HOW TO WRITE A CASE SUMMARY

Authored By: Grace Akhihiero

University of Benin

Abstract

This article explains how to write a case summary. A case summary is a short explanation of a court decision that focuses on the important facts, the legal issue, the court’s reasoning, and the final decision. This article outlines the key parts of a good case summary, including the case name, facts, legal issue, arguments, reasoning, legal rule (ratio decidendi), and the outcome. It also gives helpful tips for writing effectively and avoiding common mistakes. The aim is to help law students and legal professionals develop the skills needed to understand and summarise court decisions with ease.

Introduction

One of the most important skills for any law student or legal professional is the ability to read, understand, and explain court judgments. A court judgment often contains a lot of information, but not every detail is needed all the time. This is where a case summary becomes useful. A case summary is a short and clear explanation of a court case. It focuses on the key facts, the legal issue, the court’s decision, and the reason behind that decision.

This article explains, in simple terms, how to write a good case summary. It is meant to help law students, legal researchers, and young lawyers understand the structure and purpose of a case summary.

What Is a Case Summary?

A case summary is a brief written account of a legal case. It explains what the case was about, what legal problem the court was asked to solve, how the court answered that problem, and what the final decision was. Instead of reading a long and complex judgment, someone can read a case summary to quickly understand the most important points.

A well written case summary should include only the necessary information. It should not be too long or too short. The goal is to explain the case in a way that is easy to understand and remember.

Why Are Case Summaries Important?

Case summaries are important for several reasons. First, they help law students prepare for classes and exams by making it easier to understand complex judgments. Second, they assist lawyers and judges in quickly identifying the relevance of a case when preparing for court or writing legal opinions. Third, they help in legal research by providing a quick overview of past decisions. In all these situations, a well-structured summary can save time and improve understanding.

Structure of a Case Summary

A good case summary follows a clear structure. Each part plays a role in helping the reader understand the judgment. Below are the key parts of a typical case summary.

Case Name and Citation

Every summary should begin with the full name of the case. This includes the names of the parties involved, the name of the court, the year of the decision, and where the case can be found (the citation). For example: Madukolu v Nkemdilim (1962) 2 SCNLR 341. Providing this information helps the reader locate the full judgment if they want to read it.

Procedural History

This part tells the reader how the case got to the current court. It briefly explains what happened in the lower courts and whether the case was appealed. For example, it may say that the case started in a High Court, went to the Court of Appeal, and then came before the Supreme Court. This information helps the reader understand the journey of the case and the importance of the court’s decision.

Facts of the Case

The facts section explains the events that led to the legal dispute. It includes the background of the case, such as what happened, who was involved, and why the matter was brought to court. The summary should focus only on the facts that are necessary to understand the legal issue. Unimportant details should be left out. The goal is to provide just enough information to make sense of the court’s reasoning.

Legal Issue

The legal issue is the main question that the court had to decide. It is usually written as a simple question. For example: “Did the trial court have jurisdiction to hear the case when it was not properly constituted?” Identifying the correct legal issue is important because the rest of the summary depends on it. Some cases may involve more than one legal issue, but the summary should focus on the most important ones.

Arguments of the Parties

In this part, the summary explains what each side argued in court. It briefly states the position of the plaintiff or appellant and the response of the defendant or respondent. The arguments should be summarised clearly and simply. This helps the reader understand the background of the legal dispute and how the court reached its decision.

Court’s Reasoning

This section explains how the court applied the law to the facts of the case. It describes what legal rules the court used and why the court reached its conclusion. The reasoning may include references to statutes, constitutional provisions, or earlier cases. It is important to explain the reasoning in your own words and not to copy directly from the judgment. If there were any concurring or dissenting opinions from other judges, they can be mentioned briefly.

Ratio Decidendi

The ratio decidendi is the legal rule or principle that comes from the court’s decision. It is the most important part of the judgment because it can be used as a precedent in future cases. A good case summary should clearly state what the ratio is. For example, the ratio in Madukolu v Nkemdilim was that a court is only competent if it is properly constituted, has jurisdiction over the subject matter, and the case was brought according to the law.

Obiter Dicta

Sometimes, a judge makes comments that are not directly related to the decision. These are called obiter dicta. They are not binding, but they can be useful in future cases. If the judge makes an important observation or suggestion about the law, it can be included in the summary, but only if it adds value to the understanding of the case.

Final Decision

The summary should end the main discussion by stating what the court decided. Did the court allow the appeal or dismiss it? Who won the case? What orders were given? This part should be clear and direct. The decision shows how the legal issue was resolved.

Importance of the Case

If the case is important in the development of the law, the writer can briefly explain why. Did the case change the law? Did it clarify an unclear legal principle? Has it been followed by other courts? This part is especially useful in academic writing or legal analysis.

Tips for Writing a Good Case Summary

To write a good summary, it is important to keep it simple, clear, and focused. Avoid using complex legal terms unless necessary. Do not include facts that are not relevant to the legal issue. Do not just copy long passages from the judgment. Instead, explain the case in your own words. Also, make sure the summary follows a logical flow, from the background of the case to the court’s decision.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Some common mistakes include adding too much detail, missing the main legal issue, failing to explain the court’s reasoning, and forgetting to mention the final decision. Another mistake is confusing the ratio decidendi with obiter dicta. These mistakes can make the summary unclear and less useful.

Conclusion

A case summary is a valuable tool for understanding and explaining court decisions. It allows readers to learn the most important parts of a case without reading the full judgment. By following a clear structure, that is, starting from the case name and facts, through the legal issue and reasoning, to the final decision and legal principle, a person can write a summary that is useful, accurate, and easy to understand. This skill is essential for legal study, legal practice, and legal writing.

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