Quick Tip: Don’t Skip the Intro on the MPT

Here’s a common mistake I see on the MPT: students open their objective memo by jumping straight into the first issue—without any introductory paragraph. No context, no summary, no roadmap. Just boom—Issue 1.

I get it. You’re racing the clock. You want to show off that you found the right cases. But skipping the introduction makes your memo harder to follow—and could cost you points.

Think of the intro paragraph as your handshake with the grader. It shows that you understand the task, the client’s question, and the overall conclusion. It also signals that you can communicate like a real lawyer—not just a law student typing fast under pressure.

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On the MPT, your memo’s introduction should do three things:

1️⃣ Identify the task. Show the grader you understood the assignment.

2️⃣ Briefly summarize the legal issue(s). You don’t need to list every sub-issue—but set the stage.

3️⃣ State your bottom-line conclusion. Yes, right up front. This isn’t a whodunit.

Here’s a simple template you can adapt:

This memorandum addresses whether our client, Tom Smith, is likely to succeed on a claim of wrongful termination under Franklin law. Based on the facts provided and relevant case law, court would likely find that Smith was wrongfully terminated in violation of public policy.

This kind of intro takes less than a minute to write—and it frames the rest of your memo.

Remember: the MPT isn't just testing your legal analysis. It's testing your ability to communicate clearly and professionally under pressure. Including a strong intro paragraph is one of the easiest ways to show that you understand the full task—not just the legal rules.