or is
document is organized Format looks generally inconsistent
to communicate generally professional
findings clearly and is mostly A lack of organization
organized, but there makes the document
Proper use of are a few examples of difficult to follow
headings and sub- disorganization or
headings formatting errors
Headings and
Headings and subheadings not used,
subheadings generally or not helpful in the
used clarity of the document

5 marks 0-2 marks

3-4 marks
Citation All sources are cited, Sources were Most or all of sources
5 marks and the footnoting generally cited in the were not cited
style was properly footnoting style, and The footnoting style
used were generally correct was generally not used
Citations are correct Most or all citations
(format and A few minor issues were incorrect (format
punctuation) and punctuation)

3-4 marks 0-2 marks

5 marks

Total: 80
Deductions: Marks will be deducted for spelling and grammatical errors, and for
failure to follow the assignment instructions.

SEE OUTLINE TEMPLATE BELOW:

Heading:
 To:
From:
Date:
File No:
Re:

Introduction:
Facts:
Issue(s):
Law:
Discussion:
Conclusions:
References:
Citation: