There are a variety of ways to work in the field of law without becoming a lawyer. For some people, the time and dedication to earn their juris doctorate just isn’t realistic for where they are in life, but this doesn’t mean they have to give up on their dream career. There are plenty of supporting roles in both the courts and at law offices. For example, you could become a litigation support specialist. If you’ve never heard of this role, you’re not alone! These people are supporting characters who often work behind the scenes, so let’s take a closer look at the duties of this job.

Main Duties

Litigation support is mainly tasked with assisting attorneys who are working on large cases. This could be a class action lawsuit or someone suing a large company with an extensive legal team. Doing proper research, obtaining evidence, and preparing arguments can all take a while, and an attorney usually doesn’t have time to do the leg work themselves. This is where the support professional steps in. They can help with all of the background work so when a report lands on the attorney’s desk, they have everything they need to build a comprehensive case for their client. 

Job Functions

The duties of litigation support might seem like busy work, but these professionals are far from the bottom of the totem pole. In fact, most support professionals manage or oversee entire teams of other people in various departments. It’s not uncommon for them to handle things like data management or strategic communication, and often they’ll enter a firm as the manager of an IT department or supervisor of paralegals. Their niche skills and experience also yield a comfortable annual income, which usually starts around $61,000 a year for rookies and can reach over six figures for experienced professionals.

Experience Requirements

If you’re interested in becoming litigation support, then there are a few educational and professional requirements you’ll likely need to meet. The first is to attain a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university, preferably in pre-law or a related field. You’ll also need a solid understanding of computer systems and document management, especially those used by the courts. Finally, it can be helpful to obtain some type of certification from a national board or association, such as the Association of Certified e-Discovery Specialists.

Litigation support professionals exist to help attorneys and keep law offices running smoothly.