Litigation Support Analyst

Answer 1

A litigation support analyst assists attorneys with managing all of the information that accumulates during an involved case. Often, the litigation attorney will rely on the litigation support analyst to provide insight into the evidence, to highlight connections between the items, and to appear in court to assist with the production of evidence, at the appropriate time. A litigation support analyst must be highly organized, have strong computer skills and be able to think in a linear fashion, to anticipate the order in which the attorney will need information. The litigation support analyst should also be able to think inferentially and draw appropriate conclusions, from the evidence. The analyst must have strong communication skills, and enjoy a fast-paced work schedule.

Required Education

The field of litigation support has no set credentialing authority. At a minimum, an associate’s degree in one of the legal fields such as a paralegal or a legal assistant will be required. Most firms will require a bachelor’s degree in pre-law with a strong concentration in technology, and many will request Project Management Professional certification. Certification in litigation support software such as Concordance or Ringtail is recommended. The Association of Litigation Support Professionals provides a wealth of information regarding all aspects of a career in litigation support. The Association is also working on a national certification process for litigation support analysts.

Salary and Projected Industry Growth

According to the US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, legal assistants held approximately 264,000 positions as of May 2008. The Bureau anticipates a growth of 28% in this field over the next decade. Part of this growth is due to the increased reliance on legal support services by larger law firms in order to hire fewer lawyers who can then concentrate on litigation without having to worry about the minutia of case management, as well. And part of this growth is due to society’s increased reliance on the legal system to settle a variety of criminal and civil issues. As of May 2008, the Bureau lists the average wage of a litigation support analyst at $46,120, with the top 10% of analysts earning more that $73,450 and the bottom 10% earning less than $29,260.