How To Become A Legal Researcher: What It Is and Career Path

What is a legal researcher and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Friedbert Ninow Ph.D.

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a legal researcher. For example, did you know that they make an average of $23.72 an hour? That's $49,342 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 10% and produce 80,200 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a legal researcher?

Friedbert Ninow Ph.D.

Dean, La Sierra University

A degree in theological and ministerial studies (or more generally in Religious Studies) does not necessarily have to lead into pastoral ministry. There are many opportunities where a Religion degree is a good foundation: Chaplaincy (e.g., Hospital, Army, Jail, etc.), Politics & Society, Journalism, Health Sciences, Arts, etc.

General advice: Let your heart speak first, not possible career chances or salary perspectives, etc. (I understand that this is important, too).

ScoreLegal ResearcherUS Average

Salary

3.9

Avg. Salary $49,342

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

10.0

Growth rate 10%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

2.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.31%

Asian 6.42%

Black or African American 5.59%

Hispanic or Latino 7.82%

Unknown 4.38%

White 75.48%

Gender

female 53.04%

male 46.96%

Age - 45

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 45

Stress level

10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

10.0

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.9

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a legal researcher

Explore legal researcher education requirements

Most common legal researcher degrees

Bachelor's

55.6 %

Doctorate

26.1 %

Master's

8.7 %

Start to develop specific legal researcher skills

Skills	Percentages
Litigation	11.49%
Legal Issues	7.90%
In-House Counsel	5.21%
Real Estate	5.15%
Civil Law	5.03%

Complete relevant legal researcher training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New legal researchers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a legal researcher based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real legal researcher resumes.

Research legal researcher duties and 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.

Get legal researcher experience

Generally, it takes 2-4 years to become a legal researcher. The most common roles before becoming a legal researcher include legal extern, law clerk team lead and internship.

Prepare your legal researcher resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your legal researcher resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a legal researcher resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable legal researcher resume templates

Build a professional legal researcher resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your legal researcher resume.