Mastering Legal Problem Questions: How to Use the IRAC Method for Top Marks

🔍 I – Issue

State the precise legal issue.

Example:

Removal of Internal Fittings and statues

Was the Local Authority legally entitled to remove the reception/bar fittings and garden statues from the Riverside Hotel after exchange of contracts but before legal completion?

Be specific. Vague issues lead to vague answers.

📜 R – Rule

Outline the relevant legal principle, including:

• Statutes

• Case law

• Legal tests

Example:

Under English land law, the classification of items as fixtures or chattels determines whether they pass with the land. The leading case, Holland v Hodgson (1872), established the two-stage test:

Degree of annexation – the more firmly an item is attached, the more likely it is a fixture.

Purpose of annexation – if the item is intended to enhance the land or building, it is likely a fixture; if for temporary or personal use, it is likely a chattel.

This has been applied and refined in case law such as Botham v TSB Bank plc [1997]; Elitestone Ltd v Morris [1997]; D’Eyncourt v Gregory (1866) and Re Whaley [1908].

In Lysaght v Edwards (1876), it was held that once contracts are exchanged, the buyer acquires an equitable interest in the land and the seller holds the property on trust for the buyer. The seller must not take actions that diminish the property’s value before completion..

🧠 A – Application

Apply the law directly to the facts:

• Break down each legal element.

• Compare with case law.

• Explore multiple angles if needed.

This is where strong answers stand out—because this is where you argue like a lawyer and where most of your marks will be awarded.

Example:

1. Reception and Bar Fittings

These fittings were part of the original Art Deco design and likely integrated into the structure of the Riverside Hotel. Under the degree of annexation test, if they were bolted in or fitted into walls or counters, they are physically part of the land. Under the purpose test, their aesthetic and functional role in defining the hotel’s character supports a classification as fixtures. This aligns with Botham where built-in kitchen and bathroom units were fixtures, and Elitestone, where a chalet’s inseparability from the land meant it was part of it.

2. Garden Statues

The garden statues, if placed as part of the original landscaping or aligned with the historic or stylistic vision of the hotel, may qualify as fixtures under D’Eyncourt v Gregory, which recognised statues integrated into a property's overall architectural scheme. If merely resting and movable, they could be chattels. But if set on plinths or forming part of the designed garden (as in Re Whaley), they would likely be considered fixtures.

3. Timing and Xu’s Rights

Contracts were exchanged on 28 November 2021, which gave Xu an equitable interest. The Local Authority removed the items on 29 November, before completion on 30 November. Under Lysaght v Edwards, the seller becomes a trustee post-exchange and has a fiduciary duty not to interfere with the property’s value. Removing fixtures during this period amounts to a breach of that duty and undermines the buyer’s equitable interest.

✅ C – Conclusion

Finish each IRAC with a short, confident conclusion.

Example:

Therefore, the Local Authority was not entitled to remove the reception/bar fittings or the garden statues. Both are likely to be classified as fixtures using the tests from Holland v Hodgson and subsequent case law. Xu had an equitable interest from the date of exchange, and the seller’s actions likely amounted to a breach of trust and wrongful severance. Xu therefore has a strong claim for compensation, either for diminution in value or replacement costs.

🧭 Structuring a Full Answer

In a longer problem question, you move to the next issue and repeat IRAC, handling each issue one-by-one:

• IRAC 1: Fixtures and Chattels

• IRAC 2: Adverse Possession

• IRAC 3: Registration of Title

  … and so on.

These mini-IRAC blocks build a crystal-clear answer your examiner can follow.

🧑‍⚖️ Using Case Law Well

Don’t just name-drop cases—apply them:

• Mention the principle.

• Use the case facts if they mirror your scenario.

• Avoid listing cases without showing relevance.

Examiners reward insight, not memorisation.

🎯 Top Tips for First-Class Answers

✅ Link legal rules directly to the facts
✅ Show all your reasoning—even for “obvious” points
✅ Keep introductions short and sharp
✅ Use paragraphing and subheadings for clarity
✅ Proofread for technical accuracy and grammar