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CS Professional · Drafting, Pleadings and Appearances · Art of Opinion Writing

Meridian Textiles Ltd asks its company secretary, Ms. Kavya Rao, for a written opinion on whether a related party transaction needs shareholder approval. Her draft begins by reproducing a long history of the company's incorporation before reaching the question. Which quality of a good opinion is most plainly compromised?

Relevance and conciseness are compromised. A good opinion includes only facts material to the question posed and proceeds promptly to the issue, analysis and conclusion. Lengthy irrelevant history obscures the issue and burdens the reader without improving the reasoning or the advice given.

  1. ARelevance and conciseness, because unnecessary background obscures the issueCorrect
  2. BConfidentiality, because company history is secret
  3. CNeutrality, because history favours the client
  4. DFinality, because history changes the conclusion

Explanation

A good opinion states the facts material to the question and moves to the issue. Reproducing irrelevant history dilutes focus and length, hurting conciseness and relevance. The other qualities are not what the padding affects.

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