Prior to beginning work on this assignment, review the information on using the IRAC MethodLinks to an external site. for analyzing cases of law.

This assignment examines the application of employment law in a legal case and develops your research skills for the Final Paper.

Visit the WestlawLinks to an external site. database in the UAGC Library (it is listed under Case Law). Under “All Content” select “Cases,” then select “All Federal Cases.”

Next, enter the type of discrimination or violation of employment law you addressed in Discussion 1 into the search bar. For example, if you discussed National Origin, enter that. If you are unsure of a legal area, visit the EEOC webpage on Discrimination by TypeLinks to an external site. (you can choose another topic if needed).

Select the magnifying glass icon to search and review a few of the cases that are listed. When you have selected one, use the IRAC method to analyze the case. Remember that this acronym stands for:

  • Issue
  • Relevant Law
  • Apply to the Law
  • Conclusion

Review the resources on IRAC for further assistance.

In your assignment,

  • Describe the facts of the legal case.
  • Explain the legal issues involved.
  • Describe the relevant law involved.
  • Explain how the relevant law applies to the facts.
  • Explains the ruling of the case.

The Employment Case Law Research assignment

11/6/2023 Cases | Westlaw

https://1-next-westlaw-com.eu1.proxy.openathens.net/Browse/Home/Cases?transitionType=Default&contextData=(sc.Default) 1/2

Cases

All Federal Cases All State Cases

U.S. Supreme Court U.S. Courts of Appeals Federal District Courts Federal Bankruptcy Courts

U.S. Tax Court U.S. Court of Federal Claims U.S. Court of International Trade

U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims Military Courts Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML)

1st Circuit 2nd Circuit 3rd Circuit 4th Circuit 5th Circuit

6th Circuit 7th Circuit 8th Circuit 9th Circuit

10th Circuit 11th Circuit D.C. Circuit Federal Circuit

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas

Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina

North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Guam Northern Mariana Islands Puerto Rico Tribal Virgin Islands

Admiralty & Maritime Antitrust Bankruptcy Commercial Law Construction Law Corporations Criminal Law

Family Law Finance & Banking Government Contracts Health Law Immigration Insurance Law Intellectual Property

Military Law Municipal Law Native American Law Pension & Retirement Benefits Products Liability Real Property Securities

Home

Search all Cases content above or navigate to specific content below.

Federal Cases by Court

Federal Cases by Circuit

Cases by State

Cases – Other U.S. Jurisdictions

Cases by Topic

TOOLS & RESOURCES

Words & Phrases

11/6/2023 Cases | Westlaw

https://1-next-westlaw-com.eu1.proxy.openathens.net/Browse/Home/Cases?transitionType=Default&contextData=(sc.Default) 2/2

Environmental Law Estate Planning

Labor & Employment Tax

Westlaw. © 2023 Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement Accessibility Supplier Terms Contact Us 1-800-REF-ATTY (1-800-733-2889) Improve Westlaw/Report an error

,

11/6/2023 Discrimination by Type | U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

https://www.eeoc.gov/discrimination-type 1/2

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Discrimination by Type Learn about the various types of discrimination prohibited by the laws enforced by EEOC. We also provide links to the relevant laws, regulations and policy guidance, and also fact sheets, Q&As, best practices, and other information.

Age (https://www.eeoc.gov/age-discrimination)

Disability (https://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc-disability-related-resources)

Equal Pay/Compensation (https://www.eeoc.gov/equal-paycompensation- discrimination)

Genetic Information (https://www.eeoc.gov/genetic-information- discrimination)

Harassment (https://www.eeoc.gov/harassment)

National Origin (https://www.eeoc.gov/national-origin-discrimination)

Pregnancy (https://www.eeoc.gov/pregnancy-discrimination)

Race/Color (https://www.eeoc.gov/racecolor-discrimination)

Religion (https://www.eeoc.gov/religious-discrimination)

Retaliation (https://www.eeoc.gov/retaliation)

Sex (https://www.eeoc.gov/sex-based-discrimination)

Sexual Harassment (https://www.eeoc.gov/sexual-harassment)

Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (https://www.eeoc.gov/node/133873)

11/6/2023 Discrimination by Type | U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

https://www.eeoc.gov/discrimination-type 2/2

About the Agency – English (https://youtu.be/VUfmv-1hrKU) Sobre la Agencia – Español (https://youtu.be/Jwj_t6Co758) About the Agency – ASL (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xB6lSD1GfiI)

,

11/6/2023 What is The IRAC Method – Everything You Need to Know

https://www.iracmethod.com/irac-methodology 1/10

IRAC METHOD

WHY DO WE ADVOCATE THE IRAC METHOD?

 

The IRAC method in law is a great way to answer problem-style law questions.  What does IRAC stand for? It

stands for four components: Issue, Rule, Analysis and Conclusion. By using this IRAC method in law, you can

break down any scenario into these components which will help make your legal analysis and answers more

organized than if they were not structured like that!

 

WHAT IS THE IRAC METHOD?

HOME A LEVELS LLB GDL/PGDL FE-1 SQE BAR CONTACT LAW BOOKSHOP BLOG

11/6/2023 What is The IRAC Method – Everything You Need to Know

https://www.iracmethod.com/irac-methodology 2/10

The IRAC method in law is the heart of legal analysis. It allows you to think about any problem as an equation

with two sides – one side representing your observance or breach of contract and another representing their

respective remedies (such as damages).

 

The beauty in this system lies not only within its simplicity but also because it forces lawyers into thinking

critically by identifying areas where they may have overlooked something important before moving on too

quickly! If you want learn how IRAC works then keep reading.

WHO INVENTED THE IRAC METHOD? IRAC is an acronym that stands for “initials of genre-relevant aspects.” Though many scholars reference IRAC in

legal writing literature, there is no clear record as to its genesis and underlying principles.

 

The IRAC Method was a military training exercise that was created to teach new recruits how they could use

their ability in problem solving when on battle�elds. This idea came about during World War II where there

were many problems with raw soldiers being drafted into combat without any form of instruction for what

would happen next – this led them having little sense towards tactics which ultimately resulted failure at times

even though some did surprisingly well given these circumstances.

IRAC helped kick start a revolution in law school course design. The early 1960s saw only one bar-review course

available for students at Michigan's Wayne State University, taught by Professor Melvyn Nord whose lectures

covered every topic but did not spend much time on essay writing because that was how things were done

then–and still are!

When Professor Josephson started teaching legal research and writing in 1969, the course had two major

differences from other bar-review courses: Professors who were seasoned law professors did all of their lectures

and he emphasized relying on IRAC analysis for assessment and legal writing.

 

Josephson's Bar Review Centre became dominant in Michigan within a few years, and by 1973 they were

enrolling 14k students across America. By 1980 Josephson had moved his company to Los Angeles where he

took on the growing California bar-review market that was worth an estimated $4 million annually at its peak.

IRAC has been used to help win World War II, make Mike Josephson a multi-millionaire and it can work for you.

HOW DO I USE THE IRAC METHOD?

HOME A LEVELS LLB GDL/PGDL FE-1 SQE BAR CONTACT LAW BOOKSHOP BLOG

11/6/2023 What is The IRAC Method – Everything You Need to Know

https://www.iracmethod.com/irac-methodology 3/10

  HOW TO FIND THE ISSUE IN A LAW ASSIGNMENT

Answering problem-based questions can be dif�cult, as they often rely on knowledge of the law rather than

direct requirements. In these cases, it is essential to identify the core issue in order to correctly answer the

question. This can be done by asking relevant legal rules and making sense of the scenario presented. With this

approach, you will be able to pinpoint the key information needed to answer the question correctly.

When confronted with a legal issue, it is essential to consider the precise question you must answer in order to

offer counsel to the parties concerned. This question will ultimately determine the outcome of the case.

 

For instance, if you are unsure about whether a contract is binding, you will need to consider whether there was

a correct offer and an acceptance mirroring that offer. If not, then the contract may not be enforceable under

our law. By thinking about the speci�c issue at hand, you can begin to research the relevant law and determine

how it applies to the situation.

EXAMPLE OF ISSUE

Issue: When is a contract binding?  What is an offer?  What is acceptance? Is a contract binding when there was no offer?

Issue spotting is a critically important skill for law students. In order to provide sound legal advice, it is necessary

to identify all of the relevant issues in a problem scenario. Unfortunately, many students have dif�culty spotting

issues, which can lead to them providing inaccurate or incomplete advice. Issue spotting can be tricky, but there

are a few tips that can help.

 

First, it is important to use the IRAC method when analyzing a problem. This will ensure that you consider all of

the relevant legal issues. Second, familiarize yourself with the types of issues that commonly arise in different

areas of law. If you know what to look for, you will be more likely to spot an issue when it arises. Finally, bear in

mind that the legal topic you are tackling can include many legal issues. In fact, usually there are around 3 to 5

legal issues in a standard problem scenario.

 

It is necessary for you to identify every single legal issue and provide a separate rule and analysis for each of

them to reach the �nal advice that you will give to the persons mentioned in the scenario. By following this

method, you can improve your issue spotting skills and become a better lawyer.

WHAT IS THE RULE?

In order to determine which speci�c law is applicable to the legal issue at hand, one must engage in a process

of Rule identi�cation. Rule identi�cation involves some digging through study materials to �nd the right cases

and/or statute sections which will help answer the legal question asked. The rule should be stated as a general

principle, and not as a conclusion to the scenario being analyzed.

 

The Rule Identi�cation step is a critical part of the IRAC method, as it allows us to move on to applying the law

to the facts of our particular situation. Without correctly identifying the applicable rule, we run the risk of

misapplying the law and coming to an incorrect conclusion. As a result, before continuing with the analysis,

HOME A LEVELS LLB GDL/PGDL FE-1 SQE BAR CONTACT LAW BOOKSHOP BLOG

11/6/2023 What is The IRAC Method – Everything You Need to Know

https://www.iracmethod.com/irac-methodology 4/10

care must be made to make sure the right rule is found. After applying the rule, you may go to IRAC's third

stage, analysis.

 

ARTICULATE RULES

Rule identi�cation is important for a law student or professional for many reasons. It allows you to determine

which legal rules are relevant to your problem scenario and to apply the rules correctly to �nd the right

conclusion. Rule identi�cation also demonstrates to the examiner that you understand how to make a

distinction between the legal issue and the legal rule applicable to the scenario. This is a very important skill for

any law student or professional.

 

You can use our law books to help you identify the relevant legal rules. Our law books give you the information

you need while focusing and breaking down the information using IRAC. All of the information provided in our

subject speci�c text books is divided into the IRAC information you will need.

HOW TO DO THE ANALYSIS

Analysis is the longest and most important section of an IRAC answer. Here, you will apply the rule to the

speci�c facts in the problem scenario. You will need to rely on the facts to describe how the rule you are

applying can result in a conclusion. It is essential that you talk about both sides of the case.

 

Analysis requires a great deal of critical thinking and could be compared to solving a puzzle. All of the pieces

must �t together in order for the picture to be complete. Analysis is where you will demonstrate your

understanding of the law and how it applies to the given facts. To be successful, you must use our law books

which provide numerous examples and explanations to help with your analysis.

Analysis is key in IRAC writing – without it, you will not be able to properly apply the legal rule to the facts in the

problem scenario and reach a conclusion. Our law books can help you with analysis, by breaking down the rule

into its component parts and explaining how it applies to the facts of your problem scenario.

 

Once you have carried out your analysis, you should be able to reach a well-reasoned conclusion that is backed

up by the rule and the facts. If you �nd that your conclusion is not supported by your analysis, then this means

that you have not really used IRAC correctly and will need to go back and revise your work. Analysis is therefore

essential in ensuring that you are using IRAC correctly and producing a well-reasoned piece of legal writing.

When analyzing the legal rules applicable to the scenario, you will likely have to call on the facts of speci�c cases

which you identi�ed. The best way to use those cases is to compare and contrast the facts in those cases with

the facts in the problem scenario. Then, you should look at the decision in the case and �gure out whether the

court would be likely to make the same decision if they were faced with ruling on the facts included in the

scenario.

 

The simple rule here is that if the facts of the scenario are similar enough to the facts of the case, then the

judges would be likely to follow the decision in the case. However, it is important to remember that every case is

unique and that courts may sometimes deviate from previous decisions. As such, it is always important to

carefully analyze all of the facts and arguments before coming to a conclusion.

 

HOME A LEVELS LLB GDL/PGDL FE-1 SQE BAR CONTACT LAW BOOKSHOP BLOG

11/6/2023 What is The IRAC Method – Everything You Need to Know

https://www.iracmethod.com/irac-methodology 5/10

Another important note is your course conveyers are likely to test you on an area that is controversial so the

analysis is also expecting you to clarify what the law says.

HOW TO COME TO THE CONCLUSION

The �nal step of using the IRAC method is writing a conclusion that explains the most probable outcome, which

you will be able to identify after you have applied the rule to the issue and analyzed it. State the outcome of your

analysis in a clear and concise manner.

 

For instance, "The contract between plaintiff and defendant is non-existent" is a good example of a very well-

formulated conclusion. Do not forget that the outcome cannot be vague; it has to be transparent and clear. Use

our law books which help you with a conclusion. The different sections will give you an excellent idea of how to

formulate your own conclusion based on your speci�c legal problem.

 

Conclusion-writing is a skill that takes time and practice to perfect, but by using the resources available to you;

you can write great conclusions for your IRACs. Using IRAC you should produce  the case study conclusion. The

scenario does not provide enough information for a de�nite conclusion to be reached. It is deigned to inspire a

debate. Never sit on the fence. Put yourself in the Judged position to predict what the outcome of a judgement

would be.  

 

The application of the law in this case would depend on X, Y and Z. Therefore, you can use words such as “is

more likely than not” when discussing the legal rules and applying them to the legal issues. Make sure to

discuss those X, Y and Z factors when analyzing the legal rules and applying them to the legal issues. Our Q&A

Series law books can help you reach a conclusion by providing information on the law and how it applies to

different scenarios.

CONCLUSION

The scenario does not provide enough information for a de�nite conclusion to be reached; with more

information about X, Y and Z we can give more accurate advice.

HOME A LEVELS LLB GDL/PGDL FE-1 SQE BAR CONTACT LAW BOOKSHOP BLOG

11/6/2023 What is The IRAC Method – Everything You Need to Know

https://www.iracmethod.com/irac-methodology 6/10

IRAC METHOD EXAMPLE

If you want to see a worked example of the IRAC Method, we have worked through a past Contract Law exam

question and a past Land Law problem question, to demonstrate how it works.

CRITICISMS OF THE IRAC METHOD

The IRAC method is a very popular method of legal reasoning, but it has its fair share of opponents. The

fundamental justi�cation offered by IRAC's proponents is that it aids in organizing legal analysis by simplifying

legal reasoning to the application of a formula. IRAC may be a highly helpful technique since a well-organized

legal analysis is simpler to understand and has fewer reasoning mistakes.

 

However, some people argue that IRAC can lead to oversimpli�cation and that it encourages people to focus on

the rules rather than the underlying principles of law. Ultimately, whether or not IRAC is a helpful tool depends

on the individual user. Some people �nd it extremely useful, while others prefer to use other methods of legal

reasoning.

It is sometimes argued that the IRAC technique encourages overwriting and oversimpli�es the complexity of

sound legal analysis. According to this perspective, a solid legal analysis should consist of a serious, well-

researched essay that is presented in an approachable style. An open format is necessary to allow legal reasons

to focus on effectively presenting their argument rather than strictly following a prescribed structure, which

lessens this emphasis. When writing law essays I have devised the Fact Law Sandwich. This method allows you

you think about the structure and the presentation of advice easily . 

 

IRAC may be helpful when you have a short amount of time and need to come up with a clear and simple

solution to an issue, but it's crucial to keep in mind that it's only one method of approaching legal analysis.

There are many different ways to format your law notes, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. It

is up to the individual lawyer to decide which method works best for them.

FAQ's

 

 

CONCLUSION

How do you answer a law question using IRAC?

What is the most important part of IRAC?

How do I f ind my IRAC issue?

HOME A LEVELS LLB GDL/PGDL FE-1 SQE BAR CONTACT LAW BOOKSHOP BLOG

11/6/2023 What is The IRAC Method – Everything You Need to Know

https://www.iracmethod.com/irac-methodology 7/10

IRAC is an analytical method used to dissect legal issues. IRAC stands for Issue, Rule, Analysis, and Conclusion.

The IRAC method provides a framework for organizing your thoughts and Ideas when writing about a legal

issue.

 

The issue is the legal question that is being asked. The Rule is the law that applies to the Issue. The Analysis is

where you apply the rule to the facts of the case. The Conclusion is your answer to the Issue based on your

Analysis. The application/analysis component of an IRAC method is the most signi�cant since it creates the

solution to the problem at hand. In this section, you must think like a lawyer and argue both sides of the issue

before coming to a decision. This section can be dif�cult if you are not familiar with legal concepts and

reasoning.

However, there are many resources available to help you understand and apply the law. There are many law

books available that can be helpful, especially if you are just starting to learn about law. In addition, there are

books on IRAC and other legal reasoning methods that can provide guidance on how to approach legal issues.

With some practice, you will be able to use IRAC to analyze legal issues and reach sound conclusions effectively.

 

The IRAC method is a great way to break down complex legal problems into manageable steps. By breaking the

problem down into four logical stages, students can more easily follow the reasoning and reach a conclusion.

The IRAC method is used in our law books and other books on law, making it a great tool for beginners.

However, it is also useful for more experienced lawyers who need to refresh their skills. By using the IRAC

method, lawyers can be sure that they have covered all the relevant issues and arrived at a sound conclusion.

OUR CORE SERIES LAW BOOKS Law books can be very dry and boring, making them dif�cult to get through for anyone who is not particularly

interested in the subject. However, the Core Series law books take a different approach, starting with a general

principle before moving on to more speci�c information. This makes them much easier to understand for

anyone who is new to the subject.

In addition, the books for law students are very well-organized, so you can quickly �nd the information you

need. Law Notes providers are also a great resource for beginners, as they provide clear and concise

explanations of the law. However, what sets the Core Series books apart from other law textbooks is that they

are speci�cally designed to be used by students who are studying law courses. As a result, they are an essential

resource for anyone who is planning on taking any law course exam.

HOME A LEVELS LLB GDL/PGDL FE-1 SQE BAR CONTACT LAW BOOKSHOP BLOG

11/6/2023 What is The IRAC Method – Everything You Need to Know

https://www.iracmethod.com/irac-methodology 8/10

The books for law students provide authority for the principle of a case will be a full citation. The books then

present the facts of each of the cases. This is important for two reasons �rstly, to familiarize the student with the

case. The court has made its decision in this context. Second similar facts will be used to test your knowledge.

Next, the books provide the Ratio decidendi, with this is the decision that decided the case. This is what law

lecturers and professors want to see in your law answers, not just the facts. Lastly, the books talk to you about

applying the case and explain how the case should be applied.

OUR Q&A LAW SERIES BOOKS The Core text series is complemented by our Law Books Q&A Series. Once students have mastered the broad

ideas and the legislation, our materials instruct them on how to arrange their responses. It presents students

with questions and answers using the IRAC Method by encouraging them to use the basic concept, the ratio

decidendi of each case, and demonstrating how to apply each case.

The majority of the questions addressed in these publications are regularly utilized by colleges for assigning

tasks, coursework, and assessment questions. Our law textbooks are frequently referred to and recommended

by professors as excellent resources for answering examination questions and are available in many university

and college libraries. Our aim has always been to make available quality material at affordable prices, and we

hope that these books will be found useful by students all over the world.

 

Our Q&A Series is a collection of instruction manuals that are designed to support you as you study and aid in

test success. Each book in the Q&A Series is centred on a particular law degree curriculum. Each volume in the

Q&A Series is a high-quality compilation of written test questions, together with their concise and

understandable solutions. With features like case essays and issue question responses, we go down to the point

and demonstrate what you need to know.

 

By showing you how to apply what you have learned to detailed problem-solving and essay-writing Question

and Answer Series, we go even further. For each of the aforementioned fundamental law degree courses, we

provide Q&A books. See the list below for the particular topics covered in each Q&A book. Alternately, see how

they function by examining the examples.

Our Law Books focus on explaining the law in simple terms, while our Q&A Book focuses on giving you

questions that mirror those asked in law school exams with full explanatory answers. Our Question and Answer

Series is designed to give you the tools needed to con�dently tackle any question that may come up in your

exams. Get ahead of the competition by adding our law books to your arsenal today!

LAW BOOKSHOP

HOME A LEVELS LLB GDL/PGDL FE-1 SQE BAR CONTACT LAW BOOKSHOP BLOG

11/6/2023 What is The IRAC Method – Everything You Need to Know

https://www.iracmethod.com/irac-methodology 9/10

DO YOU NEED LAW TUITION?

BOOK THE LAW TUTOR

CONTACT

Private Law Tutor Publishing

7 Bell Yard

London

WC2A 2JR

www.IRACMethod.com

HOME A LEVELS LLB GDL/PGDL FE-1 SQE BAR CONTACT LAW BOOKSHOP BLOG

11/6/2023 What is The IRAC Method – Everything You Need to Know

https://www.iracmethod.com/irac-methodology 10/10

TRIBUTE TO HM QUEEN ELIZABETH II

HOME A LEVELS LLB GDL/PGDL FE-1 SQE BAR CONTACT LAW BOOKSHOP BLOG