Last Updated By Debanjalee Sen on 28 Feb, 2022

How to Become a Legal Analyst

About Legal Analyst

Legal Analysts are particular legal specialists whose job is to support and aid legal teams or individual lawyers. They have to conduct legal research and gather all the legal information that is related to it. The jobs of Legal Analysts entails deciphering laws, rulings, and regulations in legal documents while also assembling, proofreading and amending drafts of leases, contracts, licenses, policies and other legal documents. They have to not only monitor and study but also develop written summaries of anticipated and endorsed court decisions, legislation, trade journals, regulations, industry standards and other relevant publications. Legal Analysts are the primary point of contact for internal business teams that seek legal and regulatory support.

Eligibility to become Legal Analyst

In order to become a Legal Analyst, candidates have to ensure that they meet all the prerequisites for the same. The eligibility criteria for legal analysts have been given below. All interested applicants must check whether they fulfil all the conditions for the job or not.

  • The candidate must have completed his/ her education at least up to the graduation level.
  • A background in the study of law is preferred much more over the other disciplines for being a Legal Analyst. Most of the companies, when recruiting someone for the post, make it mandatory for him/ her to have a law degree. Hence, the student should have obtained a recognised and valid degree in law. It can either be an integrated law course or an LLB degree done after a graduation. Students who have completed their masters in law are also considered for the job role. 
  • The university from which the candidate secures his/ her qualifying degree must be recognised and approved by the UGC and the BCI.
  • The candidate must have some work experience as an analyst or a legal analyst. Internships done during the UG/ PG degree also count.
  • The aspirant must possess a thorough knowledge of databases and tracking systems. He should be proficient in computer systems and all the legal research sites.
  • It is essential for the candidate to have brilliant written as well as verbal communication skills.

Types of Job Roles Legal Analyst

A wide variety of duties and responsibilities will be laid upon a Legal Analyst of any company. These duties, relating to their jobs, may vary depending upon every legal team and case they undertake. Legal Analysts are expected to maintain an extensive understanding of the law, have a thorough understanding the procedures and regulations of laws and governments, have good researching skills about the law, access legal documentation, access legal records, enhance the overall functioning of their organisation, research legal specifics, research relevant news stories, provide support to the legal team, prepare exhibits or testimonies for legal proceedings, research public records, review and inspect testimony and evidence, and prepare reports based on evidence. A legal analyst should possess expert interpersonal relationship skills, high attention to detail, superb organisational skills, and the ability to prioritise tasks. Having expert research skills and critical thinking skills are also imperative.

Roles

Junior Legal Analyst

A junior legal analyst conducts research, reviews, and collects data in order to make legal recommendations. He or she must also do clerical work and respond to phone calls and correspondence.

Senior Legal Analyst

A senior legal analyst's job involves conducting legal research, accessing legal documents, and studying previous pertaining cases, as well as accessing legal documents and records. He/She provides all necessary assistance to the legal team.

Top Employment Areas/ Sectors

Some of the employment areas for criminal legal analysts are.

  • Independent Legal Practice
  • Law Firms
  • International Organizations
  • Legal Consultancies
  • Corporate Firms

Skills

  • The candidate must be well-versed in databases and tracking systems.
  • He should be familiar with computer systems and all legal research websites.
  • The candidate needs to have excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Familiar with legal research and gathering legal information.
  • Knows how to decipher laws, and rulings.
  • Can effectively document legal documents. 
  • Good at monitoring, studying, and writing regulations, court decisions, trade journals, and relevant publications.
  • Expert at synthesizing and organizing information for reference purposes for assisting the legal team.

 

Planning to choose Legal Analyst as your career?

Pay Scale/Salary of Legal Analyst

The average starting salary of a Legal Analyst is around Rs. 6,50,000 annually. Depending upon his/ her previous work experience, the job profile, the company for which he/ she is working, the city in which the company is based, etc., the salary can go up or down. These are some extremely important factors that determine the package of a legal analyst. Someone who has been hired to be the Legal Analyst of a leading organisation in a tier 1 city will get a package of about Rs. 15 - 20 lakh per annum.

Books & Study Material to Become Legal Analyst

Some of the preparation books are as follows.

  • The Legal Analyst – A Toolkit for Thinking about the Law Paperback by Ward Farnsworth
  • Law School Confidential: A Complete Guide to the Law School Experience: By Students, for Students by Robert H. Miller 
  • The Little Book on Legal Writing by Alan L. Dworsky
  • Legal Writing: A Judge's Perspective on the Science and Rhetoric of the Written Word by Robert E Bacharach 

Pros of becoming a Legal Analyst

  • The job of a Legal Analyst is high paying and the package of the candidate keeps increasing as his/ her work experience increases.
  • With new cases and new legal teams coming up every now and then, a Legal Analyst never finds his/ her job to be repetitive or redundant.
  • As the Legal Analyst is in the front line of the company, the kind of exposure and experience he/ she gathers throughout his/ her tenure is unparalleled.

Cons of becoming a Legal Analyst

  • The job life of a Legal Analyst is extremely hectic and he/ she is always neck deep in some case files or legal documents.
  • A Legal Analyst has to deal with a lot of people and it is not possible that all of them are favourable to him. Dealing with some tough people while still managing to get work done is one of the challenges faced by a Legal Analyst.

Do you think this is the right career choice for you?

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FAQs about Legal Analyst

Can I become a Legal Analyst in the corporate sector?

Yes, you can find the job of a Legal Analyst in almost all the sectors of the industry. The corporate sector is one of the biggest recruiters of Legal Analysts.

What is the starting salary of Legal Analysts?

The beginner level salary offered to Legal Analysts in India is around Rs. 3 - 4 lacs per annum.

Can I apply for a job as a Legal Analyst after completing BA LL.B?

Yes, you can easily get a job as a Legal Analyst after completing BA LL.B.

Which are the best colleges to study from in order to become a Legal Analyst?

It is important to get your degree from a good and recognised law college if you seek to make a career as a Legal Analyst. Some top law colleges in India are the NLUs, Symbiosis Law School, Faculty of Law - BHU, Campus Law Centre - DU, OP Jindal Law School, etc.

What is the minimum eligibility to become a Legal Analyst?

In order to become a Legal Analyst, you must have completed your bachelor's degree in law from a recognised university. You should also have some prior work experience similar to that of a Legal Analyst. Internships done during the undegraduate degree are accounted for as work experience.

What are the job responsibilites of a Legal Analyst who is an In-house Paralegal?

The job responsibilities of a Legal Analyst who is an In-house Paralegal are quite diverse. He/ she will have to prioritise all incoming legal documents, respond directly to regulatory and third party requests, work closely with attorneys as well as outside counsel in connection with various matters, assist in the production of the quarterly litigation report for senior management, assist in production of Litigation/Regulatory Reporting, etc.

Can Legal Analysts practise law?

Even though a Legal Analyst is someone who is familiar with laws and legal documents, he/ she is not necessarily an attorney licensed to practice law within a certain state.

What do Legal Analysts do?

Legal Analysts generally assist attorneys in reviewing and drafting various legal documents, including contracts, litigation filings, discovery material, legal memos and other documents that relate to a particular legal transaction or court case.

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