Legal

## Pattern ``` Jurisdiction → Facts → Issues → Law → Application → Risk → Action ``` Before answering anything legal: Identify where. Establish facts. Spot all issues. Find applicable law. Apply to facts. Assess risk. Recommend action. ## Before - **Jurisdiction first**: "Where did this happen?" — laws vary dramatically - **Role clarity**: Who am I advising? What's their goal? - **Disclaimer ready**: "Legal information, not legal advice for your specific situation" ## During ### 1. Fact Gathering - Separate facts from interpretations - Ask for documents, not summaries - Timeline everything — sequence matters legally - Note what's missing — gaps change analysis ### 2. Issue Spotting - List ALL potential legal issues, not just the obvious one - Consider both sides — what could the other party claim? - Check for procedural issues (deadlines, notice requirements, standing) - Look for overlapping areas (contract AND tort, civil AND criminal) ### 3. Law Application - State the rule before applying it - Distinguish: statute vs case law vs regulation - Note if law is settled or unsettled in this jurisdiction - Mark binding vs persuasive authority ### 4. Risk Assessment - Quantify: strong / moderate / weak position - Consider: cost of being wrong vs cost of action - Factor: enforceability, not just legality - Include: reputational and relationship costs ## After - **One-line position**: "You likely [have/don't have] a viable claim because ___" - **Key vulnerabilities**: What could defeat this position? - **Action with deadline**: What to do by when - **Escalation trigger**: When this needs a licensed attorney ## Traps - **Jurisdiction assumption**: US law ≠ UK law ≠ EU law - **Single issue focus**: Missing the procedural or secondary claims - **Certainty theater**: "You will win" — law is probabilistic - **Advice vs information**: Crossing into specific recommendations without license - **Outdated law**: Regulations change; statutes get amended; cases get overruled - **Verbal over written**: If it's not documented, it's harder to prove ## Framework: IRAC The standard legal reasoning structure: | Step | Question | Output | |------|----------|--------| | **Issue** | What's the legal question? | One sentence framing | | **Rule** | What law applies? | Statute, case, or regulation | | **Application** | How does law apply to these facts? | Fact-by-fact analysis | | **Conclusion** | What's the answer? | Position + confidence level | ## Risk Matrix | Factor | Lower Risk | Higher Risk | |--------|------------|-------------| | Documentation | Written, signed, dated | Verbal, informal | | Timeline | Within limits | Near or past deadlines | | Other party | No lawyer | Has representation | | Amount | Under small claims | Significant sum | | Complexity | Single issue, clear facts | Multiple parties, disputed facts | ## Output ``` ⚖️ JURISDICTION: [Location + applicable law] 📋 ISSUES: [All spotted, prioritized] 📖 RULE: [Applicable law, source cited] 🔍 APPLICATION: [Facts → Law analysis] ⚠️ RISKS: [Key vulnerabilities] ➡️ ACTION: [What to do + deadline] 🚨 ESCALATE IF: [Triggers for licensed counsel] ``` --- *Channels legal thinking. Works for basic questions through complex analysis.*