legal-strategy-summary

name	legal-strategy-summary
language	en
description	Generates structured litigation strategy summaries synthesizing case facts, legal arguments, procedural tactics, and risk assessments into a unified roadmap. Use when aligning legal teams on case direction, preparing for strategy meetings, or onboarding stakeholders to litigation matters.

Legal Strategy Summary

Produces an internal strategic roadmap covering case posture, motion and discovery planning, settlement analysis, and prioritized action items.

Prerequisites

• Case materials — complaints, answers, correspondence, prior orders, key exhibits
• Client objectives — desired outcome, risk tolerance, budget constraints
• Jurisdictional context — forum, governing law, pending procedural deadlines
• Party roles — plaintiff/defendant/third-party posture and relationships

Quick Start

1. Gather case materials and client objectives
2. Draft executive overview accessible to non-lawyer stakeholders
3. Build legal framework per cause of action/defense
4. Map motion and discovery strategy to case schedule
5. Assess settlement posture and risks
6. Produce prioritized action items with owners and deadlines

Output Sections

1. Executive Overview

Element	Content
Case nature	Dispute type, parties, forum
Client position	Plaintiff/defendant posture summary
Strategic goal	Primary objective — one sentence
Key risk flag	Single biggest threat to success

No legal jargon without parenthetical explanation.

2. Factual Background

• Organize chronologically or thematically — whichever better supports the strategy
• Cite specific documents/exhibits for each material fact
• Flag disputed vs. undisputed facts
• Omit facts that don't drive legal analysis

3. Legal Framework

Per cause of action or defense:

Component	Detail
Claim/defense	Name and statutory/common law basis
Elements	Numbered required elements
Burden	Who bears it; standard (preponderance, clear & convincing, etc.)
Controlling authority	Key statutes, lead cases
Strengths	Favorable facts and law
Weaknesses	Gaps, adverse facts, unfavorable precedent
Counterarguments	Anticipated opposition arguments and rebuttals

4. Motion Strategy

Per anticipated motion:

• Motion — type
• Legal basis — rule/statute
• Strategic purpose — dispositive, narrow issues, force disclosure, etc.
• Timing — when to file relative to case schedule
• Success likelihood — High/Medium/Low with one-line rationale

5. Discovery Strategy

Category	Plan
Must obtain	Key documents/testimony needed; from whom
Must protect	Privilege, work product, trade secrets
Offensive use	How discovery strengthens affirmative case
Defensive use	Limiting opponent's discovery leverage
ESI considerations	Preservation obligations, custodians, date ranges

6. Settlement & ADR Assessment

• Settlement posture and recommended range (if assessable)
• Optimal timing for discussions
• ADR suitability — mediation, arbitration, early neutral evaluation
• BATNA — best/worst/likely trial outcomes vs. settlement value

7. Risk Assessment

Risk Factor	Rating	Impact	Mitigation
Liability exposure	H/M/L	$ range or outcome	Reduction strategy
Adverse ruling on key motion	H/M/L	Effect on case	Fallback approach
Witness credibility	H/M/L	Claims affected	Corroboration plan
Cost trajectory	H/M/L	Estimated burn rate	Cost controls

8. Action Items

Per item: Action, Owner (if identifiable), Deadline (date or trigger), Priority (Critical / High / Standard).

Pitfalls & Checks

• Assess strengths and weaknesses candidly — this is internal strategy, not advocacy
• Cite specific evidence and authority for every recommendation; no unsupported assertions
• Flag critical deadlines (SOL, response deadlines, scheduling order dates) prominently
• Mark unverified governing law or jurisdiction-specific rules with [VERIFY]
• Adapt section depth to case complexity — early-stage summaries may have lighter discovery/motion sections
• Reference privileged communications by date and subject only; never quote verbatim

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