Claude Prompt: Appellate Decision IRAC Memo With Pinpoint Cites
Turns an appellate decision you paste into an IRAC-style research memo in which every statement carries a page or paragraph marker. The holding is quoted, dicta only where the court marks it, and later history is left to your citator.
The Prompt
Variables (6)
| Variable | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| {{audience}} | Audience | construction litigation attorneys at Okafor and Lind LLP |
| {{decision_id}} | Decision Name, Court and Date | Hartwell Builders v. Lakeview Partners, Court of Appeals, decided March 4, 2026 |
| {{question}} | Research Question | Whether a payment clause conditioned on owner payment bars a subcontractor claim. |
| {{decision_text}} | Decision Text | Opinion text with page or paragraph markers as they appear in the source. |
| {{other_authority}} | Other Authority for Comparison | None pasted. |
| {{notes}} | Attorney Notes | The partner thinks this decision follows an older case. The older case is not in the file. |
Expected Output
A reasoning pass in analysis tags, then Part 1 attorney-only notes (passage register, conflicts, count and time check, cleared and held-back lists, the Part 2 check, classification left to the attorney, declined requests, missing information) and Part 2, the memo, then a verification list.
Usage Notes
Use when you need a research memo on one decision you already have. Paste the full decision with its page or paragraph markers, how you identify it, and the question the memo serves. Failure mode to watch: a statement with no pinpoint, a holding broader than the court's words, or any claim about the decision's later history. Check subsequent history in a citator. Not legal advice. The attorney remains responsible for verifying every fact, figure and authority before use.
Originally featured in: Claude vs Gemini for Lawyers: Which AI Is Better for Legal Work in 2026?
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* These prompts are drafting and analysis aids for licensed attorneys. They are not legal advice and do not replace professional judgment. AI output can contain errors, including invented citations and incorrect deadlines: verify every fact, figure, authority and deadline against primary sources before relying on it. Rules vary by jurisdiction, and you remain responsible for the final work product.