What does a staff attorney do?
Staff Attorneys are legal employees who work for a variety of organizations, often as full-time employees. They use their legal expertise to help deal with day-to-day legal issues with which their organization needs regular assistance.
Staff attorney responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real staff attorney resumes:
- Generate an internal memorandum exploring VAWA and special immigrant juvenile cases that lead to the establishment of a new clinic program.
- Provide statewide training for attorneys and advocates on education law and also responsible for major impact education litigation and appeals.
- Create and conduct workshops on e-discovery, privilege, FMLA, ADA, and FLSA
- Conduct internal FLSA (wage and hour) compliance and re-classification audits for pre-complaint resolution.
- General practice attorney handling primarily bankruptcy, domestic relations and criminal cases, preparation of wills and trusts and probate.
- Draft wills, powers of attorney, probate estate administration filings, divorce filings, caregiver contracts, and property deeds.
- Conduct hearings with IRS appeals officers regarding collection alternatives.
- Perform intake interviews, screen prospective clients for benefits eligibility, and provide in-person representation at USCIS hearings.
- Perform research and policy work regarding unreasonable state delays in responding to unemployment insurance appeals and other benefit denials.
- Team leader of temporary attorneys and legal assistants during document production in defense of telecommunications firm in securities fraud litigation.
- Draft pleadings, prepare motions, answer interrogatories, and prepare depositions for a firm specializing in construction defect litigation.
- Represent low-income taxpayers before the IRS in matters including resolving identity theft and negotiating offers in compromise and installment agreements.
- Analyze materials produce through discovery for complex securities class action litigation; organize key documents in preparation for depositions and trial.
- Represent eligible individuals with all stages of federal benefits applications and petitions including compilation of USCIS forms and appropriate case research.
- Help train officers in court practices on DUI cases.
Staff attorney skills and personality traits
We calculated that 17% of Staff Attorneys are proficient in Litigation, Legal Services, and Juris. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Interpersonal skills, and Problem-solving skills.
We break down the percentage of Staff Attorneys that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Litigation, 17%
Managed a team of associates in their efforts to review documentation and electronic discovery concerning various complex commercial litigation matters.
- Legal Services, 8%
Advised parents of public school students in matters involving education, discrimination and constitutional issues for legal services organization.
- Juris, 7%
Work with Word, Microsoft Outlook and JURIS computer programs
- Legal Advice, 6%
Provided strategic legal advice to senior management and all departments regarding Anti-Money Laundering and Know Your Customer compliance issues.
- Appeals, 4%
Advised and represented individuals before administrative disability evaluation hearings and in criminal appeals before the Coast Guard Court of Criminal Appeals.
- Administrative Agencies, 4%
Investigated complaints filed with various Administrative agencies, provided written legal opinions and worked towards resolving disputed issues.
"litigation," "legal services," and "juris" are among the most common skills that staff attorneys use at work. You can find even more staff attorney responsibilities below, including:
Analytical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a staff attorney to have is analytical skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "lawyers interpret the law as it applies to their client’s case." Staff attorneys often use analytical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "analyzed materials produced through discovery for complex securities class action litigation; organized key documents in preparation for depositions and trial. "
Interpersonal skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling staff attorney duties is interpersonal skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "lawyers must build relationships with current and prospective clients, as well as with their colleagues and other members of the legal community." According to a staff attorney resume, here's how staff attorneys can utilize interpersonal skills in their job responsibilities: "used interpersonal and persuasive skills in mediations, negotiations, and trials provided day-to-day legal advice department of human services"
Problem-solving skills. staff attorneys are also known for problem-solving skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to staff attorney responsibilities, because "lawyers must evaluate information to propose viable solutions, mediate disputes, and reach agreements or settlements for their clients." A staff attorney resume example shows how problem-solving skills is used in the workplace: "managed cases from receipt to resolution for the financial services litigation group. "
Research skills. A big part of what staff attorneys do relies on "research skills." You can see how essential it is to staff attorney responsibilities because "lawyers need to find laws and regulations that apply to a specific matter in order to provide appropriate legal advice for their clients." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical staff attorney tasks: "complete responsibility for case development and litigation including research, depositions, discovery, motion practice and trial. "
The three companies that hire the most staff attorneys are:
- The Hartford19 staff attorneys jobs
- KIND Snacks18 staff attorneys jobs
- Legal Services of the Hudson Valley15 staff attorneys jobs
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Compare different staff attorneys
Staff attorney vs. General counsel
A general counsel, also called a chief legal officer, is the chief lawyer in the legal department of an organization. The counsel represents an enterprise for any pending legal matters. They work proactively to lessen possible problems associated with legalities and potential risks. They have to monitor practices and the people within the law firm for misconduct. They also perform dominant roles in regulation, ethics, public affairs, and legislation. It is common for them to serve as the public spokesperson of the company during the publicity of legal matters.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a staff attorney are more likely to require skills like "appeals," "administrative agencies," "real estate," and "civil rights." On the other hand, a job as a general counsel requires skills like "risk management," "ethics," "human resources," and "corporate governance." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
General counsels really shine in the finance industry with an average salary of $135,018. Comparatively, staff attorneys tend to make the most money in the professional industry with an average salary of $113,835.The education levels that general counsels earn slightly differ from staff attorneys. In particular, general counsels are 3.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a staff attorney. Additionally, they're 13.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Staff attorney vs. Housing counselor
A Housing Counselor works directly with clients and organizations to support moderate and low-income clients in overcoming barriers to housing and financial stability. They represent the homeowner in interventions and/or mediation proceedings with the mortgage servicer, lender, and/or other stakeholders.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, staff attorney responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "legal services," "juris," "appeals," and "administrative agencies." Meanwhile, a housing counselor has duties that require skills in areas such as "in-house counsel," "social work," "crisis intervention," and "rental assistance." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Housing counselors earn a lower average salary than staff attorneys. But housing counselors earn the highest pay in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $91,338. Additionally, staff attorneys earn the highest salaries in the professional with average pay of $113,835 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Housing counselors tend to reach similar levels of education than staff attorneys. In fact, they're 4.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 13.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for staff attorneys in the next 3-5 years?
Michelle Miller
Associate Professor of Legal Studies, Quinnipiac University
Staff attorney vs. Legal consultant
A legal consultant uses legal practice knowledge to enhance a law company's efficiency and profitability. Besides advising on the right solutions for customer productivity, marketing and development strategies, legal consultants also actively manage risks by consulting on program and legal-related issues. They help the parent law firm meet its objectives by analyzing problems and developing solutions. Other than negotiating, drafting, and reviewing legal documents, legal consultants also conduct legal research and analyze the right securities, insurance, and retirement plans.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from staff attorney resumes include skills like "appeals," "administrative agencies," "real estate," and "administrative hearings," whereas a legal consultant is more likely to list skills in "financial statements," "client relationships," "law firm," and "real estate transactions. "
Legal consultants earn the best pay in the professional industry, where they command an average salary of $114,368. Staff attorneys earn the highest pay from the professional industry, with an average salary of $113,835.legal consultants typically earn higher educational levels compared to staff attorneys. Specifically, they're 8.8% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 21.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Staff attorney vs. Lawyer
A lawyer is a legal practitioner who specializes in understanding and interpreting laws and other legal matters. Their responsibilities revolve around providing legal counseling and advice, representing clients in different kinds of court proceedings, conducting research, collecting evidence, and coordinating with various experts. A lawyer must also manage and oversee the performance of assistants, paralegals, and other team members. Furthermore, there are instances when a lawyer must draft or manage documents such as contracts, trusts, deeds, and wills, assisting clients as needed.
Types of staff attorney
Updated January 8, 2025
