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I'm a 1L at a T20, and chances are that I'm going to have to take a research position this summer. I'm going out of the country for a few weeks in the middle of summer for my honeymoon (I figured 1L summer was the best to do this, as a firm job is more important my 2L year than my 1L year), so I need flexibility in my schedule. I think that a research position is probably my best option. However, I don't know much about what a research position entails, or how to approach a professor to ask for one. If anyone has any advice, I would appreciate it. Thanks!

It's not hard work if the professor is chill. Usually he just gives you a question and you research it and write a memo-type thing answering it the best you can based on what's out there. Some profs will give you more empirical-type stuff.

To get the job, just send an email to the prof you either liked the best or whose class you got the best grade in. Say something like:

"Dear Prof. Smith,

I really enjoyed your Torts class this semester. Will you be taking on any research assistants this summer? If so, I would love to stop by your office sometime and discuss the possibility of working for you. Thank you.

Sincerely,

1L"

Thank you for the advice! I'm thinking about asking a professor whose class I'm in this semester. He's my Business Associations professor, which I feel is somewhat relevant because I'm thinking corporate or commercial real estate, and he's pretty chill. Property would probably be another option, but I'm not as close with/don't really like him.

I was a research assitant for two years. It's not hard work at all. I worked from home and on,y met with the professor every two weeks. The frequency of your meetings will depend on your professor, but everyone that I know that was a research assistant worked at their own pace at a location of their choosing. You'll be fine.