Law

When undertaking legal research it is best to begin by consulting  Secondary Materials such as books, journals, legal dictionaries and encyclopedias. These will provide the broader legal context of an issue, alert you to areas of uncertainty and debate,  as well as referring to key legislation and cases. Use the side menu of this guide to locate these secondary sources. You may then wish to search Primary Materials, including legislation and case law.

Legal problem solving becomes much easier when following a structured method.  Two methods used at UC are F.I.L.A and IRAC

1. FILA

• Determine the legally relevant or "material" Facts
• Identify the particular legal Issue(s) raised by the relevant facts
• Find the applicable Law(s)       
• Apply the law   
• Come to a conclusion and advise your client. 

For further details see the UC Law School's Guide.

2. IRAC (Issue, Rule, Application, Conclusion) 
This method is both a specific method of case analysis, or legal reasoning, and a useful framework for organising or writing out an analysis. It involves laying out the issue to be discussed, identifying the relevant legal rule, the application or analysis of material facts based on that rule, and the overall conclusion.
Further details are available courtesy of this Guide from the University of Western Australia.

This exam preparation guide prepared by Monash University Library provides a guide on how to prepare for exams, including tips and tricks and how to answer the problem questions.