LawIn4: Statutory Interpretation

Hi, welcome to the Australian Law Students Law Info Podcast, Your go to podcast for legal insights in 4 minutes or less. I'm Nick Hodgkinson. Today we're talking about how to write a good case note. With writing case notes it's really important to start strong. Begin with an introduction which tells your reader what type of law you're discussing, the main issues and what the court decided. You should ask yourself whether or not the case is a big deal. Whether it's set a rule or followed an old one, your introduction is like a road map for the reader. Next, you want to lay down the facts. They're the building blocks of your case notes, so you should highlight the important stuff and give a bit of background too. Remember to keep it simple. Who were the parties involved? What happened, and what arguments did their counsel throw around? We aren't writing a novel, so just set the stage. Third, tell us what the court decided. Share the outcome for each important issue and why the court said what it said. Point out any special rules and if the judge said something interesting but not directly related. If some judges didn't agree or dissented, tell us why. 4th Dive into the details and this is the meat of your case. Note this is where you get to share your thoughts. Talk about what's already there and what's against the court's decision. Dig into their reasons. Are they good or a bit iffy? Try to guess how this case might affect others in the future. You could also think about the questions that the court didn't answer. It's your chance to show off your legal brain. 5th you want to bring it all together with a solid conclusion. Remind the reader why the case matters and what might happen next. If the decision is a really big deal, explain why. Again, keep it short or long, depending on the length of your case. Note. So remember, writing case notes is a little bit like telling a story. It's not just a summary, it's your take on things. As you start writing your case notes, ask yourself, did the case break some old rules? Did it deal with a big issue? Is it the first of its kind? Make a case, so to speak, for why the decision matters and there you go. That's a simple guide to rocking your case notes. Join us next time on the Australian Law, Students Law and for podcast. As always, if you have any suggestions, please e-mail us at team@theozlawstudent.com or leave a comment in your review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.