Put the Legal Answer First
Write a legal memo opening that gives the answer, conditions, and stakes before background detail.
The first paragraph should answer the reader's real question: What can we do now? Lead with the answer A legal BLUF is not just yes or no. It is the answer plus the condition that makes the answer true. If the answer depends on missing facts, say that immediately. The reader can then help close the fact gap instead of discovering it late. Separate decision from proof CRAC keeps the opening useful and the body rigorous. The conclusion tells the reader where the analysis lands. The rule and application show why it lands there. The close converts analysis into a…
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