Attorneys who are representing publicly traded or private corporations in legal disputes often rely on support from a litigations specialist in business. Litigations specialists aren’t licensed, but they assume the roles of investigator and paralegal to assist in civil or criminal cases. They’re involved when client companies face court appearances for discrimination, anti-trust violations, copyright infringements, property damage, workers’ comp, price-fixing, and other woes . Corporate law firms are bulking up their number of legal support staff to handle their workload cost-effectively. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the hiring of litigations specialists will rise by 8 percent through 2024 with around 21,200 jobs created nationwide. If you’re interested in working where law and business intersect, review the following job profile for litigations specialists.
What Litigations Specialists Do
Litigations specialists provide support through all phases of corporate trials from the opening statement to settlement and appeals. Under an attorney’s supervision, they create the court documents filed to judges before the gavel sounds. These specialists use high-tech database systems to meticulously index investigative data. Litigations specialists in business will work with company leaders to compile reports requested by the counsel. Other tasks include drafting client correspondence, interviewing witnesses, preparing exhibits, writing testimony materials, performing law firm invoices, and attending depositions. Some will have supervisory responsibilities to direct legal secretaries and paralegals. Litigations specialists utilize their keen attention to detail for making sure court proceedings go off without a hitch.
Where Litigations Specialists Work
The BLS estimates that there are 279,500 legal assistants, including litigations specialists, working in the United States. Nearly three-fourths of business litigations specialists are employed directly by law firms where attorneys specialize in commercial law. Others are working at larger corporations, manufacturing firms, insurance carriers, limited liability companies, retailers, and banks that require legal counsel regularly. For example, a jobs search on Indeed found current openings at companies like Nestle, IAT Insurance Group, and Crown Castle. The majority of litigations specialists work full-time for 40-60 hours per week. Though it’s primarily a desk job, travel could be required for gathering corporate information and accompanying attorneys to the courthouse.
Become a Litigations Specialist in Business
Finding success as a litigations specialist will typically require a four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited university. Most will choose undergraduate majors in legal studies, legal support services, or paralegal studies. Others may study business administration or related fields like finance and add a law certificate. Completing an internship with a corporate law firm is recommended to learn about litigation software, such as LexisNexis and eDiscovery Point. Business attorneys will prefer litigations specialists who have three to five years of experience as paralegals. Consider earning the voluntary Certified Litigation Specialist (CLS) credential for your resume from the Americans for Effective Law (AELE) in Chicago.
Related Resource: What Types of Business Jobs are in Forensics?
The U.S. News and World Report recognized litigations specialists for having America’s 15th best social services job with low unemployment at 2.8 percent. Litigations specialists offer irreplaceable support to attorneys who are preparing corporate cases for the courtroom. Their help investigating case data and preparing legal documents is rewarded with a median yearly salary of $83,143, or $40 per hour, according to Salary.com. Being a litigations specialist in business is a gratifying, well-paid option for legal gurus who want to forgo spending three years at an ABA-accredited law school and taking the Bar Exam.