Legal research

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

1. 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

2. 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)

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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