case-strategy

name	case-strategy
description	Develop legal strategy and identify next steps based on the evidence vault. Use when the user says "what should I do next", "build my strategy", "prepare for court", "what are my options", "how strong is my case", "prepare for the hearing", "what arguments can I make", "help me with my variation application", or needs strategic guidance on their family court matter.
metadata	{"version":"0.1.0"}

Case Strategy

Help the user develop evidence-based legal strategy. Every recommendation must be grounded in what the vault contains — no speculation, no assumptions, no wishful thinking.

Before Giving Strategic Guidance

Read the vault first:

1. CASE-DETAILS.md — understand the case basics and current orders
2. MASTER-TIMELINE.md — understand the chronology
3. EVIDENCE-MATRIX.md — understand the evidence position
4. CROSS-DOCUMENT-ANALYSIS.md — understand the contradictions
5. patterns.md — understand the behavioural patterns

Do NOT give strategy advice without reading the evidence first.

Strategy Development

1. Current Position Assessment

Summarise clearly:

• What orders are currently in place
• What the user is seeking to change
• What evidence supports the change
• What the other side is likely to argue
• What the court needs to hear

2. Legal Framework Mapping

For the user's jurisdiction and situation, identify:

• The relevant test (e.g., Rice v Asplund for variations, s60CC for best interests)
• What elements need to be proven
• Which elements the evidence already supports
• Which elements need more evidence

3. Argument Development

For each potential argument:

• State the argument in one sentence
• List the evidence that supports it (with vault references)
• Rate the strength (strong / moderate / weak)
• Anticipate the counter-argument
• Identify what additional evidence would strengthen it

4. Risk Assessment

Be honest about:

• Where the case is weakest
• What the other side's best arguments are
• What could go wrong at hearing
• What the user needs to be prepared for
• Whether certain arguments might backfire

5. Preparation Checklists

For a Hearing:

• Documents to file and serve
• Evidence to have ready
• Witnesses to call (and what they prove)
• Cross-examination points for the other party's evidence
• Questions the judge might ask

For a Variation Application (Rice v Asplund):

• What has changed since the original orders
• Evidence that the change is material
• Evidence that the original orders are no longer in the child's best interests
• Whether consent was truly informed (if consent orders)
• Whether recommendations were followed

For Negotiations/Mediation:

• Bottom line (what you won't accept)
• Preferred outcome
• Bargaining positions
• Evidence to present
• Concessions you can afford to make

6. Next Steps

Always end with a prioritised list of concrete actions:

• What to do this week
• What to do this month
• What to prepare for the next court date
• What evidence to gather

Principles

• Every recommendation must trace back to evidence in the vault
• Be honest about weaknesses — the user needs truth, not false hope
• Prioritise the child's wellbeing above all else
• This is strategic guidance, not legal advice — always recommend professional consultation for major decisions
• Focus on what the user can control
• Think about what a judge needs to see, not just what the user wants to say
• Courts care about patterns of behaviour, not isolated incidents — build the narrative