As you are aware, the aim of a memo is to answer a legal issue, and your responsibility as its writer is to study and forecast the answer objectively. A brief, on the other hand, is written for the judge(s) presiding over your case as well as your opposing lawyer, but a note is written for another attorney or a client. Often, briefs are not written until shortly before they are due, so it's important that you put some thought into them. The main difference between a brief and a memo is length. While a memo may cover only a few issues, others may be included for clarity or because they are central to your argument. An example of the first case would be an employment memo, while an example of the second case would be an opinion letter from your attorney to a client. In addition, a brief must be written in accordance with rules set by the court, while a memo is not subject to such rules. For example, a memo may include citations from cases that support your position, while these may not be allowed in a brief. Finally, a brief must be factually accurate, while a memo may take creative license with the truth if it helps make your point. For these reasons, briefs are more formal documents that require greater attention to detail than memos. If you're looking for a concise way to respond to a particular issue raised in a case, then a memo may be sufficient.