Introduce your research.

After we explain to a client how we organized our memorandum, invariably we tell the client all about the different sources we used in our research. To the client it sounds like:

You know all this cool information I’m about to give you? I found it in some books and stuff.

Unless a client asks you to confine your research to one jurisdiction, one authority, or one narrow area of law, do not tell your client that you referred to [laundry list of various sources] to arrive at your conclusion. Give the client only what you found, and offer a citation.

For instance:

Based on my review of the 1955 City Right of Way, applicable statutes and legislative history, the 1955 City Right of Way was entered into consistent with existing law . . . .

Here’s all the client wants:

Based on my review of the 1955 City Right of Way, applicable statutes and legislative history, The 1955 City Right of Way was entered into consistent with existing law . . . .

And another:

Based upon my review of the termination provisions and California law, it is unlikely that Salty’s could successfully argue that it terminated Kingen for cause under his Employment Agreement.

Your clients assume you looked in the right place; they just want the answer:

Based upon my review of the termination provisions and California law, It is unlikely that Salty’s could successfully argue that it terminated Kingen for cause under his Employment Agreement.

Or even better:

If Salty’s argues that it terminated Kingen for cause, it will probably fail.

When you write extraneous words in your memoranda, your clients must read more and work harder to understand.