What is an IRAC (also used as a verb, which may be referred to as IRAC-ing)? IRAC stands for issue, rule, analysis, and conclusion and refers to a formula and method commonly used by law school students when analyzing a legal issue on an exam. Some professors prefer variations of the IRAC format. Here are the alternative versions of an IRAC: MIRAT, IDAR, CREAC, TREACC, CRuPAC, ISAAC and ILAC.
An IRAC can be viewed as a paragraph, which contains four functions. The structure of this paragraph can look like the examples we included below:
EXAMPLE #1
Plaintiff v. Defendant
I:
R:
A:
C:
EXAMPLE #2
Plaintiff v. Defendant (state the issue here)
R:
A:
C:
Once the student has set the structure of the paragraph, the student can fill it in with the relevant content. Below are examples of how a student can fill in the structures in Example #1 and Example #2:
EXAMPLE #1 (stage 2)
Allison v. Bob
I: Is Bob liable for assault?
R: An individual may be held liable for assault if the following elements are met…
A: Here,…
C: Thus,…
EXAMPLE #2 (stage 2)
Allison v. Bob (Assault)
R: An individual may be held liable for assault if the following elements are met…
A: Here,…
C: Thus,…
The student may also decide to remove any explicit reference to the IRAC structure and may delete any mention of the I, the R, the A, and the C. Below is an example:
EXAMPLE #1 (stage 2)
Allison v. Bob
Is Bob liable for assault?
An individual may be held liable for assault if the following elements are met…
Here,…
Thus,…
LAW SCHOOL STUDENTS BEWARE – YOUR POINTS ARE IN THE ANALYSIS SECTION
Although the structure of an analysis paragraph may be a hurdle for a law student, particularly a first year law student (also known as a 1L), this process is only an initial step that must be taken before a student can even begin to receive points on their exam. Many students will place a lot of time and effort toward memorizing and perfecting a rule, which is inserted in the rule section of the IRAC and which may only require 1-3 sentences in an IRAC paragraph. More importantly, many students fail to realize that most of the points that their professors have allocated to the exam can only be given in the analysis section, which may require 5-20 sentences. More specifically, even though students may know about this point allocation, they often fail to recognize that there is an additional structure or method which they can use in their analysis sentences, which increases their points received on an exam. This method is taught by LST – Law School Tutor and LST’s students have been very successful, as a result.
Accordingly, we made notations of potential point allocations in the IRAC below. It is merely an example of how a professor may weight the law school exam:
EXAMPLE #1 (stage 2)
Allison v. Bob
Is Bob liable for assault? (1 POINT)
An individual may be held liable for assault if the following elements are met… (1 POINT)
Here,… [insert LST – Law School Tutor analysis formula here to ensure you receive all points] (5-20 POINTS)
Thus,… (1 POINT)
HOW LST HELPS STUDENTS
LST – Law School Tutor assists students in achieving high grades, in order to ensure that they have better academic opportunities during law school and better job opportunities after law school.
For more information, please contact LST at info@law-school-tutor.com