Connection lost
Server error
Sandra T.E. v. South Berwyn School District 100 Case Brief
Why Top Law Students (And Those Aspiring to Be) Use LSD+ Briefs
Let's be real, law school is a marathon. Our exclusive Flash-to-Full case system is designed by Harvard Law School and MIT grads to match your pace: Quick summaries when you're slammed, detailed analysis when you need to go deep. Only LSD+ offers this kind of flexibility to genuinely fit your study flow.
Adaptive Case Views
Toggle between Flash, Standard, and Expanded. Get what you need, when you need it.
Exam-Ready IRAC Format
We deliver the precise structure professors look for in exam answers.
Complex Cases, Clarified
We break down dense legal reasoning into something digestible, helping you grasp core concepts.
Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis
tl;dr: Law firm’s internal investigation documents for a school district facing lawsuits were protected by attorney-client privilege and work-product doctrine, as the firm was hired to provide legal advice, not merely investigative services.
Legal Significance: Affirms that factual investigations conducted by attorneys to render legal advice are protected by attorney-client privilege and work-product, even for public entities.
Sandra T.E. v. South Berwyn School District 100 Law School Study Guide
Use this case brief structure for your own legal analysis. Focus on the IRAC methodology to excel in law school exams and cold calls.
Case Facts & Court Holding
Key Facts & Case Background
Following a teacher’s arrest for sexual abuse and the filing of a civil lawsuit, South Berwyn School District 100 retained Sidley Austin LLP to conduct an internal investigation. The engagement letter specified Sidley would “investigate the response of the school administration to allegations of sexual abuse of students” and “provide legal services in connection with the specific representation.” Sidley attorneys interviewed numerous current and some former school-district employees and third-party witnesses, taking handwritten notes and later drafting memoranda summarizing these interviews. These interviews included Upjohn warnings, emphasizing Sidley represented the School Board. Sidley delivered its findings and legal advice to the Board in an oral report and a written executive summary. Plaintiffs in the civil suit subpoenaed Sidley’s interview notes and internal memoranda. The district court ordered production, finding Sidley was hired primarily as an investigator, not as an attorney providing legal services. Sidley appealed, asserting attorney-client privilege and work-product protection.
Court Holding & Legal Precedent
Issue: Are an attorney’s notes and memoranda from witness interviews, conducted during an internal investigation for a client already facing litigation, protected from discovery by attorney-client privilege and work-product doctrine when the investigation’s stated purpose includes providing legal advice?
Yes. The interview notes and memoranda prepared by Sidley Austin are protected Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, qu
IRAC Legal Analysis
Complete IRAC Analysis for Higher Grades
IRAC (Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion) is the exact format professors want to see in your exam answers. Our exclusive Flash-to-Full briefs combine holding, analysis, and rule statements formatted to match what A+ students produce in exams. These structured briefs help reinforce the essential legal reasoning patterns expected in law school.
Legal Issue
Are an attorney’s notes and memoranda from witness interviews, conducted during an internal investigation for a client already facing litigation, protected from discovery by attorney-client privilege and work-product doctrine when the investigation’s stated purpose includes providing legal advice?
Conclusion
This case reinforces that internal investigations conducted by attorneys to provide legal Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequ
Legal Rule
1. Attorney-client privilege protects confidential communications between a client (and its employees) Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla
Legal Analysis
The Seventh Circuit reversed the district court, holding that Sidley was retained Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore ma
Flash-to-Full Case Opinions
Flash Summary
- Factual investigations conducted by attorneys are protected by the attorney-client privilege