Criminal law fact pattern example

Now you’re ready to apply the law to the facts of the case.
Start with the words “In this case…” to signify that this is the application section to the person grading the exam.
That may seem boring and repetitive.
So what.
Remember that the goal is to maximize points.
Don’t waste time reciting the facts contained in the exam question.

The rules applicable to your fact pattern.
These are going to be statutes and or legal principles you learned from cases in your course and incorporated into your outline.
You will find the rules in your brain.
You decide which rules are applicable to your fact pattern by the issues raised by your fact pattern.

For example, at common law, " Murder is the killing of another human being with malice aforethought and without justification or excuse ." The elements of the crime are killing ( actus reus) and malice aforethought i.e. intentional action ( mens rea ).

The issue presented by the fact pattern.
This is the issue you will analyze in your IRAC.
The issue may be directly stated in the fact pattern or it may not be.
If it is not stated, you will identify the issue by reading the fact pattern and using your brain to figure out the issue(s) raised by the fact pattern.