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Legal researcher vs assistant counsel

The differences between legal researchers and assistant counsels 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 researcher and an assistant counsel. Additionally, an assistant counsel has an average salary of $61,229, which is higher than the $49,342 average annual salary of a legal researcher.

The top three skills for a legal researcher include litigation, legal issues and in-house counsel. The most important skills for an assistant counsel are litigation, legal issues, and legal advice.

Legal researcher vs assistant counsel overview

Legal ResearcherAssistant Counsel
Yearly salary$49,342$61,229
Hourly rate$23.72$29.44
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs10,6598,574
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 56%Bachelor's Degree, 52%
Average age4646
Years of experience44

Legal researcher vs assistant counsel salary

Legal researchers and assistant counsels have different pay scales, as shown below.

Legal ResearcherAssistant Counsel
Average salary$49,342$61,229
Salary rangeBetween $22,000 And $106,000Between $36,000 And $103,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MAWashington, DC
Highest paying stateMassachusettsNew York
Best paying companySimpson Thacher & BartlettBaltimore City Public Schools
Best paying industry-Government

Differences between legal researcher and assistant counsel education

There are a few differences between a legal researcher and an assistant counsel in terms of educational background:

Legal ResearcherAssistant Counsel
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 56%Bachelor's Degree, 52%
Most common majorLawLaw
Most common collegeStanford UniversityDuke University

Legal researcher vs assistant counsel demographics

Here are the differences between legal researchers' and assistant counsels' demographics:

Legal ResearcherAssistant Counsel
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 47.0% Female, 53.0%Male, 42.3% Female, 57.7%
Race ratioBlack 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%Black or African American, 5.7% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 8.0% Asian, 6.5% White, 75.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between legal researcher and assistant counsel duties and responsibilities

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.
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Assistant counsel example responsibilities.

  • Manage outside counsel relate to mortgage fraud recovery litigation, including cost management, litigation strategy and settlement terms.
  • Assist in liaising with insurance authorities, responding to regulatory inquiries and managing relationship with region from legal and business perspective.
  • Sell, consult and demonstrate office automation and conveyance software technology.
  • Respond to lawsuits, subpoenas, as well as draft any need legal documents.
  • Assist in drafting subpoenas, search warrants and preservation letters for social media content and mobile devices.
  • Design, develop, and implement cost-effectively litigation strategies in order to secure convictions and facilitate preferential sentencing negotiations.
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Legal researcher vs assistant counsel skills

Common legal researcher skills
  • Litigation, 11%
  • Legal Issues, 8%
  • In-House Counsel, 5%
  • Real Estate, 5%
  • Civil Law, 5%
  • Legal Memoranda, 4%
Common assistant counsel skills
  • Litigation, 14%
  • Legal Issues, 11%
  • Legal Advice, 10%
  • Legal Research, 6%
  • Intellectual Property, 5%
  • Mental Health, 4%