How long is an average case brief?

Asked by: Uriah Pacocha  |  Last update: February 23, 2025
Score: 4.9/5 (5 votes)

Too short, and you risk omitting crucial information; too long, and you might as well be reading the full case again. As a general rule of thumb, a well-crafted case brief should fall somewhere between one and three pages in length.

How long should case briefs be?

Try to keep your briefs to one page in length. This will make it easy for you to organize and reference them. Do not get discouraged. Learning to brief and figuring out exactly what to include will take time and practice.

How long should a brief write be?

To be effective the length of an issue brief should be no more than two pages (front and back of one sheet of paper). That is why they are sometimes referred to as one-pagers.

What is the average length of a legal brief?

We analyzed the composition of 10,000+ legal briefs, appeals, original proceedings, and trial motions that TypeLaw has helped attorneys prepare and found that the average brief contains: 6371 words. 16 headings (nested into 4 levels) 70 paragraphs.

What is a typical case brief?

Components of a Case Brief A case brief is made up of 7 main components. The main components include the case name, facts, procedural history, issue, holding, reasoning, and rule. You will pick up on what your professor focuses on in their courses regarding cases as the semester goes on.

How to Do a Case Brief

18 related questions found

How many words is a case brief?

(c) Length

(1) Except as provided in (5), a brief produced on a computer must not exceed 14,000 words, including footnotes. Such a brief must include a certificate by appellate counsel or an unrepresented party stating the number of words in the brief.

What should a good brief include?

Here are the general steps you should take to write a brief:
  • Explain the goals and motivations. You should start your brief by writing about the project background and brand. ...
  • Highlight specific objectives and challenges. ...
  • Describe your target audience. ...
  • Examine competitors. ...
  • Ask for feedback.

How long does it take for a lawyer to write a brief?

The biggest factor is whether the law is in the can. If it is, you can do a 10-15 page brief in a day and polish it the next. If not (and the brief is important), I don't start writing until I feel I have a strong command of what's out there. That can take anything from a day to a week.

What is the size of a legal brief?

The brief must be on 8 1/2 by 11 inch paper. The text must be double-spaced, but quotations more than two lines long may be indented and single-spaced. Headings and footnotes may be single-spaced. Margins must be at least one inch on all four sides.

Do lawyers prepare briefs for the court?

Lawyers often prepare briefs which highlight and clarify certain information or provide legal comparisons in an attempt to persuade the courtroom to rule in favor of that lawyer's client.

How short is brief?

Something brief is short and to the point. If you make a brief visit, you don't stay long. If you make a brief statement, you use few words. If you wear brief shorts, you are showing a little too much leg.

How to write a brief for court?

Steps to briefing a case
  1. Select a useful case brief format. ...
  2. Use the right caption when naming the brief. ...
  3. Identify the case facts. ...
  4. Outline the procedural history. ...
  5. State the issues in question. ...
  6. State the holding in your words. ...
  7. Describe the court's rationale for each holding. ...
  8. Explain the final disposition.

How many cases do you brief a week in law school?

In law school, each reading assignment generally contains at least three cases. Most classes meet at least twice a week. Most students are taking at least 4 classes. Doing the math, that is 24 case briefs per week—at a minimum.

What is the rule of law in a case brief?

Rule of Law or Legal Principle Applied: This is the rule of law that the court applies to determine the substantive rights of the parties. The rule of law could derive from a statute, case rule, regulation, or may be a synthesis of prior holdings in similar cases (common law).

Do judges read briefs?

"Usually, I will come on the bench with my mind made up' said Judge Gage. "I've read the briefs before I come on the bench. I'm usually just looking for counsel to tell me where I'm wrong."

How long should a client brief be?

Given that the client brief is such an important document, it may seem difficult to keep yours “brief.” As stated above, it really should not run for more than one to two pages in length. However, every client brief should include these elements: Client Background. Objectives.

How long is a typical case brief?

Too short, and you risk omitting crucial information; too long, and you might as well be reading the full case again. As a general rule of thumb, a well-crafted case brief should fall somewhere between one and three pages in length.

How many pages is a case brief?

I have also seen people online say that a brief should be between one and three pages. So far I have not written any that are three pages long, but i've written a few that are a bit under two, but using the strategy I outlined above, they are generally about 3/4 of one page.

Are legal briefs justified?

For legal documents, some lawyers prefer justified text (also called “fully justified” text) and others prefer left-aligned text (also called “left-justified” text).

What is the difference between a brief and a motion?

A motion is an application to the court for relief. A brief is the legal argument in support of a motion or an appeal, and the term normally used in appellate practice.

What do lawyers do with briefs?

Briefs are the written documents in which the attorneys in a case present their legal arguments to the court. When one researches a case, it is sometimes instructive to examine the written briefs that were filed by the parties, as well as the arguments presented orally to the court after the briefs were filed.

How many pages are legal briefs?

(4) If a party uses a form brief approved for use by the Judicial Council, the brief, including any attachments, may not exceed 25 pages in length. Attachments must comply with the formatting requirements stated in (c)(1) through (c)(7). (5) On application, the presiding judge may permit a longer brief for good cause.

What should a good case brief include?

While each case has its own unique details—and uses varied versions of this outline—a brief should include only the most important points of your case and stay within 600 words before concurrences and dissents, using the following headings: Title and citation. Facts. Issues.

What is an example of brief?

Examples from Collins dictionaries

She once made a brief appearance on television. This time their visit is brief. In a brief statement, he concentrated entirely on international affairs. Write a very brief description of a typical problem.

What is the format for a legal brief?

Legal brief structure

While there is no hard and fast rule about the structure of a brief, it should contain the following elements: Introduction to your position. Summary of the facts in the case. Arguments in support of your position with cited case law.