How long should a legal brief be?
Asked by: Price Monahan | Last update: December 14, 2025Score: 4.2/5 (60 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.
What is the standard legal brief?
Every standard legal brief has a few basic elements: An Introduction that articulates the party's claim and introduces the party's theory of the case and the procedural history of the case. A Table of Authorities (TOA) section that describes all sources of legal authority used in the brief.
How many pages is a legal brief?
A principal brief may not exceed 30 pages, or a reply brief 15 pages, unless it complies with Rule 32(a)(7)(B). (B) Type-Volume Limitation. uses a monospaced face and contains no more than 1,300 lines of text.
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.
How many words are in a legal brief?
The Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure and many state counterparts impose “word limits” on briefs and similar documents. Rule 32(a)(7)(B) requires that a principal brief contain no more than 13,000 words, a reply brief, no more than 6,500.
How to Do a Case Brief
How long are legal briefs usually?
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.
How many words is a 5 minute brief?
Here's a general rule of thumb: a 5-minute speech will usually fall in the range of 625-750 words. That comes out to about 125-150 words per minute. Of course, this is just an average. Some speakers cram 800+ words into 5 minutes, although we don't recommend that.
What does a good brief look like?
To write a good creative brief you need to make sure it's absolutely clear what needs to be done and by when. It should clarify the objective, make clear any deadlines, and provide as much information about the product or service as possible. Ideally both the agency and the client should have input into the brief.
How to write a legal brief?
- Select a useful case brief format. ...
- Use the right caption when naming the brief. ...
- Identify the case facts. ...
- Outline the procedural history. ...
- State the issues in question. ...
- State the holding in your words. ...
- Describe the court's rationale for each holding. ...
- Explain the final disposition.
How long is a brief document?
While there are many forms, briefing papers are typically written in an outline format and usually do not exceed two pages.
Do lawyers write legal briefs?
In general, most lawyers write their own legal briefs, at least in a solo practice or small firm. In a law firm, particularly a large one, the lead partner will sign the brief, but more junior lawyers will typically have done the bulk of the research and writing.
How long should a brief answer be in a legal memo?
Begin with your conclusion: yes, no, probably yes, etc., if the question can be answered that way. Then give a brief (usually no more than four or five sentences long) self-contained explanation of the reasons for your conclusion. Summarize for your reader how the relevant law applies to your significant facts.
What is an appendix in a legal brief?
Preparing an appendix is complicated
One crucial component of a successful appeal is the appendix to the appellate brief. The appendix provides the appellate court with essential records from the lower court proceedings, allowing the judges to review the case accurately and efficiently.
What is the difference between a legal memo and a legal brief?
As you know, the purpose of a memo is to answer a legal question, and your role as its writer is to objectively research and predict the answer. A brief, on the other hand, is written to persuade the reader that one position on the issue is the correct one.
How to start 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.
Is a legal brief a pleading?
Pleadings: Written statements filed with the court that describe a party's legal or factual assertions about the case. Pleadings may include a complaint, an answer, a motion, or a brief.
How many pages should a legal brief be?
The Ideal Length: Striking a Balance
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.
What do legal briefs look like?
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.
What are the four parts of a legal brief?
- Title and Citation.
- Facts of the Case.
- Issues.
- Decisions (Holdings)
- Reasoning (Rationale)
- Separate Opinions.
- Analysis.
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 makes a good legal brief?
Creating a winning brief requires significant attention to detail, research, a thorough understanding of the legal issues involved, flawless formatting, and the ability to think one step ahead of any counter arguments.
What makes a brief effective?
The information given should be concise, factual, clear, substantiated and unbiased. If information is missing or unavailable, this should be noted. Consider whether figures, graphs, tables or charts would be a more suitable to text, but make sure they're clear and easy to understand.
How many words should be in a brief?
1,000 words to 1,500 words: Brief article or essay. 2,000 words to 7,000 words: Feature article or long-form essay. 10,000 words to 18,000 words: In-depth report or extended essay.
Can you say 1000 words in 5 minutes?
Fast pace (170-200 WPM)
Speaking quickly, you could deliver 850 to 1,000 words in a 5-minute speech.
Is 150 words a brief?
You've probably heard the advice, "keep it brief." As for brevity, 150 words is already very short. At 150 words, your answer will be a single paragraph that the person reviewing applications can read in less than a minute. There really isn't a need to try and go much shorter.