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Legal researchers play a prominent role in the legal field.
They assist attorneys by organizing, analyzing, and finding legal information such as legal articles, statutes, and case law that will support various cases.
They also prepare legal documents.
If becoming a legal researcher is a profession you are considering but are not sure about, this is a good place to start.
This guide will provide you with the top advantages and disadvantages of working as a legal researcher to help you determine whether this is the right fit for you.
Pros of Being a Legal Researcher
First, let’s start with a list of some pros of being a legal researcher:
1. Mentally Engaging
If you yearn for a job that provides you with intellectual stimulation, a career as a legal researcher may be an ideal career choice for you.
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Legal research consists of examining legal principles, case law, and more.
This means that you must have in-depth knowledge of the legal system, thus requiring you to use critical thinking skills.
If you find this type of work mentally engaging, you can rest assured that you’ll be satisfied as a legal researcher.
You’ll be consistently exposed to ever-changing laws, new cases, and more, all of which will keep your work lively.
2. Provides Diversity in Additional Sectors
As a legal researcher, you are not limited to working in law firms alone.
You have the opportunity to work in other sectors, such as government agencies, academia, corporate legal departments, NGOs, and more.
Having a diversified career allows greater flexibility and an opportunity to find values and interests that align with you.
For example, if you value human rights, you may find that working with an NGO provides you with pleasure.
As a result, you can avoid experiencing a standstill and instead grow in your field.
3. Contribute to the Justice System
Legal researchers play a critical role in the justice system, even though they work behind the scenes.
The research that you conduct may have an impact on decisions made in court and even have an influence on policies.
It can also help lawyers build strong cases.
While legal researchers are not present in the courtroom, the work they conduct is the foundation of various legal processes.
So, if becoming a legal researcher fits the bill, you’ll enjoy knowing that the work you do contributes to the justice system and provides clarity, ensuring fairness.
4. Transferable Skills
Legal researchers possess a variety of valuable skills, such as analytical writing, critical thinking, attention to detail, and more, all of which can be transferred to other careers.
If you decide you would like to transition to other legal roles in the future, such as an attorney, paralegal, or policy advisor, you will already be ten steps ahead.
Furthermore, if you decide to venture outside the legal field, you can utilize your skills in other careers, including journalism, business analysis, and compliance.
Legal research also involves having excellent verbal and written skills, which are critical in nearly every career, thus making this profession one that can pave the way for additional career opportunities.
5. Less Stress Compared to Other Legal Roles
Legal researchers don’t face highly stressful situations like trial attorneys and other legal professionals, making this a more desirable career choice.
As a legal researcher, you won’t have to worry about facing client disputes or courtroom deadlines.
The work you conduct will be structured and adhere to a consistent schedule.
This provides you with a balance between your work and personal life.
If you prefer a career that provides intellectual engagement without dealing with more complicated areas of the law, a career as a legal researcher may be an ideal fit.
6. Flexible Schedule
Another pro of working as a legal researcher is that you’ll benefit from flexible work arrangements.
As mentioned earlier, you can enjoy an equal balance between your work and personal life.
This is mainly because you’ll be offered flexible hours and possibly the opportunity to work remotely.
However, this will depend on specific projects and the employer you work for.
7. Option to Specialize
Oftentimes, legal researchers specialize in certain areas of the law.
Having a specialization enables you to build more knowledge in an area you value, making you stand out and thus earning a higher salary.
Legal researchers can specialize in various areas such as corporate law, criminal law, intellectual property, labor relations, and more.
Having such a specialty also allows researchers to provide information that is more relevant to the professionals they are assisting.
Cons of Being a Legal Researcher
Now, let’s take a look at the list of cons of working as a legal researcher:
1. Not a lot of Public Recognition
Since legal researchers work behind the scenes, they rarely receive any recognition from attorneys or judges.
If this bothers you and receiving credit for your work is crucial, you may want to think twice about becoming a legal researcher.
This is especially true when you are working on high-profile cases.
Not receiving recognition for your work can lead to feeling underappreciated, especially when your work has a direct impact on case outcomes.
If this doesn’t bother you, and being acknowledged is something you can tolerate, you may succeed in this field.
2. Work Is Repetitive
While legal research has certain aspects that make the work you do intellectually stimulating, certain parts may become repetitive over time.
This is especially true when you are searching through databases, analyzing statutes, and summarizing cases you’re working on.
You may come across similar problems in various cases that can result in boredom.
Additionally, the work can be time-consuming and involve a lot of detail, thus causing you to feel drained if you’re someone who thrives in fast-paced environments.
3. Little Room for Mistakes
Almost every position in the legal field requires you to have excellent accuracy in detail, and this includes legal researchers.
So what does this mean for you?
This means that you have very little room for mistakes.
Minor mistakes in your research can result in major consequences in legal decisions.
This may cause you to feel immense pressure, leading to anxiety and the need to be perfect.
You’ll also need to verify and cite facts and sources that you use during your research.
If working under this type of pressure bothers you, a career as a legal researcher may not be suitable.
4. Challenging to Advance
While it’s not impossible to move up the ladder as a legal researcher, you will find that it is challenging, especially if you remain in a support role.
This is true compared to attorneys or legal executives.
You’ll have limited options if you’re eventually thinking about transitioning to senior positions or those that earn a higher salary.
In most law firms, legal research is considered an entry-level position.
This means that long-term advancement is limited unless you earn additional qualifications such as an LLM or JD.
5. No Direct Interaction with Clients
Another con of working as a legal researcher is not having any direct interaction with clients while you are working on cases.
Legal researchers will also not participate in any court proceedings, thus making you feel emotionally distant and disconnected.
This can also cause a lack of fulfillment, especially if you are someone who thrives on human interaction.
Compared to attorneys who meet face-to-face with clients, legal researchers communicate mostly by data and text.
If you’re looking for a role that includes more human interaction, you may want to reconsider this profession.
6. Limited Teamwork
Even though you’ll be assisting attorneys with research, a career as a legal researcher involves limited collaboration.
This can leave you feeling isolated if working as a team is your dream.
The majority of the work you conduct includes writing independently, analyzing, and reading for long periods.
You may experience minimal collaboration with other professionals. Your primary tasks require independent work.
If you thrive in social environments, this type of work can negatively impact your job satisfaction.
7. Research Is Filtered
The main role of a legal researcher is to collect and analyze information.
However, most of the research and findings are filtered and rarely implemented on their own.
Professors, attorneys, and policymakers are the ones who have the final say on how and what research you provide.
Your work can be ignored or even misinterpreted.
Having this type of dependence on your work can leave you feeling frustrated and powerless.
Pros and Cons of Being a Legal Researcher – Summary Table
| Pros of Being a Legal Researcher | Cons of Being a Legal Researcher |
|---|---|
| 1. Mentally Engaging | 1. Not a lot of Public Recognition |
| 2. Provides Diversity in Additional Sectors | 2. Work Is Repetitive |
| 3. Contribute to the Justice System | 3. Little Room for Mistakes |
| 4. Transferable Skills | 4. Challenging to Advance |
| 5. Less Stress Compared to Other Legal Roles | 5. No Direct Interaction with Clients |
| 6. Flexible Schedule | 6. Limited Teamwork |
| 7. Option to Specialize | 7. Research Is Filtered |
Should You Become a Legal Researcher?
So, is becoming a legal researcher worth it?
A career as a legal researcher can be extremely rewarding and worthwhile, especially if you are passionate about the law and have excellent analytical skills.
It’s a career that enables you to have a major impact on the outcomes of legal cases, all without being an attorney.
But besides the good, there are also some cons to being a legal researcher that you should take into consideration.
The work can be entirely rigorous, and those working with you will have high expectations of your work.
If you feel that the good outweighs the bad, a career as a legal researcher can be worth pursuing.
If you are serious about becoming a legal researcher, a LexisNexis certificate should be your first step.
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