READING LEGAL MATERIALS EFFECTIVELY AND UNDERSTANDING “REASONING”

Dr. Heba Hazzaa

WHAT SHOULD WE LEARN FROM THIS COURSE? 1. Reading effectively

2. Thinking systematically: Relevant facts+ IRAC

3. Writing efficiently: Clear, Concise, Structured, Supported by Authority 

4. Presenting your case: Oral presentation skills

WHEN YOU READ EFFECTIVELY:1. You help your self to think systematically (using IRAC) 2. You save time and stay focused3. Easily retrieve information when you need it (writing or oral)

WHAT ARE WE DOING TODAY?Part 1: Reading Effectively Part 2: Reasoning النتيجة تسبب كيف

إليها توصلت التي• Know you purpose and your text • Why is reasoning important?• Know your goal (Why are you reading

it?)• What are the basic skills of

reasoning?• Survey, Skim, Schematize • The different kinds of reasoning

techniques• Exercise: Reading a case and briefing

itExercise:

PART 1: READING LEGAL TEXTS

DEFINE YOUR PURPOSE : KNOW YOUR TECHNIQUE

Use

LearnBackgroun

d

Critical

reading

Scanning and

Schematizing

Skimming

READING TECHNIQUES : DO’S AND DO NOT’SDo’s

1. Surveying 2. Skimming عام منظور3. Scanning هريدي؟« عن »إبحث4. Schematizing 5. Critical reading

Do not’s 1. للجلدة الجلدة من2. كلمة كل أفهم !الزم3. صـ من دائًما النص 1الفقرة 1أبدأ4. كلمة كل تحت خط5. الفائدة نفس لها النصوص كل

READING TECHNIQUE: STEP 1: SURVEYING AND PREDICTING1. Why am I reading this?2. Survey: get the big picture3. Predict: have a sense what the text will tell you4. Is prediction different than bias?

READING TECHNIQUE: STEP 2: SKIMMING

READING TECHNIQUE: STEP 3: SCANNING1. Asking questions and looking for a particular answer

2. Highlighting words and reading the sentence/ paragraph where those words are found.

READING TECHNIQUE: STEP 4: SCHEMATIZING Schema for case1. The complete citation for the

case2. The parties and their

relationship3. Court hierarchy and case

history4. Facts of the case5. Legal issues in question6. Main lines of judicial

reasoning7. Result and court order

Schema for an article / book chapter

1. Full title2. Purpose of the article3. Major theories used4. Arguments used in favor &

against the author’s premise 5. Conclusion

EXERCISE 1: SKIMMING AND SCANNING

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Take 20 minutes to skim & scan and prepare to answer the Qs

QUESTIONS TO HELP WITH SCANNING Group 1: WENA V EGY Group 2: Sovereignty

and duty to protectGroup 3: الضرورة حالة

الدولية والمسئوليةWhat are WENA’s arguments?

What is the author’s goal? وفًقا الضرورة حالة هي ماالدولي؟ للقانون

What is expropriation? What is the status of “free speech” according to the current Int’l regime?

التعريف من الباحث موقف هو ماالضرورة؟ لحالة الحالي

Group 4: جدولة عقداالئتمان

Group 5 المحكمة حكمبطالن شأن فى الدستورية

التحكيم قانون

Group 6: The right to be forgotten

جدولة عقد تعريف هو مااالئتمان؟

الدستوري؟ العوار وجه ما What is the definition of such right?

علي الجدولة عقد يؤثر هلالجنائية؟ االئتمان مانح مسئولية

باستخدام المحكمة أسست كيفالقانون أمام المساواة مبدأ

الطعن لرفض

What is the “effects” doctrine?Group 7: المحكمة حكم

بطالن شأن فى الدستوريةاإليجار عقد مدة تحديد

Group 8: ADIA v. Citi Bank (SDNY)

Group 9: المحكمة حكمبطالن شأن فى الدستوريةعند الطالق اثبات مواداإلنكار

المادة علي الطعن وجه هو مامدني؟ 563

What are the two laws in conflict?

مواد علي الطعن وجه ماالقانون؟

لحكمها المحكمة أسسست كيفالطعن؟ برفض

What was the court’s decision?

المحكمة وضعته الذي القيد هو ماللحقوق الدولة تنظيم عليالشخصية؟

READING TECHNIQUE: STEP 5: CRITICAL READING Evaluating the knowledge you acquired See if you agree or disagree with the text and note why. See how this text connects to other pieces you have read.

DEFINE YOUR PURPOSE - KNOW YOUR TECHNIQUE

Use

LearnBackgroun

d

Critical

reading

Scanning and

Schematizing

Skimming

PART 2: LEGAL REASONING

LEGAL REASONING: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU?

THE TYPES OF LEGAL REASONING Deductive reasoning طريق عن الحكم استنباط

خاصة حالة علي عامة قاعدـة تطبيقAnalogy: بين لتشابه الحكم نفس انزال أو القياسالحالتينDistinguishing: الحالة عن السابق الحكم تمييز

فيها القانون حكم معرفة المطلوبInductive reasoning: أحكام من عامة قاعدة استخالص

خاصة حاالت بشأن وردت

DISTINGUISHING A CASE1. Find the IRAC for the case you want to distinguish 2. Look at the Issue and ask why my issue is different3. Take those differences and put them in comparison to the

Analysis (reasoning) in the case4. If the reasoning relies on those facts different from yours then

you have distinguished the case!

EXERCISE 2: DISTINGUISHING A

CASE

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STRAWBERRY FARM1. Jam Co. [buyer] has a supply contract with Strawberry Farm [seller]. 2. The contract provides for supply of variable quantities between (200 – 500) tons

determined by the buyer at the time of order for market price -0.1%. 3. For the past 5 years buyer’s demand was consistently at the minimum mark.4. Weather conditions affected crop quality and quantity as a result supplier asked buyers

to renegotiate contracts.5. Talks were ongoing when buyer ordered 400 tons (doubling the usual quantity) to

cover its export operations. 6. Strawberry Farm’s delivered 200 tons of strawberries to Jam Co. and billed at market

price.7. Jam Co. procured the remaining quantity from a Third party for market price + markup. 8. Similar weather conditions, however not as severe, have took place 6 years ago

affecting all growers in the region. 9. After the heat wave started, Strawberry Farm installed special coolers in their green

houses to ward off the heat wave. 10. Strawberry Farm’s loss due to weather conditions is estimated at 35%.

SCAFOM V EXMA CPI (CISG CONVENTION ART. 79) BELGIUM COMMERCIAL COURT If Strawberry Farm and Jam Co. were to arbitrate according to the CISG will this case be instructive?

Split into groups for Strawberry Farm and some for Jam Co. and read the case together and decide if you can distinguish the case or if you think it should be instructive.

MATERIALS USED IN PREPARATION: http://www.law.unimelb.edu.au/lasc/academic-skills/tips-for-reading-in-law

http://www.unc.edu/~ramckinn/Documents/NealRameeGuide.pdf

THANK YOU!