How to hire a certified legal investigator

How to hire a certified legal investigator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step certified legal investigator hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a certified legal investigator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new certified legal investigator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the certified legal investigator you need to hire. Certain certified legal investigator roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a certified legal investigator to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a certified legal investigator that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of certified legal investigators and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Certified Legal Investigator	Description	Hourly rate
   Certified Legal Investigator	Private detectives and investigators search for information about legal, financial, and personal matters. They offer many services, such as verifying people’s backgrounds and statements, finding missing persons, and investigating computer crimes.	$12-42
   Store Detective	Store detectives are security professionals who are hired by store or business owners to prevent the act of shoplifting. These detectives must conduct surveillance through CCTV to apprehend shoplifters and dishonest employees who committed theft within the store... Show more	$12-19
   Private Investigator	Private investigators will require skills in surveillance, research, interviewing, critical thinking, and communication. Those who choose this career path will be called on to find information for organizations and individuals, as well as engage in different cases... Show more	$13-37

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Law Enforcement Agencies
   • Federal Agencies
   • Incident Management

   Responsibilities:

   • Participate in and lead the controlled purchase of illegal narcotics and firearms to apprehend suspects.
   • Take and submit DNA evidence.
   • Create quality control documentation associate with manufacturing process, raw materials and quality testing procedures according to corporate and FDA guidelines.
   • Perform surveillance of suspects using binoculars, cameras and camcorders.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your certified legal investigator job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A certified legal investigator salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, certified legal investigators' average salary in oklahoma is 59% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level certified legal investigators earn 70% less than senior-level certified legal investigators.
   • Certifications. A certified legal investigator with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a certified legal investigator's salary.

   Average certified legal investigator salary

   $49,535yearly

   $23.81 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level certified legal investigator salary

   $27,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 24, 2026

4. Writing a certified legal investigator job description

   A job description for a certified legal investigator role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a certified legal investigator job description:

   Certified legal investigator job description example

   Primary: Travel to assigned damage sites to identify and investigate the reported underground facility damage. Utilize various damage investigation locate techniques, identify, and mark the damaged underground facilities at work sites, take appropriate investigation pictures using a damage investigation hit kit, collect onsite witness statements for documentation relating to the cause of the damage and repairs needed to the facility, complete related paperwork and complete all CMS tasks.
   
   Secondary: Travel to designated work area and perform locate, identify, and mark underground facilities. Understand and reference records, maps, and prints to accurately locate underground facilities. Utilize locating equipment and follow locating procedures to ensure accurate, quality locates. Re-check records and verify marks for accuracy to avoid possible underground facility damage and take appropriate pictures and complete related paperwork.
   + Organize and prioritize damage tickets to be completed during the workday
   
   + Investigate damages & complete accurate/timely reports
   
   + Notify Supervisor of any AI damages so that the supervisor has the opportunity to review on site
   
   + Notify Supervisor of any HP/HE damages to ensure accuracy in investigation/information collection
   
   + Follow up on claims from Adjuster to ensure that the billed repair work was performed
   
   + Complete accurate sketches & side by side photos on damages
   
   + Attach prints into CMS with print issues highlighted
   
   + Document accurate and thorough repair information for accrual purposes
   
   + Take photos that have similar angles as locate photos for reference
   
   + Use Hit Kits/damage props on all damages
   
   + Provide accurate information pertaining to fault/extent of damage to Adjuster to determine fault
   
   + Understand customer requirements for investigation deadlines and marking policy
   
   + Interact with utility clients and/or contractors. Maintain professional and positive interaction with customers and property owners. Interact with teammates in a respectful and professional manner.
   
   + Wear appropriate safety equipment and follow established safety practices and procedures
   
   + Knowledge of state dig laws
   
   + Check company vehicle, equipment, and supplies before leaving for first damage/locate on daily basis. Ensure equipment is fully operational.
   
   + Complete onsite locates when volume permits - Directed by Ops Management
   
   GENERAL REQUIREMENTS: Must have currently attained rank of Technician 3 or higher. Solid verbal and written communication skills. Strong organizational skills. Driver and Quality scores of 8 or higher required.
   
   Qualified candidates must live in close proximity to the territory.
   
   We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find certified legal investigators for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any certified legal investigators they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level certified legal investigators with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your certified legal investigator job on Zippia to find and recruit certified legal investigator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with certified legal investigator candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new certified legal investigator

   Once you've found the certified legal investigator candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new certified legal investigator first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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