Create a bespoke document in minutes, or upload and review your own.
Get your first 2 documents free
Your data doesn't train Genie's AI
You keep IP ownership of your information
Legal Opinion
"I require a legal opinion assessing the enforceability of a commercial lease agreement under UK law, focusing on potential liabilities and obligations of the tenant, with an analysis of any recent case law developments. The document should include a risk assessment and recommendations."
What is a Legal Opinion?
A Legal Opinion is a formal written assessment from a qualified lawyer or law firm about a specific legal issue or transaction. Solicitors in England and Wales provide these detailed analyses to help clients understand their legal position, rights, and potential risks before making important decisions.
Legal Opinions typically examine key documents, relevant laws, and previous court decisions to reach clear conclusions. They're especially common in major business deals, property transactions, and financial agreements where parties need expert confirmation about legal rights or obligations. While not legally binding themselves, they offer valuable protection by showing that decision-makers acted on professional legal advice.
When should you use a Legal Opinion?
Get a Legal Opinion when you need expert confirmation about significant legal risks or obligations, especially before major business decisions. Common triggers include complex property purchases, company mergers, or when launching new financial products in the UK market. Banks and investors often require these opinions to verify legal compliance before funding deals.
Legal Opinions prove particularly valuable during corporate restructuring, when establishing new subsidiary companies, or before entering regulated industries. They help protect board members and senior executives by documenting that proper legal due diligence was completed. Many commercial contracts and regulatory filings in England and Wales specifically require a Legal Opinion from a qualified solicitor.
What are the different types of Legal Opinion?
- Transactional Legal Opinions examine specific deals or contracts, offering clear guidance on legal risks and enforceability
- Regulatory Legal Opinions focus on compliance with UK laws and regulations, often required for FCA-regulated activities
- Corporate Capacity Opinions confirm a company's power to enter agreements and the authority of its signatories
- Title Opinions assess property ownership and rights, commonly used in real estate transactions
- True Sale Opinions evaluate asset transfers in securitisation deals, crucial for financial institutions
Who should typically use a Legal Opinion?
- Law Firms: Draft and issue Legal Opinions based on their expertise and professional judgment
- Corporate Boards: Request opinions to protect their decision-making and demonstrate due diligence
- Financial Institutions: Rely on opinions for lending decisions and regulatory compliance
- Property Developers: Need opinions for complex real estate transactions and planning matters
- Investment Funds: Use opinions to verify legal structures and regulatory compliance
- Company Directors: Seek opinions to confirm their duties and protect against personal liability
How do you write a Legal Opinion?
- Scope Definition: Clearly outline the specific legal questions or issues the opinion will address
- Document Collection: Gather all relevant contracts, corporate records, and regulatory filings
- Background Research: Review applicable laws, regulations, and recent court decisions
- Factual Verification: Confirm all underlying facts and assumptions with reliable sources
- Risk Assessment: Identify potential legal challenges and limitations to the opinion
- Draft Structure: Use our platform's template to ensure all critical elements are included
- Quality Review: Check for clear reasoning, supported conclusions, and precise language
What should be included in a Legal Opinion?
- Introduction: Clear statement of the opinion's purpose and requesting party
- Scope Statement: Precise description of legal issues being addressed
- Factual Background: Key documents reviewed and assumptions relied upon
- Legal Analysis: Detailed examination of relevant laws and precedents
- Qualifications: Any limitations or conditions affecting the opinion
- Conclusions: Clear statement of legal position and recommendations
- Professional Details: Law firm credentials and solicitor information
- Date and Signature: Current date and authorized signatory details
What's the difference between a Legal Opinion and a Legal Brief?
A Legal Opinion differs significantly from a Legal Brief in several important ways. While both are legal documents prepared by lawyers, they serve distinct purposes and have different audiences.
- Purpose and Scope: Legal Opinions provide forward-looking advice about specific legal issues or transactions, while Legal Briefs argue positions in court proceedings
- Audience: Legal Opinions address clients or stakeholders making business decisions, whereas Legal Briefs target judges and court officials
- Legal Effect: Legal Opinions offer professional guidance but aren't binding court documents; Legal Briefs form part of formal litigation records
- Content Structure: Legal Opinions analyze risks and provide conclusions about legal positions, while Legal Briefs present arguments supporting specific legal outcomes
- Timing: Legal Opinions are typically issued before major transactions or decisions, whereas Legal Briefs respond to ongoing legal proceedings
Download our whitepaper on the future of AI in Legal
³Ò±ð²Ô¾±±ð’s Security Promise
Genie is the safest place to draft. Here’s how we prioritise your privacy and security.
Your documents are private:
We do not train on your data; ³Ò±ð²Ô¾±±ð’s AI improves independently
All data stored on Genie is private to your organisation
Your documents are protected:
Your documents are protected by ultra-secure 256-bit encryption
Our bank-grade security infrastructure undergoes regular external audits
We are ISO27001 certified, so your data is secure
Organizational security
You retain IP ownership of your documents
You have full control over your data and who gets to see it
Innovation in privacy:
Genie partnered with the Computational Privacy Department at Imperial College London
Together, we ran a £1 million research project on privacy and anonymity in legal contracts
Want to know more?
Visit our for more details and real-time security updates.
Read our Privacy Policy.