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Legal researcher skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
5 min read
Quoted experts
Jason Cieslik,
Chad Smith
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical legal researcher skills. We ranked the top skills for legal researchers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 11.5% of legal researcher resumes contained litigation as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a legal researcher needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 legal researcher skills for your resume and career

1. Litigation

Here's how legal researchers use litigation:
  • Ensured data integrity while fulfilling request on behalf of company litigation team.
  • Tracked litigation and provided case management assistance using LexisNexis and Concordance.

3. In-House Counsel

Here's how legal researchers use in-house counsel:
  • Performed research off-site as a temporary intern and legal researcher under direction of company's in-house counsel.
  • Briefed in-house counsel on current policies, new regulations and changes.

4. Real Estate

Real estate is land that has buildings on it. This kind of property consists of permanent improvements either natural or man-made, which include, houses, fences, bridges, water trees, and minerals. There are 4 types of real estate namely; residential real estate, commercial real estate, industrial real estate, and vacant land.

Here's how legal researchers use real estate:
  • Analyzed complex documents including employment agreements, real estate contracts and corporate transactions.
  • Provide research and administrative services to real estate brokers, agents and attorneys with maintaining record keeping and filing systems.

5. Civil Law

Here's how legal researchers use civil law:
  • Conducted comparative legal research as well as fact collection for the Deputy Israel Attorney General (Civil Law).
  • Performed legal research on various civil law topics for a select group of local law firms.

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7. Lexis-Nexis

Here's how legal researchers use lexis-nexis:
  • Utilized research software such as Dialog and Lexis-Nexis for Common Law research.
  • Performed manual legal research, and computer assisted legal research using Lexis-Nexis and Westlaw databases

8. Law Firm

Here's how legal researchers use law firm:
  • Performed legal research on a free-lance basis for various attorneys & law firms in the greater New Haven, Connecticut area.
  • Researched and analyzed legal precedents in preparation of legal motions and briefs on a contract basis to local law firms.

10. Subpoenas

Subpoenas are formal and legal documents issued mostly by a court or some other government agency that demands the presence of the person the document is addressed to, to show up at court. Subpoenas are issued to individuals whom the court wants to appear either as a witness in a particular case in order to testify or to provide any evidence such as an object or a document.

Here's how legal researchers use subpoenas:
  • Assisted in all aspects of discovery including drafting and responding to document requests, interrogatories, requests-for-admission and third party subpoenas.
  • Coordinated court filings, discovery documentation, and subpoenas timely and accurately.

11. Law Library

Here's how legal researchers use law library:
  • Research done at the law library in Marietta, GA.
  • Maintain Supreme Court Law Library.

12. International Law

International law refers to the set of governmental rules and regulations followed by a foreign country. In jobs where collaboration with other countries is required, e.g., in aviation-related jobs or import/exports, international law knowledge is essential. One must respect the country's law they are residing in, visiting, or working together. Most countries are strict about their rules, and if you break international law, the authorities can fine or even charge you.

Here's how legal researchers use international law:
  • Conducted research on international law, specifically in the sphere of dual citizenship.
  • Performed research and drafted memorandum regarding right to freedom of movement for residents of Russia under Russian and International law

13. Criminal Law

Here's how legal researchers use criminal law:
  • Case Law Research and Analysis in the areas of Contract, Fraud and Misrepresentation, Employment, and Criminal Law.
  • Worked as a legal researcher and a Translator amending Iraqi criminal law regarding violence against women.

14. Pacer

Here's how legal researchers use pacer:
  • Download and review document in acrobat form using PACER site of different courts and applying proper instructions given by the client.
  • Access Lexus, Westlaw, Verdict Search and Pacer to review and analyze court cases and trial court documents.

15. Intellectual Property

Intellectual properties refer to individuals' intangible or non-physical wealth, which results from their imaginations and intellect.

Here's how legal researchers use intellectual property:
  • Researched intellectual property policies of international liberal art universities for the Goldsmiths College policy revision project.
  • Drafted and negotiated Intellectual Property Cross Licensing Agreements and Software Licensing Contracts.
top-skills

What skills help Legal Researchers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on legal researcher resumes?

Jason CieslikJason Cieslik LinkedIn profile

Assistant Professor & Academic Advisor of Legal Studies, Illinois State University

Proofread, proofread, proofread! This is one absolute that the pandemic has not changed. The legal profession places a high value on written communication. Grammatical mistakes are an easy way to guarantee that you will not receive an opportunity to interview.
Since many employers are permitting their employees to work from home, the resume should demonstrate the ability to be a self-starter, ability to resolve a problem on their own, and computer literacy. Legal professionals that have training in specific legal technology platforms should make sure they emphasize those skills on their resume. Most ABA Approved Paralegal Programs require their students to take a course in legal technology. These skills should be emphasized, especially if they are going to be expected to work from home. On the flip side, employers should be as specific as possible in their job advertisements as to what qualities and skills they are seeking in a future employee.

When applying for any legal position, the applicant should modify their resume to the job that they are applying for, emphasizing the skills and qualities that the employer is seeking. Obviously, no applicant should stretch the truth, because those "facts" will eventually become exposed. Thus, if an applicant were applying for a position as a litigation paralegal, the applicant should emphasize the discovery experience they obtained during their internship, as opposed to their familiarity with probate law.

What soft skills should all legal researchers possess?

Chad Smith

Director of Legal Programs, Catholic University of America

Soft skills are those intangibles that every great professor has- a dynamic presenter that commands the attention and interest of their class/audience. These are the professors that intuitively know how to communicate lessons and convey meaning. Strong reasoning, problem-solving, critical thinking, and flexibility. Last, is leadership as every great professor needs to lead their class and be comfortable being the center of attention.

What hard/technical skills are most important for legal researchers?

Jan Levine

Professor of Law and Director, Legal Research & Writing Program, Duquesne University

Understanding how to plan a research effort, knowing how to update research, so it is timely, finding materials online and in print (which is often ignored or downplayed), demonstrating a critical examination of sources (i.e., reading them closely and coming up with an independent professional assessment of the reliability and validity of the materials), and knowing to find and use non-legal sources of information to apply to a legal problem (including talking with experts, going beyond online and print research). Plus, good researchers know how to use librarians and secondary sources of the law to expand the scope of their work and to be more efficient in their research (both in time and cost). Finally, the ability to organize material is crucial to a well-conducted search for material.

What legal researcher skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Dr. Neal Palmer Ph.D.Dr. Neal Palmer Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Chair, Associate Professor, Christian Brothers University

The answer to that question likely won't change from pre- to post-pandemic. Southern cities such as Nashville and Memphis were booming before the pandemic, and that will likely continue. These are good places to find jobs because the cost of living is relatively low, there are vibrant culture and entertainment, and there is not as much college-educated competition for jobs as in larger cities.

List of legal researcher skills to add to your resume

Legal researcher skills

The most important skills for a legal researcher resume and required skills for a legal researcher to have include:

  • Litigation
  • Legal Issues
  • In-House Counsel
  • Real Estate
  • Civil Law
  • Legal Memoranda
  • Lexis-Nexis
  • Law Firm
  • Legal Articles
  • Subpoenas
  • Law Library
  • International Law
  • Criminal Law
  • Pacer
  • Intellectual Property
  • Research Projects
  • Legal Analysis
  • Probate
  • Civil Litigation
  • Interrogatories
  • Employment Law
  • Family Law
  • Background Checks
  • Proofread
  • Legal Support
  • Brief Writing
  • State Statutes
  • Legal Services
  • Federal Courts
  • Legal Correspondence
  • Criminal Cases
  • In-Depth Research
  • Court Cases
  • Civil Rights
  • Legal Opinions
  • Legal Cases
  • Civil Cases
  • Legislative History
  • Arbitration
  • Federal Laws
  • District Court
  • Government Agencies
  • Trial Preparation
  • Legal Briefs
  • Legal Database
  • UCC
  • Appellate Briefs
  • Human Rights
  • Bloomberg
  • Estate Planning

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.