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Legal Analyst Duties and Responsibilities

Legal analysts perform various daily job duties that depend on the number of attorneys working in the law firm and the cases being addressed. These core duties, however, are common in all firms:

Maintain Legal Knowledge Legal analysts have a strong knowledge of the law and legal matters. They need a commitment to continuing education to stay up-to-date on important legal rulings and all matters of law.

Research Legal Specifics Legal analysts research legal matters and relevant laws pertinent to each case using the law library and online resources.

Prepare Exhibits Legal analysts prepare exhibits to be used in trials and other legal procedures.

Write Reports Legal analysts prepare detailed reports based on legal research and case data, highlighting important information for use in legal arguments.

Research Public Records Legal analysts look up public records to find information relevant to individual cases.

Review Testimonies Legal analysts review testimonies provided by witnesses and create reports summarizing the pertinent information revealed through testimony.

Assist Attorneys Legal analysts assist attorneys with case preparation and complete all tasks as assigned.

Perform Clerical Duties Legal analysts copy and file documents, make phone calls, and perform other clerical duties within the law firm, including drafting letters, legal briefs, affidavits, and other correspondence.

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Legal Analyst Skills and Qualifications

Legal analysts need extensive knowledge of the law to research and prepare cases and write detailed reports summarizing the pertinent facts and legal arguments for each case. Law firms seek legal analysts who have the following key skills:

  • Attention to detail – strong attention to detail is essential for legal analysts, who must isolate and assess the relevant facts of each case
  • Organization skills – legal analysts need good organization skills to manage legal briefs and documents, testimonies, and research materials for multiple cases at once
  • Time management – legal analysts use time management skills to prioritize cases and complete all their tasks efficiently
  • Research skills – strong research skills are a must-have for legal analysts, who look up past cases, find legal precedents, and search public records for relevant case information
  • Critical thinking – legal analysts use critical thinking skills to make legal arguments and process research to create concise reports
  • Communication skills – legal analysts use excellent communication skills to create written reports and collaborate with attorneys on various cases
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Legal Analyst Education and Training

A majority of law firms require legal analysts to have a bachelor’s degree in law or a related field. No previous law firm experience is required by employers, but candidates who have previous work experience stand out among others vying for the same job. Little job training is provided to legal analysts, who must already possess a working knowledge of the law in order to obtain this job. However, most firms give new legal analysts a brief orientation or grace period that lasts one to two weeks so they can become familiar with current cases and new coworkers.

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Legal Analyst Salary and Outlook

Paralegals and legal assistants, who perform many of the same duties as legal analysts, earn a median salary of $24.24 hourly, or $50,410 annually. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, these jobs will grow 15 percent through 2026, a rate that is much faster than the national job growth average. Law firms provide legal analysts with benefits packages that include health, vision, dental, and life insurance benefits. Retirement plans, vacation leave, and paid holidays are usually included in standard benefits packages. Many firms also offer additional benefits to legal analysts, such as free parking, free gym membership, and paid lunches.

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Helpful Resources

Find job opportunities for legal analysts, research materials, and in-depth information about the law with these resources:

International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts – IALEIA provides dates for upcoming legal training events, certification program information, research materials, job openings, and more resources for legal analysts

The Legal Analyst: A Toolkit for Thinking About the Law – this guide offers tools and techniques for working with the law to law students and all other professionals involved in the legal field

American Bar Association – find legal resources, news updates, legal journals, and information for lawyers at the ABA website

Law 101: Everything You Need to Know About American Law – this book serves as a clear introduction to American law and covers the subjects commonly taught to first-year law students. The litigation process and noteworthy cases are included in the text

American Association for Justice – use this website to find news and research information, job listings, and legal resources of all kinds

The Oxford Introductions to U.S. Law: Constitutional Law – gain a better understanding of constitutional law with this book, an in-depth guide that critically examines the Supreme Court and the Constitution