Step 1) It can be a daunting task as a first year law student in learning how to brief a case. The first step in briefing a case is to READ THE CASE THOROUGHLY. Get your highlighter out!
Step 2) The second step in briefing a case is pinpointing the ISSUE(S) of the case. Key words like "Whether or not" or, more straightforward, "the issue is" are signals that the primary and secondary issue(s) of the case are forthcoming.
Step 3) The third step in briefing a case is figuring out the RULE of the case. The rule is the bottom-line of the case that you need to commit to memory.
Step 4) The fourth step in briefing a case is going through the judge's ANALYSIS of the case. Most of a case concerns the judge's analysis.
Step 5) The fifth and final step in briefing a case is the CONCLUSION. What is the judge's holding is the central question in the conclusion. I hope this has been a helpful article on how to brief a case as a law student. Good luck!