Legal Research & Writing Services for Attorneys

Since 1969, the National Legal Research Group has provided research and writing assistance to law firms of all shapes and sizes all across the country.  We do your research and writing for you, so that you can spend time on other areas of your practice---or your life.

Our 25+ attorneys have assisted over 50,000 attorneys on over 185,000 research projects.

This page will talk more in detail about some of the types of products we provide.  Other pages on the website talk about our research attorneys, our fees and turnaround times, our limited use of AI, and our operating procedures.

ADVOCACY PRODUCTS

Pleadings

NLRG's research attorneys regularly prepare pleadings for use in both state and federal courts.  The focus of a pleading is upon alleging all of the necessary elements of each cause of action you wish to raise.  In addition, in states that require pleadings to allege facts, we will work with you to allege those facts necessary to meet the requirement.

Discovery

One of the great misconceptions of the law is that cases are won or lost a trial.  Many cases are won or lost in discovery, as the production of a small set of documents can sometimes make a large difference in the ultimate outcome of litigation.

NLRG's research attorneys can draft interrogatories, requests for productions of documents, and subpoenas duces tecum.  We can prepare lists of questions to ask key witnesses at a deposition.  We can help you review documents produced during discovery, to separate the relevant material from a sea of useless chaff.

Motions

While some issues are litigated at trial, other issues are litigated on motions.  In many types of litigation, motions to dismiss, motions for judgment on the pleadings and motions for summary judgment are common.  NLRG's research attorneys regularly draft such motions, oppositions to such motions, and briefs in support of each.

Motions to dismiss are used not only to test legal theories, but also to raise issues regarding the jurisdiction of the court.  Our Civil Procedure specialists deal regularly with jurisdictional issues, and can argue either side of this important threshold issue.

Parties will often seek to exclude crucial pieces of the other side's evidence by filing a motion in limine.  These evidentiary issues can be crucial to the outcome of a case.  NLRG's research attorneys have experience arguing both for and against admission of important evidence.

Trial Briefs

One common trial court advocacy product is a trial brief. A trial brief can be a single written product arguing the entire case, or a more limited brief focusing upon one more more specific issues. The focus is upon convincing a trial court to agree with the position you and your client are taking.

If you want to submit case copies to the court, we can provide them free of additional change with any written product.

An advocacy brief can argue a position not only to a trial judge, but also to a mediator, arbitrator, or other non-judicial decision-maker.

Appellate Briefs

NLRG's legal research attorneys routinely prepare briefs to all state and federal appellate courts, including state supreme courts, the Federal Circuits, and even the United States Supreme Court.

Our appellate briefs are signature-ready---they are formatted properly for the court to which they are addressed, such that if you like the brief, all you have to do is sign and submit it.

You are free, of course, to make as many or as few changes as you deem appropriate. If you makes changes, time permitting, our staff will be happy to rerun Tables of Contents and Tables of Authorities so that the page numbering is proper.

OBJECTIVE PRODUCTS

Objective Memoranda

Advocacy is important, but it is not the only thing lawyers do. Some cases are litigated, but many cases settle out of court.  Sometimes it is useful to have an objective assessment of a case, for purposing of deciding what position to take in settlement, or whether a specific settlement offer is favorable.

Also, litigating cases requires attorneys to make important strategic and tactical decisions, some of which can be close and difficult. Our objective products can walk you through the plusses and minuses of several proposed courses of action, helping you determine which course of action is in your client's best interests.

In addition, clients of lawyers, like clients of doctors, sometimes ask for a second opinion.  Our objective products can give you an independent look at a particular issue, which many help reassure a client that litigation is being pursued appropriately.

NLRG's objective products are just that---objective.  Our research attorneys have significant expertise working in their fields of specialty.  When we are asked to be objective, we do not hesitate to tell the truth as we see it, even if the truth is less than favorable.  There is a place for advocacy, but there is also a place for honest assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of a position.

Shorter Written Products

NLRG's full written products are the most complete and useful product we provide. But we are well aware that not every case involves sufficient funds to justify full research.  Setting budgets is always a balancing act between the work which is objectively needed on the facts, and the cost which the client can afford.

When cost is an issue, we can prepare what we call a summary memo---a shorter written product, focusing upon giving you an answer to a specific question, or arguing for your desired answer to a specific issue.  A summary memo is not appropriate for every issue---some issues require full discussion.  For example, it may not be possible to fully discuss the constitutionality of major federal statute in a four-page summary memo. But where an issue is suitable for discussion or argument in a shorter format, a summary memo is an option.

Telephone or Email Reports

Our most cost-effective product is a short report.  Traditionally, we delivered these reports by telephone, and followed up up with a very short written letter.

With email, we can deliver a short written report quickly, with little or no passage of time between the time when we finish work and the time when you receive the product.

Our email reports, like our telephone reports, sacrifice depth of research in the interests of a shorter turnaround time and a lower cost.  These reports are not appropriate in every case; some cases involve complex questions which require a fuller answer.  But where the issue being researched is simple, our shorter reports can deliver considerable substance for a very affordable price.

We often include copies of cases free of charge with our shorter products.