How many broad categories can issues be separated into?

Issues can typically be separated into three broad categories: legal issues, factual issues, and policy issues.

Legal issues encompass questions regarding the interpretation and application of laws, statutes, and legal principles that arise in a case. These are the core questions that a court must resolve to determine the outcome based on existing law.

Factual issues involve disputes about the facts of the case, including what actually happened and the credibility of the evidence presented. Clarifying these issues is crucial for understanding the context and consequences of the legal principles at play.

Policy issues address the broader implications of legal decisions and how they impact society. These considerations often arise in cases that require the court to think about the effects of its ruling beyond the immediate parties involved.

Together, these three categories provide a comprehensive framework for analyzing legal problems, allowing practitioners to dissect complex situations into manageable parts for deeper examination and argumentation. This separation is essential for effective legal reasoning and persuasive advocacy.