How many words are in a legal brief?

Asked by: Wendy Connelly  |  Last update: January 24, 2026
Score: 5/5 (36 votes)

Under amended Rule 32, the word limit for principal briefs in a case with no cross-appeal has been reduced to 13,000 words (from 14,000 words) and reply briefs are limited to half that, 6,500 words (from 7,000).

How long should a legal brief be?

(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).

What is the word limit for a brief?

A principal brief may not exceed 14,000 words and a reply brief may not exceed 7,000 words. More words are permitted in certain briefs in cross appeals.

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.

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.

Legal Terms and Terminology

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How many words is 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.

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.

What is a legal brief example?

Example. “This brief analyzes whether a California Court can exercise personal jurisdiction over our client, a permanent resident of Texas. The purpose of this brief is to determine our client's chances at prevailing on a Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Jurisdiction.”

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.

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.

Is 300 words a brief?

300 words in an essay is the length of a standard academic paper you write in school or college. Depending on formatting, it takes 0.6 pages (single-spaced) or 1.2 pages (double-spaced). This short writing piece is best to share ideas or analyze assigned topics briefly.

How long can a brief statement be?

The typical length of a personal statement for graduate school applications is between 500 and 1,000 words. Different programs have different requirements, so always check if there's a minimum or maximum length and stick to the guidelines. If there is no recommended word count, aim for no more than 1-2 pages.

What is the word limit for a Supreme Court brief?

Depending on the circumstances, the Supreme Court's limits range from 6,000 to 13,000 words, or about 20 to 50 pages.

What is required in 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.

What is the difference between a legal memo and a legal brief?

Additionally, while a memo is written for another attorney or for a client, a brief is written for the judge(s) deciding your case and your opposing counsel.

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.

How long is a typical legal 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 do you write a proper brief?

How to write a brief
  1. Explain the goals and motivations. You should start your brief by writing about the project background and brand. ...
  2. Highlight specific objectives and challenges. ...
  3. Describe your target audience. ...
  4. Examine competitors. ...
  5. Ask for feedback.

How many words should a brief report be?

Brief reports will typically be 2,000 to 3,000 words, including the main text, tables/figures, and references. Reference to background literature should be kept at a maximum of 15 entries, as the focus is on the methods, analysis, and results.

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.

What is another name for a legal brief?

Legal memoranda are sometimes called “briefs”. The word “brief”, however, has another meaning – it refers to a short synopsis of a case. Instead of reading a 25 page case, for example, many attorneys will ask their clerks (or their associates) to summarize a case – or to “brief” the case.

How to write a legal memo?

Standard legal memos are generally written using the Issue, Rule, Application, and Conclusion (IRAC) format:
  1. Issue: Identify the problem.
  2. Rule: State the relevant law.
  3. Application: Apply the law to the facts and develop arguments.
  4. Conclusion: Identify the strongest arguments and next steps.

How does a legal brief look?

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.

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 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.