How to Answer Law Problem Questions Using IRAC

15 August 2026 · 7 min read

A law problem question gives you a set of facts and asks you to advise a party. It is a different exercise from an essay: there is no place for a general history of the doctrine, and no credit for reciting everything you know about the topic. The examiner wants to see whether you can identify the legal issues these facts raise and apply the law to them.

IRAC, and what each letter demands

Issue — the precise legal question raised by the facts, framed narrowly.
Rule — the applicable law, with authority: statute section, case name, or both.
Application — the law applied to these specific facts, with counter-arguments.
Conclusion — a clear answer to the issue, even if qualified.

Run IRAC once per issue, not once for the whole question. A problem with four issues gets four IRAC cycles, each self-contained.

Spot the issues before you write

Read the facts twice. Every sentence in a well-drafted problem question is there for a reason: a date signals a limitation period, a phrase like "subject to availability" signals an invitation to treat, a mention of a sign in a car park signals notice of an exclusion clause. Underline these triggers and list your issues before writing a word. Missing an issue costs more than handling a spotted issue imperfectly.

State the rule tightly

The rule section is a summary, not an essay. One or two sentences of the applicable principle plus authority is usually enough: name the section, name the case, and state the test the case established. Do not narrate the facts of the authority unless you are drawing an analogy to your problem — in which case the relevant facts belong in the application, where they do work.

Application is where the marks are

This section should be the longest by far. Take each element of the test and match it against the facts you were given: "The requirement of an unequivocal acceptance is satisfied here because Anna posted her letter on the 3rd, before the revocation reached her." Then argue the other side — a strong answer acknowledges the counter-argument and explains why it is weaker. Facts that were given but not used are a signal you missed something.

Conclude, do not hedge

Give an actual answer: the claim is likely to succeed, or it is not.
Where the law is genuinely uncertain, say so and identify what the outcome turns on.
Advise the party you were asked to advise, in their terms.
Never end with "it depends" and nothing more — that is the one conclusion that earns no marks.

Common losses

Writing an essay on the area of law instead of answering the problem. Setting out rules and never returning to the facts. Discussing an issue the facts do not raise. Citing authority without stating the principle it supports. And running out of time on the final issue — allocate your minutes across issues before you start writing.

Assignment Byte's law specialists can review your problem answers for issue identification, authority use and the strength of your application.