En el sistema anglosajón y muy
especialmente en los EEUU se suele utilizar un documento entre los profesionales
de los despachos de las grandes firmas
legales llamado “interoffice memorándum” o MEMO. Este documento es preparado por un
abogado junior y destinado a un abogado senior en el cual analiza el caso que
le presenta su cliente exponiendo los hechos y sugiriendo las solucione posibles
para que sea supervisado por el veterano.
Seguiremos el libro de la
profesora de la Universidad de New York (USA) FORDHAM University Tony M.
Fine quien en su libro American Legal Systems: A Resource and
Reference Guide dedica un capítulo.
1- Definition of a MEMO: document prepared by an attorney for another usually more senior
attorney in that office. It is intended for internal purposes and will normally
be read only by the senior attorney who is supervising and perhaps, the client.
It contains both legal and factual information: provide the reader with an
analysis of the legal implications associated with a specific event or course
of action (taken or proposed).
2-
Purposes of the MEMO:
·
Educate
and inform the reader
·
Help
the reader formulate and evaluate strategic options
·
Help
the reader counsel the client
3-
Objectivity of the MEMO:
the interoffice memorandum should be neutral and objective. Should present
the full range of possibilities based on a thoughtful analysis of the law and
of course it is a confidential document. Whether that result would be favorable
to the client or not the MEMO must present any alternative possibilities.
4- Structure and format of the MEMO: Law Firms may have their own model format, and
individuals within that firm may have personal stylistics preferences. Double-spaced.
The structure use to be the next:
·
HEADING
·
QUESTION(S) PRESENTED
·
SHORT ANSWER(S)
·
STATEMENT OF FACTS
·
LEGAL ANALISYS
·
CONCLUSIONS
We will continue in another post speaking about the MEMO structure.
Lex Economy
Legal and Tax Advisors