Aquinas  University  
COLLEGE  OF  LAW  
Legazpi  City  
 
 
LEGAL  TECHNIQUE  AND  LOGIC  
 
 
COURSE  OUTLINE  
 
 
I. Description  
 
This  is  a  course  on  the  methods  of  reasoning,  syllogism,  arguments  and  expositions.  
It   also   includes   the   logical   organization   of   legal   language   and   logical   testing   of  
judicial  reasoning.  
 
Also   covered   by   this   course,   as   preliminaries,   are   topics   on   case   method,   the  
determination   of   ratio   decidendi   and   obiter   dictum,   as   well   as   topics   on   making  
case  briefs/digests  and  analyses.  
   
 
II. Objectives  
 
Upon  completion  of  this  course,  the  students  should  have:  
 
1. understood  the  relevance  of  case  method  in  the  study  of  law;  
2. learned  how  to  make  a  case  digest;  
3. constructed   sound   legal   arguments   by   applying   the   rules   of   legal  
reasoning/logic;  
4. criticized,   analyzed,   and   evaluated   arguments   embodied   in   select   decisions   of  
the  Supreme  Court  and  made  a  corresponding  written  analysis;  and  
5. written  a  logically  sound  and  persuasive  position  paper.  
 
III. Topics  
 
Part  I:    
 
A. Case/Judicial  Decisions  and  Opinions  
 
1. Studying  Law  under  the  Case  Method  or  Case  System  
2. Parts  of  a  case  
3. Determining  the  Ratio  Decidendi  of  a  Case  
-­‐ Distinction  between  Obiter  Dictum  and  Ratio  Decidendi  
-­‐ Distinction  between  issues  of  law  and  issues  of  fact  
4. Preparation  of  a  case  digest  and  a  case  analysis  

 
Aquinas  University  –  College  of  Law  
LEGAL  TECHNIQUE  AND  LOGIC  
Course  Outline    
 
 
B. Practical  Exercises  
• Writing  case  digests  and  case  analyses  
 
   
  Part  II:    
 
A. Introduction  to  Legal  Reasoning  
 
B. Understanding  Basic  Concepts  
 
1. Logic  
2. Arguments,  Conclusion,  and  Premise  
3. Statements/Propositions  
4. Concepts  
5. Non-­‐Arguments  
a. Reports  
b. Unsupported  Opinions  
c. Conditional  Statements  
d. Explanations  
6. Truth  and  Soundness  
 
C. Uses  and  Problems  of  Language  
 
1. Uses  of  Language  
a. Informative  
b. Expressive  
c. Directive  
2. Vagueness  and  Ambiguity  
3. Verbal  Disputes  and  Genuine  Disputes  
4. Definitions  
a. Denotative  Definition  (extension)  
b. Connotative  Definition  (intension)  
c. Errors  of  Definition  
1) Circular  
2) Too  Broad  or  Too  Narrow  
3) Figurative  
4) Obscure  
5) Negative  
 
D. Formal  Logic  or  Reasoning  
 
1. Deductive  Reasoning  
a. Concept  
b. Syllogism  
1) Categorical  Syllogism  

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Aquinas  University  –  College  of  Law  
LEGAL  TECHNIQUE  AND  LOGIC  
Course  Outline    
 
a) Parts  
b) Rules  and  Fallacies  
2) Hypothetical  Syllogism  
a) Conditional  
b) Disjunctive  
c) Conjunctive  
c. Practical  Exercise  
• Case   analysis:   Deductive   reasoning   as   applied   by   the   Supreme  
Court  in  its  decision  
 
2. Inductive  Reasoning  
a. Concept  
b. Types:  
1) Inductive  Generalization  
2) Argument  by  Analogy  
3) Causal  Argument  
c. Practical  Exercise  
• Case   analysis:   Inductive   reasoning   as   applied   by   the   Supreme  
Court  in  its  decision  
 
E. Informal  or  Practical  Reasoning  
 
1. Concept:  Distinguished  from  formal  logic  
2. Toulmin’s  Model  of  Reasoning  
3. Fallacies  
a. Fallacies  of  Ambiguity  
b. Fallacies  of  Relevance  
c. Fallacies  of  Insufficient  Evidence  
4. Practical  Exercise  
• Case   analysis:   Applying   Toulmin’s   model   of   reasoning   in   analysis   of  
cases  
 
IV. Cases  and  Legal  Provisions  
 
The   cases   and   legal   provisions   that   the   students   will   be   required   to   study   will   be  
given  as  assignments  or  as  activities  during  their  classes  for  purposes  of  discussion  
and  practical  exercises.  
 
V. Exams  
 
The  exams  will  include  short  quizzes  as  well  as  mid-­‐term  and  final  exams.  However,  
the  professor  reserves  the  right  to  give  activities  –  individual  or  group  –  instead  of  
written  exams.  
 
Tentative  dates  of  exams:  
 

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Aquinas  University  –  College  of  Law  
LEGAL  TECHNIQUE  AND  LOGIC  
Course  Outline    
 
Mid-­‐Term  –  (to  be  announced)  
Final  –  (to  be  announced)  
 
VI. Project  
 
Position   paper/Memorandum:   Students   will   have   to   submit   a   position   paper   or   a  
memorandum  involving  a  set  of  facts  and  issues  to  be  determined  before  the  end  
of   the   semester.   The   position   papers   are   expected   to   present   logically   sound   and  
persuasive  arguments.  
 
VII. Criteria  for  Grading  
 
Final  grade  in  the  course  will  be  40%  of  Mid-­‐term  grade  and  60%  of  tentative  final  
grade.  For  mid-­‐term  and  finals,  the  following  criteria  for  grading  will  be  used:  
 
  Attendance       -­‐   10%  
  Quizzes  /Projects     -­‐   25  
  Class  Participation/Exercises   -­‐   25  
  Mid-­‐term/Final  Exam     -­‐   40  
 
        TOTAL   -­‐   100%  
 
 
Prepared  by:  
 
 
Adrian  G.  Miras  
Professor  
1st  Semester,  SY  2014-­‐2015    
 

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