Your Name:

Now, CompuLEGAL will help you find laws, decide which party has the best legal argument, and support your decision with reasoning.


Part I - Find Laws

 
There are two types of law to be found:
  1. Legislative & Executive Law:  Those passed/authorized by state or federal legislatures or those issued by state or federal executives that apply to the facts of your case. For purpose of a CompuLEGAL analysis, you should review:
        •   The U.S. Constitution (Especially the Bill of Rights, the first ten Amendments to the
             Constitution).
  2. Case Law:  Court decisions from cases with facts similar to your case.  These are called precedents, or case law, because they guide judges in deciding similar cases.
       •  CompuLEGAL has selected precedents for your case on the Precedents Page.

Need Help?

What laws did you find?  What sentences and words seem important?  Where did you find them?


Part II - Make a Decision

 
Both parties in your case have arguments based on the laws you listed above.  Choose which party has the best legal arguments.  Which party is it?


Part III - Reasoning: Support Your Decision

 

Now, you can support your decision with a written reason. Your reason should:

  1. Explain how the written laws affect your case.
  2. Explain how the case law (precedents) applies to the facts of your case.
  3. Explain how the  this application helped you choose one side over the other.

You might want to review the facts of the case, and the issue question you printed.


Part IV (Optional) - Know the Other Side

Cases heard by the Supreme Court often have good legal arguments for both sides.  Now, argue for the other side.  Why might the law favor the other side in this case?  Again, your reason should 1) Explain how the legislative or executive laws affect your case 2) Explain how the case laws (precedents) apply to the facts of your case 3) Explain how the this application might help someone choose the other side.


When you are finished constructing your argument(s) print this page and proceed to sample arguments for this case.