Post job

Legal investigator vs legal researcher

The differences between legal investigators and legal researchers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a legal investigator and a legal researcher. Additionally, a legal investigator has an average salary of $72,914, which is higher than the $49,342 average annual salary of a legal researcher.

The top three skills for a legal investigator include investigative reports, litigation and legal investigations. The most important skills for a legal researcher are litigation, legal issues, and in-house counsel.

Legal investigator vs legal researcher overview

Legal InvestigatorLegal Researcher
Yearly salary$72,914$49,342
Hourly rate$35.05$23.72
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs9,58210,659
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Average age4646
Years of experience44

Legal investigator vs legal researcher salary

Legal investigators and legal researchers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Legal InvestigatorLegal Researcher
Average salary$72,914$49,342
Salary rangeBetween $45,000 And $117,000Between $22,000 And $106,000
Highest paying City-Boston, MA
Highest paying state-Massachusetts
Best paying company-Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
Best paying industry--

Differences between legal investigator and legal researcher education

There are a few differences between a legal investigator and a legal researcher in terms of educational background:

Legal InvestigatorLegal Researcher
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Most common majorCriminal JusticeLaw
Most common collegeUniversity of RichmondStanford University

Legal investigator vs legal researcher demographics

Here are the differences between legal investigators' and legal researchers' demographics:

Legal InvestigatorLegal Researcher
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 66.0% Female, 34.0%Male, 47.0% Female, 53.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.7% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 6.5% White, 75.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 5.6% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 6.4% White, 75.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between legal investigator and legal researcher duties and responsibilities

Legal investigator example responsibilities.

  • Create PowerPoint presentation used to train staff on managing copyright and trademark infringement risk.
  • Prepare trial exhibits, perform criminal background checks, and serve motions and subpoenas.
  • Work as a freelance investigator/legal researcher specializing in environmental and civil litigation.
  • Provide investigative services for large loss litigation cases, precedent case research and legal discovery analysis.
  • Conduct extensive research utilizing WestLaw and LexisNexis and summarize case law used for successful litigation to recover ERISA lien.
  • Assist with probate court and estates.
  • Show more

Legal researcher example responsibilities.

  • Create PowerPoint presentation used to train staff on managing copyright and trademark infringement risk.
  • Assist in all aspects of discovery including drafting and responding to document requests, interrogatories, requests-for-admission and third party subpoenas.
  • Research and complete memos on unsettle questions in Hawaii probate law
  • Edit manuscripts submit by outside authors for publication in BNA portfolios on subjects in corporate law.
  • Research depositions, interrogatories, exposure assessment literature and medical reports.
  • Ensure data integrity while fulfilling request on behalf of company litigation team.
  • Show more

Legal investigator vs legal researcher skills

Common legal investigator skills
  • Investigative Reports, 24%
  • Litigation, 18%
  • Legal Investigations, 16%
  • Conduct Interviews, 12%
  • Legal Research, 4%
  • Subpoenas, 3%
Common legal researcher skills
  • Litigation, 11%
  • Legal Issues, 8%
  • In-House Counsel, 5%
  • Real Estate, 5%
  • Civil Law, 5%
  • Legal Memoranda, 4%