as a summer associate, you’ll probably find that writing up the results of your first research assignment can be a daunting task. you are now accustomed to the pressure of writing up a final exam, but balancing the dueling pressures of accuracy and timeliness when writing a research memo is a new challenge. take the extra step to ask the attorney for a good example so that you know exactly what they want and can try to emulate it. this is a new and different writing style, so the more you read, the better. go back to your notes from the assignment meeting and make sure you know what you are supposed to answer. legal research frequently leads you down different paths, so always keep the relevant question in mind and answer it right at the top of your work product. but if you are answering the wrong question from the start, no amount of research or great writing can make up for it.