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Research attorney vs legal researcher

The differences between research attorneys 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 research attorney and a legal researcher. Additionally, a research attorney has an average salary of $92,154, which is higher than the $49,342 average annual salary of a legal researcher.

The top three skills for a research attorney include litigation, legal issues and legal memoranda. The most important skills for a legal researcher are litigation, legal issues, and in-house counsel.

Research attorney vs legal researcher overview

Research AttorneyLegal Researcher
Yearly salary$92,154$49,342
Hourly rate$44.30$23.72
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs52,73110,659
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeDoctoral Degree, 54%Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Average age4646
Years of experience44

Research attorney vs legal researcher salary

Research attorneys and legal researchers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Research AttorneyLegal Researcher
Average salary$92,154$49,342
Salary rangeBetween $58,000 And $146,000Between $22,000 And $106,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CABoston, MA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaMassachusetts
Best paying companyAirbnbSimpson Thacher & Bartlett
Best paying industryProfessional-

Differences between research attorney and legal researcher education

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

Research AttorneyLegal Researcher
Most common degreeDoctoral Degree, 54%Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Most common majorLawLaw
Most common collegeStanford UniversityStanford University

Research attorney vs legal researcher demographics

Here are the differences between research attorneys' and legal researchers' demographics:

Research AttorneyLegal Researcher
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 43.7% Female, 56.3%Male, 47.0% Female, 53.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.5% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 6.4% White, 75.6% 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 research attorney and legal researcher duties and responsibilities

Research attorney example responsibilities.

  • Supervise and manage plaintiff's personal injury practice.
  • Conduct legal research for criminal trials and appeals.
  • Review and analyze deeds, leases, probate records, mortgages, mineral reservations, and other applicable legal instruments.
  • Focus on: personal injury, probate, estate planning, construction contracts and liens, domestic relations, etc.
  • Perform legal research and prepare research memos in various litigation matters.
  • Practice focuse in all areas of tort litigation including catastrophic personal injury, medical malpractice, and product liability.
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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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Research attorney vs legal researcher skills

Common research attorney skills
  • Litigation, 17%
  • Legal Issues, 12%
  • Legal Memoranda, 9%
  • Appeals, 7%
  • Legal Support, 5%
  • Probate, 5%
Common legal researcher skills
  • Litigation, 11%
  • Legal Issues, 8%
  • In-House Counsel, 5%
  • Real Estate, 5%
  • Civil Law, 5%
  • Legal Memoranda, 4%