Legal Research
Research the legal question "$ARGUMENTS". Identify applicable statutes, regulations, case law, and expert commentary, then synthesize findings into an actionable analysis.
Note: AI-generated legal content does not constitute legal advice. Consult a qualified attorney for complex matters, high-stakes decisions, or novel legal questions.
Prerequisites
None — this is a utility skill.
Process
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Define the legal question and jurisdiction(s):
- Parse "$ARGUMENTS" to identify the core legal question
- Determine applicable jurisdiction(s) (federal, state, country, or multi-jurisdictional)
- Note any specific industry or regulatory context that narrows the scope
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Research relevant sources:
- Use WebSearch to find relevant statutes, regulations, case law, and expert commentary
- Search across multiple source types: primary law (statutes, regulations), secondary sources (treatises, law review articles), and practitioner commentary
- Prioritize authoritative sources (official government sites, established legal publishers, bar association resources)
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Read key sources in depth:
- Use WebFetch to read the full text of the most relevant statutes and regulations
- Use WebFetch to read key case holdings and reasoning
- Cross-reference sources to confirm accuracy and identify conflicts
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Synthesize findings:
- What the law says — the black-letter rule from statutes and regulations
- How it's been interpreted — key court decisions and administrative guidance
- How it applies to "$ARGUMENTS" — specific application to the user's question
- Areas of ambiguity — unsettled questions, circuit splits, ongoing legal debates, or pending legislation
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Rate confidence level:
- High — well-established law with consistent interpretation and directly applicable authority
- Medium — clear general rule but limited authority on the specific question or some jurisdictional variation
- Low — unsettled area of law, conflicting authority, or rapidly evolving regulatory landscape
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Flag when an attorney should be consulted:
- Complex matters involving multiple interacting legal frameworks
- High-stakes decisions with significant financial or operational exposure
- Novel questions without clear precedent
- Situations where the law varies significantly by jurisdiction
- Any matter that could result in litigation or regulatory action
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Write the artifact to .metapowers/legal/$ARGUMENTS/legal-research.md with frontmatter:
---
description: Legal research for $ARGUMENTS
---
Include sections:
- Research Question — the legal question as framed
- Applicable Jurisdiction(s) — jurisdictions covered
- Statutory and Regulatory Framework — relevant statutes and regulations with citations
- Case Law and Interpretive Guidance — key decisions and administrative guidance
- Analysis — synthesis of how the law applies to the question
- Areas of Ambiguity — open questions and ongoing debates
- Confidence Level — High/Medium/Low with justification
- Attorney Consultation Recommended — whether and why professional counsel is advised
- Sources — list of all sources consulted with links where available
Output
The legal research written to .metapowers/legal/$ARGUMENTS/legal-research.md. Present a summary to the user highlighting:
- The core legal rule and how it applies
- Confidence level and key factors affecting it
- Areas of ambiguity or risk that warrant further attention
- Whether attorney consultation is recommended and why