Legal memoranda (“memos”) are a staple of the legal field. There are all kinds legal memos. Objective memos
ask you to draft a legal opinion that is neutral and displays all sides of a legal argument. Persuasive memos
are drafted with a specific result in mind. Whether you work for a judge, a public office, or a private firm, legal
memos are going to be a big part of your job. That being said, it’s very important to develop your memo-writing
skills. The purpose of this assignment is to draft a persuasive memo based on the facts given to you in your
Legal Memoranda Topics.
INSTRUCTIONS
Topic: Is This a Homicide?
Toby was fired from his job. Too proud to apply for unemployment benefits, he used his savings to feed his
family. When one of his children became ill, Toby did not seek medical attention for the child at a state clinic
because he did not want to accept what he regarded as charity. Eventually, weakened by malnutrition, the child
died as a result of the illness.
You are a state prosecutor and have been assigned to prepare a legal memorandum that analyzes and
determines the most appropriate homicide charge to file against Toby for the death of his child.
Your memorandum must include an explanation of the following homicide offenses as applied to the facts of
this case:
A. Murder
B. Involuntary manslaughter
C. Voluntary manslaughter
Your memo must meet the following requirements:
• The length of assignment 2,500 words
• The assignment must be written according to current Bluebook writing with FOOTNOTES
• The assignment must contain a minimum of 5 sources
Sample Solution