Case Brief Club

Read, analyze, and brief legal cases, together.

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About the Club

The Case Brief Club is an academic and professional development group that helps students learn how to read, analyze, and brief legal cases.

We’re students at UNC Charlotte who share an interest in legal analysis and preparation for law school. Members practice breaking down court opinions into key components: facts, issues, rules, reasoning, and holdings. Through collaborative discussions and guided practice, we build skills in legal reasoning, critical thinking, and structured analysis, essential for law school and legal internships.

Our Purpose

  • Familiarize students with legal case reading and briefing techniques
  • Develop analytical and critical thinking skills
  • Prepare members for law school coursework and internships
  • Improve reading comprehension of complex legal texts
  • Encourage discussion of legal reasoning and judicial decision-making
  • Provide exposure to real court cases and legal concepts
  • Create a community for pre-law and law-interested students

What We Do

1

Case Briefing Workshops

Members learn how to structure a case brief using standard components:

  • Facts
  • Procedural History
  • Issue
  • Rule
  • Reasoning
  • Holding
  • Dissent / Concurrence (if applicable)

Beginner meetings include step-by-step guidance.

2

Weekly Case Discussions

Each week we select one case for members to read beforehand. Meetings include:

  • Group breakdown of the case
  • Comparing individual briefs
  • Discussing judicial reasoning
  • Exploring how the case impacts law or society
3

Skill-Building Sessions

Occasional meetings focused on:

  • How to read legal opinions efficiently
  • Legal vocabulary and terminology
  • IRAC method (Issue–Rule–Application–Conclusion)
  • Law school expectations
4

Guest Speakers

We invite law students, attorneys, professors, and alumni in law school to share:

  • How briefing cases helped them
  • Law school realities
  • Internship advice

Benefits to Members

  • Strong preparation for law school
  • Improved analytical thinking
  • Resume-boosting academic involvement
  • Networking with pre-law peers
  • Better understanding of the legal system
  • Confidence in handling dense readings

Low-Stress & Sustainable

We keep the club manageable so everyone can participate without burning out.

  • Meet bi-weekly if weekly feels heavy
  • Rotate facilitators
  • Keep cases short (5–10 pages)
  • Provide templates for briefs
  • Focus on discussion, not perfection