Does anyone know how I can learn how to brief a case (or court opinion)? Ora website for help?

Answer 1

If you mean "brief" as in to summarize for lawschool -- the standard format is called IRAC.

You can also look at any of the commercial handouts that do this ("Legalines", "High Court Summaries") for samples of the format.

The main concept is to be able to understand the legal issues being discussed, and to understand the case well enough to explain why the court reached that conclusion given those facts.

Answer 2

For each judgment you consider, read what's called the headnote, a summary of the facts, the issues and the decision, listed under the style of cause, the name of the case, i.e. Jones v. Jones. In MGM v. Grockster http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/27jun20051200/www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/04pdf/04-480.pdf, the headnote is several pages long. This is unusual but it was a complex case. The decision is listed after the term, Held.

Pay attention to whether all of the judges were in agreement. If not, how many were? The more they agree, the stronger (more reliable) the decision. Also, you can occasionally argue successfully on the basis of a good, strong dissent.

Answer 3

Hmm, someone taking a ConLaw class? Nothing more exciting than reading Supreme Court Opinions. Have fun.