A succinct document that provides an opinion on the state of the law surrounding a particular legal issue. Memos of law function as reference tools for lawyers.
General form: the memo of law will state the legal issue/research question, followed by a short summary of the pertinent facts, an outline of the applicable law, and a conclusion.
Typically, memos of law are drafted by articling students or junior lawyers for more senior lawyers to get an idea of what the law says. They can also be drafted by lawyers for their own use and ongoing reference, particularly when strategic decisions are made (for example, deciding to not pursue a particular application).
