What does a legal examiner do?
Legal examiner responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real legal examiner resumes:
- Prepare and distribute payroll manage daily office operations and equipment and maintain supplies for office to run effectively.
- Facilitate responses to customer complaints from borrowers, attorneys, state and federal governmental agencies, resulting in reduce litigation exposure.
- Develop novel anti-trafficking training program, involving prosecutors, criminal investigators and NGOs.
Legal examiner skills and personality traits
We calculated that 19% of Legal Examiners are proficient in Background Checks, Legal Instruments, and Social Security. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Problem-solving skills, and Speaking skills.
We break down the percentage of Legal Examiners that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Background Checks, 19%
Conducted federal background checks for firearms for the National Instant Background Check System (NICS).
- Legal Instruments, 12%
Review and analyze complex non-routine applications, registrations, and other legal instruments for compliance with existing laws and regulations.
- Social Security, 7%
Examine customer's citizenship, naturalization, social security proof and residency eligibility.
- Probate, 7%
Probate transfers, Property Transfers, Estate and Trust account disbursements.
- Customer Service, 7%
Focused on providing exceptional customer service (internal and external) by providing quality products within a timely manner.
- Processing Procedures, 6%
Provided intricate and historic knowledge for EDGAR form types and processing procedures.
"background checks," "legal instruments," and "social security" are among the most common skills that legal examiners use at work. You can find even more legal examiner responsibilities below, including:
Analytical skills. The most essential soft skill for a legal examiner to carry out their responsibilities is analytical skills. This skill is important for the role because "lawyers interpret the law as it applies to their client’s case." Additionally, a legal examiner resume shows how their duties depend on analytical skills: "reviewed mapping and legal descriptions for accuracy in accordance with treaties, laws, executive orders as recorded in database. "
Problem-solving skills. Another essential skill to perform legal examiner duties is problem-solving skills. Legal examiners responsibilities require that "lawyers must evaluate information to propose viable solutions, mediate disputes, and reach agreements or settlements for their clients." Legal examiners also use problem-solving skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "coordinate with local agencies for the transfer of custody for court proceedings for resolution of local charges. "
Research skills. Another crucial skill for a legal examiner to carry out their responsibilities is "research skills." A big part of what legal examiners relies on this skill, since "lawyers need to find laws and regulations that apply to a specific matter in order to provide appropriate legal advice for their clients." How this skill relates to legal examiner duties can be seen in an example from a legal examiner resume snippet: "researched and analyzed survey and mapping data available to assure that legal descriptions were correct. "
Communication skills. While "communication skills" is last on this skills list, don't underestimate its importance to legal examiner responsibilities. Much of what a legal examiner does relies on this skill, seeing as "lawyers must be able to clearly present and explain information to clients, opposing parties, and other members of the legal community." Here is a resume example of how this skill is used in the everyday duties of legal examiners: "performed verbal and written communication with law enforcement agencies and federal firearm licensee s (ffl). "
Compare different legal examiners
Legal examiner vs. Assistant counsel
Assistant counsels are legal professionals who research and analyze various laws so they can apply them to the different legal issues that arose in a corporation. These counsels must develop an agency-wide client privacy policy and manage responses to all matters involving subpoenas and warrants. They advise other departments for legal claims related to the right of privacy and publicity as well as defamation. Assistant counsels are also required to act as labor attorneys for employees facing internal discrimination suits while dealing with FMLA, ERISA, and HIPAA issues.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between legal examiners and assistant counsel. For instance, legal examiner responsibilities require skills such as "background checks," "legal instruments," "social security," and "customer service." Whereas a assistant counsel is skilled in "litigation," "strong work ethic," "legal advice," and "excellent organizational." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Assistant counsels really shine in the government industry with an average salary of $70,495. Comparatively, legal examiners tend to make the most money in the government industry with an average salary of $73,242.The education levels that assistant counsels earn slightly differ from legal examiners. In particular, assistant counsels are 1.0% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a legal examiner. Additionally, they're 13.4% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Legal examiner vs. Corporate counsel
A Corporate Counsel, also known as a corporate lawyer, works for a business or company providing legal advice to the employer. They usually work in the employers main office, but also can travel to participate in meetings, trials, and other legal proceedings.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real legal examiner resumes. While legal examiner responsibilities can utilize skills like "background checks," "legal instruments," "social security," and "customer service," corporate counsels use skills like "litigation," "legal advice," "intellectual property," and "legal support."
Corporate counsels earn a higher average salary than legal examiners. But corporate counsels earn the highest pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $155,816. Additionally, legal examiners earn the highest salaries in the government with average pay of $73,242 annually.In general, corporate counsels achieve similar levels of education than legal examiners. They're 0.1% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 13.4% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Legal examiner vs. Attorney at law
An Attorney at Law is responsible for preparing and examining contracts involving leases, licenses, purchases, sales, etc. They advise clients concerning business transactions, claim liability, or legal rights and obligations.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a legal examiner is likely to be skilled in "background checks," "legal instruments," "customer service," and "processing procedures," while a typical attorney at law is skilled in "litigation," "law firm," "legal research," and "juris."
Attorneys at law earn the best pay in the retail industry, where they command an average salary of $120,546. Legal examiners earn the highest pay from the government industry, with an average salary of $73,242.Most attorneys at law achieve a similar degree level compared to legal examiners. For example, they're 0.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 47.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Legal examiner vs. Attorney
Generally, an attorney's responsibility is to advise the client with an ongoing lawsuit on the legal procedures and provide strategies to resolve the case as early as possible. An attorney compiles necessary documents or any records for appeal and client's defense. Attorneys must acquire strong problem-solving and critical-thinking skills to mediate disputes and settle pending litigation for the client's best interest. In some cases, an attorney's procedure depends on any evidence and research presented during the trial period. An attorney is expected to present clients on legal proceedings, seeking justice and justifying the law.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between legal examiners and attorneys, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a legal examiner might have more use for skills like "background checks," "legal instruments," "customer service," and "processing procedures." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of attorneys require skills like "litigation," "legal research," "law firm," and "legal advice. "
Attorneys reach similar levels of education compared to legal examiners, in general. The difference is that they're 2.0% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 43.3% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of legal examiner
Updated January 8, 2025
