Post job

Legal researcher vs legal counsel

The differences between legal researchers and legal 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 a legal counsel. Additionally, a legal counsel has an average salary of $132,867, 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 a legal counsel are legal advice, legal issues, and litigation.

Legal researcher vs legal counsel overview

Legal ResearcherLegal Counsel
Yearly salary$49,342$132,867
Hourly rate$23.72$63.88
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs10,65910,337
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 56%Bachelor's Degree, 43%
Average age4646
Years of experience44

Legal researcher vs legal counsel salary

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

Legal ResearcherLegal Counsel
Average salary$49,342$132,867
Salary rangeBetween $22,000 And $106,000Between $81,000 And $216,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateMassachusettsCalifornia
Best paying companySimpson Thacher & BartlettApple
Best paying industry-Technology

Differences between legal researcher and legal counsel education

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

Legal ResearcherLegal Counsel
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 56%Bachelor's Degree, 43%
Most common majorLawLaw
Most common collegeStanford UniversityStanford University

Legal researcher vs legal counsel demographics

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

Legal ResearcherLegal Counsel
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 47.0% Female, 53.0%Male, 54.2% Female, 45.8%
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, 5.6% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 6.5% White, 75.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between legal researcher and legal 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.
  • Show more

Legal counsel example responsibilities.

  • Achieve statewide recognition as expert on Medicare and Medicaid.
  • Manage high-risk employee terminations from initial decision through preparation for appeals hearings and any subsequent legal action.
  • Assist in liaising with insurance authorities, responding to regulatory inquiries and managing relationship with region from legal and business perspective.
  • Conduct anti-money laundering (AML) and know your customer (KYC) due diligence on a daily basis.
  • Ensure compliance with federal securities laws, NYSE rules, and Sarbanes-Oxley requirements.
  • Draft position statements for EEO and other regulatory claims.
  • Show more

Legal researcher vs legal 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 legal counsel skills
  • Legal Advice, 11%
  • Legal Issues, 9%
  • Litigation, 8%
  • Legal Support, 7%
  • Intellectual Property, 5%
  • Legal Risks, 4%