How to Be Legal Research Investigator - Job Description, Skills, and Interview Questions

May 17, 2020 / 6 Minutes Read / By Albert

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The increasing use of technology in legal research has caused a shift in the traditional role of the legal research investigator. With the advent of online databases, such as LexisNexis and Westlaw, legal research can now be conducted more quickly and efficiently than ever before. This has resulted in greater demand for legal research investigators who are knowledgeable in the use of this technology as well as in the development of legal strategies.

At the same time, their traditional investigative roles, such as interviewing witnesses, preparing witness statements, and conducting public records searches, remain important components of the job. As a result, legal research investigators must now possess a combination of technical and investigative skill sets in order to be successful.

Steps How to Become

Obtain a Bachelor's Degree. The first step in becoming a legal research investigator is to obtain a bachelor's degree in a field such as law, criminal justice, or political science. Earning a degree in one of these fields will give you a solid foundation of knowledge on which to build your career as a legal research investigator.
Get Professional Certification. After completing your bachelor's degree, you may wish to pursue professional certification in legal research investigation. You can obtain certification through organizations such as the National Association of Legal Investigators, the American Association of Legal Investigators, and the International Association of Legal Investigators.
Obtain Work Experience. After obtaining your degree and certification, you will need to gain work experience in order to become a legal research investigator. This experience can be gained through internships, part-time jobs, or volunteering with a law firm or lawyer.
Develop Your Skills. It is important to continually develop your skills as a legal research investigator. This can be done by attending seminars, workshops, and conferences related to the field. You should also keep up to date with the latest legal trends and developments.
Join Professional Organizations. Joining professional organizations such as the National Association of Legal Investigators and the American Association of Legal Investigators can be beneficial for networking and obtaining new job opportunities. Additionally, these organizations can provide valuable resources and guidance to help you advance your career.

Staying updated and efficient in legal research requires a great deal of effort and dedication. To stay up to date, legal researchers must be proactive in their research and keep abreast of current legal developments. This can be done by regularly reading legal news sources, such as legal journals and law review articles, as well as attending continuing education seminars and other professional development activities.

staying organized and utilizing the latest technologies can help to improve research efficiency. Effective use of research databases, such as LexisNexis or Westlaw, can help researchers quickly access relevant information. using software tools such as bibliographic managers can help researchers easily organize their research materials and save time.

Finally, developing strong communication skills is essential for legal researchers to effectively communicate their findings to clients and colleagues. By taking these steps, legal researchers can ensure they are staying up to date and efficient in their work.

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Job Description

Litigation Research Investigator: Conducts research on legal issues in support of lawyers and other legal professionals. Performs legal research, fact-finding, and analysis of documents and evidence.
Corporate Research Investigator: Conducts in-depth research on companies and related entities on behalf of corporate clients. Analyzes financial data and other information to identify potential risks or opportunities.
Criminal Research Investigator: Carries out investigations into criminal activity, including interviewing witnesses, gathering evidence, and analyzing records. Provides reports and recommendations to law enforcement agencies.
Regulatory Research Investigator: Investigates compliance with state and federal regulations to ensure adherence to applicable laws and regulations. Researches applicable laws and regulations and provides guidance on compliance issues.
Intellectual Property Research Investigator: Investigates the infringement of intellectual property rights and helps clients protect their intellectual property. Conducts research to identify potential infringers and prepares reports on findings.
Legal Technology Research Investigator: Assists law firms and their clients by researching available legal technologies and providing recommendations for the use of technology in legal practice. Evaluates existing systems and designs new ones to streamline processes.

Skills and Competencies to Have

Knowledge of legal principles and procedures.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to work independently, with minimal supervision.
Proficiency in using legal research databases and other online resources.
Ability to synthesize and summarize findings quickly and accurately.
Familiarity with state and federal courts and regulations.
Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive information.
Excellent organizational and time management skills.
Proficiency in using computer applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Having the right research skills is essential for any legal research investigator. The ability to quickly locate and evaluate relevant information, identify issues and develop persuasive arguments are key components of successful legal research. Having the ability to organize information logically and effectively present it in an understandable manner is also important.

Critical thinking and an understanding of the legal system are important elements in being able to effectively conduct legal research. Without these skills, legal research investigators may be unable to effectively analyze complex cases, find applicable legal precedent, and make sound conclusions and recommendations. As such, having strong research, communication and analytical skills is essential for any legal research investigator.

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Frequent Interview Questions

What experience do you have working as a Legal Research Investigator?
How do you stay current on changing laws and regulations?
Describe a difficult legal problem you solved and the outcome.
What methods do you use to research legal issues?
How do you handle conflicting evidence when researching legal issues?
How have you used technology to assist in legal research investigations?
What steps do you take to ensure accuracy when conducting legal research?
Describe a time when you had to present a legal research investigation to a group of stakeholders.
How do you manage multiple legal research assignments at once?
How do you handle tight deadlines when conducting legal research investigations?

Common Tools in Industry

LexisNexis. An online legal research platform that provides access to a wide range of legal materials, including case law, statutes, and regulations. (e. g. Helped uncover a case that highlighted the legal requirements of a certain contract)
Westlaw. An online legal research service that allows users to search for a wide range of legal materials, including case law, statutes, and regulations. (e. g. Accessed relevant court decisions used to support a clients position in an arbitration hearing)
Google Scholar. A search engine designed to help users locate scholarly literature and legal documents. (e. g. Discovered an article that provided insight into current trends in environmental law)
Lawinsider. A subscription-based online platform that provides access to a wide range of legal documents, including contracts, corporate documents, and SEC filings. (e. g. Found a contract that was relevant to a clients dispute)
Fastcase. A web-based legal research platform that provides access to a wide range of primary legal materials and secondary sources. (e. g. Researched state legislation to determine the legality of a proposed business transaction)

Professional Organizations to Know

American Association of Law Libraries
American Bar Association
National Association of Legal Assistants
National Legal Aid and Defender Association
The American Society of International Law
American Immigration Lawyers Association
Association of Corporate Counsel
The National Conference of Bar Examiners
American Intellectual Property Law Association
American Bankruptcy Institute

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Common Important Terms

Statutes. Written laws enacted by a legislature.
Case Law. Precedents established by prior court decisions.
Jurisprudence. A body of legal principles, doctrines, and rules.
Precedent. A court decision that can be used as an example when making subsequent decisions in similar cases.
Common Law. Legal decisions that are based on custom and precedent.
Legislation. Laws created by a legislature.
Lexicon. A comprehensive collection of terms and definitions in a particular field.
Legal Citation. A system of referencing sources used in legal research.
Restatement. A concise statement of the principles of law on a specific subject, as prepared by a committee of legal scholars.
Treatises. Books or other works containing a comprehensive discussion of one or more legal topics.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Legal Research Investigator?

A Legal Research Investigator is a professional who researches and investigates legal matters related to civil and criminal law. They use their knowledge of the law to research and analyze cases, gather evidence and prepare reports on their findings.

What qualifications do Legal Research Investigators need?

Legal Research Investigators typically have a bachelors degree in law, criminal justice, or a related field. Most also have experience working in the legal field, such as working as a paralegal or a law clerk.

What type of work does a Legal Research Investigator do?

A Legal Research Investigator performs a variety of tasks, such as researching legal documents, interviewing witnesses, taking photographs, gathering evidence, and preparing reports on their findings.

What type of environment does a Legal Research Investigator work in?

Legal Research Investigators typically work in a law office or court environment, but may also work in other settings such as private investigation firms or government departments.

What are the risks associated with being a Legal Research Investigator?

Legal Research Investigators may be at risk of exposure to potentially dangerous environments or situations, such as interviewing suspects or visiting crime scenes. They should also be aware of the potential dangers of working with confidential information and should exercise caution when handling sensitive materials.