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Courses/Legal Practice Skills & Management/Legal Research & Writing

Effective Memo-Writing 2026: The Cornerstone of Communication

Why the best legal writing happens in your head, not in a prompt box.

Created byToronto Lawyers Association
BeginnerUpdated Sep 17, 2026
Effective Memo-Writing 2026: The Cornerstone of Communication

What You'll Learn

check_circleAnalyze the risks and limitations of using AI tools for legal drafting and research
check_circleApply a structured framework to organize legal memoranda for internal and external audiences
check_circleDraft clear, concise legal advice that addresses specific client questions
check_circleImplement professional document management and citation practices
check_circleEvaluate the necessity of legal jargon and adopt plain language alternatives

About This Course

Are you a licensing candidate, articling student, or newly called lawyer ready to make your mark in the legal profession?

One of the core skills every successful lawyer must develop is legal memo writing—a cornerstone of effective legal analysis and communication.

Dive into the art of legal memo writing with our exclusive in-person program led by Neil Guthrie, Director of Professional Development, Research, and Knowledge Management at Aird & Berlis.

Neil will explore:

  • The purpose and function of a legal memorandum
  • How memo writing differs from law school assignments
  • The essential structure and elements of a strong memo
  • Understanding your audience
  • Strategies for addressing feedback from assigning lawyers
  • Practical writing tips

Your Instructors

Toronto Lawyers Association
Toronto Lawyers Association

Toronto Lawyers Association

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For more than 135 years, the Toronto Lawyers' Association, located within the Courthouse Library, has represented the interests of lawyers practising in the City of Toronto. The association was founded to support its members in three key areas: Knowledge, Advocacy, and Community. To uphold these pillars, the association offers a year-round mix of online and in-person education programs for lawyers, hosts both free and paid events to foster in-person networking, and submits advocacy pieces on behalf of its members to the Ontario bench and bar, all levels of government, and the broader public.

Neil Guthrie
Neil Guthrie

Neil Guthrie is a lawyer and writer. He was educated at the universities of Toronto (BA, LLB) and Oxford (D Phil). He is a director of professional development, research, and knowledge management at Aird & Berlis LLP. He teaches legal research and writing at the Faculty of Law, University of Toronto, and in the Law Practice Program at Ryerson University.

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Frequently Asked Questions

We are a registered provider with 327+ associations and regulatory bodies worldwide. We operate across 29 global markets including Canada, the US, Australia, and the UK. Every course page clearly displays its specific accreditations. Upon completion, you receive a professional certificate that can be validated online. Our certificates include all necessary accreditation details, credit hours, and completion dates, and are formatted specifically to meet the submission requirements of most global regulatory bodies.

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