For this assignment, we would like you to come up with a memo to the managing partner at your law firm about an impactful legal case. We will provide a template for the memo, but you must choose a case, do the research, and write the substantive parts of the memo. Importantly: you must cite all the sources you use- including the use of any AI tools.

Directions:

• Find a US Supreme Court case that interests you, and read the summary on Oyez.org. There are multiple ways to find a good case.
  • You may have heard of a case in the news recently that interested you, such as Sackett v. EPA, which deals with the rules around wetlands. Go to Oyez.org and enter "Sackett" in the search bar at upper right. Click the link for the recent decision (https://www.oyez.org/cases/2022/21-454Links to an external site.)
  • Go to Oyez.org and search for a case based on an issue that interests you (https://www.oyez.org/issuesLinks to an external site.)
  • Find a case in the textbook or slides and search for it on Oyez.org (make sure it is a US Supreme Court case, not a case from a state court or lower appellate court).
  • Review a list of landmark cases and choose one that interests you. Find the case on Oyez.org and read the summary. Here is one list of landmark cases:https://www.americanbar.org/groups/public_education/programs/constitution_day/landmark-casesLinks to an external site.
• Review the video and slides for Module3.1 Basic Skills: Writing.
• Download the memo template, available here:Memo Template Assignment rev2025.docx
• Actions
• Using the skills you learned in Module 3.1, complete the memo in the "Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion" style.
• Upload your memo in Word or PDF format for grading.

Additional notes:

• AI in all its current forms is notoriously unreliable for legal writing. It will give you the wrong facts, the wrong holding, and even cite to made-up cases to defend its arguments. It is your choice to use it or not, but you are ultimately responsible for the work you turn in with your name on it.
• Importantly: if you use AI, you must cite any AI tools you use, by explaining what parts of the memo you developed with the help of AI, and listing the prompts and type of AI tool you used at the end of the paper in the Works Cited portion.
• For this memo, we only want you to summarize the majority opinion (also called the "opinion of the Court.") You do not need to address any dissenting or concurring opinions. Also, please be sure you choose a case with a majority opinion- a case that has a "per curiam" or other unsigned opinion will not work well.
• There is no minimum or maximum length for the memo. Use the template and address the issue with as much detail as you feel is appropriate.

• The general rule is that if you use three or more consecutive words verbatim from a source, you should enclose the passage in quotes and cite it. If you are paraphrasing a thought or idea, but not using the words verbatim, then you should still cite at the end of that thought or sentence. When in doubt, cite!! You will never get in trouble for citing too much. Citing too little, however, may be considered and carries heavy consequences.