An Insight Into What a Legal Data Analyst Does
Legal data analysts have a variety of basic tasks to perform. These men and women are usually responsible for compiling case law documents, such as briefs, pleadings, and motions. Legal data analysts are also charged with the task of interpreting the various statutes and rulings which comprise the many different facets of the law.
The job of a legal data analyst requires computer skills, and a strong command of both the written and spoken word. These analysts need to be highly organized, and possess good time management skills, as working on many deadlines is often part of their job requirements.
Good analytical skills are a plus for anyone looking to become a legal data analyst , and attention to detail is important, as well. Many legal data analysts work in an environment where they must meet strict research deadlines. The job may even require them to provide support in the courtroom from time to time.
Legal data analysts conduct legal research for cases being formulated by lawyers and law firms. These individuals may eventually play a crucial role in setting future legal precedents, based on the results of their research projects. These analysts play a very important role in the legal outcome for many cases, and are a vital part of the advancement of justice overall.
Qualifications of a Legal Data Analyst
To succeed as a legal data analyst, a combination of technical and soft skills is essential. First and foremost, the ability to analyze and interpret large sets of legal data sets is critical. An understanding of statistical methods is important, as these will be used to interpret the data for analytics and to draw conclusions from the analysis performed. Computer programming knowledge is necessary if the analyst will work with data coding and data cleaning. Although data extraction and modeling software and tools have made analysis easier, a legal data analyst should know how to use some of these applications. They should understand how and where to apply the software to the relevant data sets, and what to do in case of any discrepancies.
Beyond these technical skills there are also some vital soft skills. Because the legal data analyst must communicate with so many individuals across multiple departments, they must possess well-developed communication skills. This is necessary for communicating with technical staff on some teams or explaining complex information to non-technical staff. As the legal data analyst role is a relatively new role, individuals in the position may be asked to explain processes to other staff members and clients. In addition to communication skills, legal data analysts should also be good at thinking critically and creatively to solve problems, as well as thinking analytically.
Tools and Technologies Used by Data Analysts in Law
Legal data analysts have a plethora of tools available to them to help facilitate the various tasks they undertake. Some of these are general data management and analytic software, while some are tailored to suit legal environments or specific types of analysis. One of the most prevalent forms of data analysis utilized by legal experts, especially those tasked with litigation support, are visual analysis systems. Video production and capture systems help facilitate the integration of photographic, video and written materials that help convey a strong, logical case. Similarly, case management systems, which allow for the holistic data management of case files, also allow for the manipulation, organization and presentation of data, making it ideal for legal applications. In modern law, in-house litigation support teams often utilize Visual Matrix, a document and discovery processing software that allows for the intake, organization and analysis of documents. Additionally, analytical software like Concordance, on a more business-level, offers document storage and processing mechanisms that aid lawyers, paralegals and litigation support experts in the handling of case materials.
Affect of Data Analysis on Law Practices
As legal practices become more data-driven, the role of the legal data analyst is becoming increasingly important. Legal data analysts can sift through vast amounts of legal data to identify trends, patterns, and relationships that may not be immediately apparent. This can help lawyers make more informed decisions and craft more effective legal strategies. For example, a legal data analyst may be able to identify correlations between certain documents or statements and the outcome of a case.
In addition to identifying patterns in legal data, legal data analysts can also help to improve the efficiency of legal practices. By analyzing data on the workflow and productivity of legal teams , analysts can recommend ways to streamline processes and make better use of resources. This can be particularly valuable in large scale litigation, where several thousand documents may be processed during discovery.
Legal data analysts can also help to reduce costs for law firms and their clients. By analyzing legal data to identify which legal strategies are most effective, analysts can help clients to avoid costly mistakes. Additionally, by streamlining processes and improving efficiency, legal data analysts can help law firms to reduce overhead costs.
Overall, the use of legal data analysis is transforming the way law firms operate, making them more efficient, cost-effective, and better able to serve their clients. As the legal sector continues to evolve, the role of the legal data analyst will only become more important.
Obstacles Confronting Legal Data Analysts
While the role of a legal data analyst can be incredibly exciting, it is not without its challenges. Foremost among these is dealing with the enormous quantity of data that most lawyers and accountants routinely work with. When it comes to managing litigation or commercial transactions that involve millions of documents, the challenge is obviously in organizing, sorting, and analyzing them in order to find the few hundred highly relevant ones. This is where the skills and expertise of both data analysts and lawyers truly comes to bear, as the data analyst will use a variety of tools and software to strain out the chaff from the wheat and return only that which is relevant.
However, the challenges do not stop there. Data privacy is of course a hugely important issue, and much of the expertise that a legal data analyst brings to the table involves working with confidential business data and trade secrets, for example. For obvious reasons, business people are concerned about their proprietary information being accessed by others who are not authorized to do so, and that is where a legal data analyst’s legal expertise pays off. This is also why it is very important for a legal data analyst to understand the relevant laws and rules about confidentiality and privacy so that they can properly advise the firm in special circumstances.
The rapid pace of technological change can also prove difficult for those in this role. As legal software and processes develop and evolve, so too must the legal data analyst, and if they fail to keep up to date they could very easily become obsolete. Similarly, the legal industry is among the last to embrace automation and AI, which means that much of what legal data analysts do is still quite labor intensive, possibly meaning long hours and a great deal of pressure.
Career Trajectory and Prospects for Legal Data Analysts
The Role and Impact of a Legal Data Analyst
Career Path and Opportunities for a Legal Data Analysts
As the profession of legal data analysts is still relatively new, career paths in that area are still being defined. Though it is common for people currently working in the industry to start out doing other legal work, gaining experience as a lawyer, paralegal or another similar position, many lawyers who have transitioned over to the data side have experience and knowledge from the field of statistics. Legal data analysts come from different backgrounds and can have a wide range of experiences. Many legal analysts have worked as consultants, and it is also common to see them hold positions as software developers or legal business consultants. Legal technology vendors in particular have long employed quantal analysts and big data scientists to create software that efficiently leverages technology and data to the benefit of their clients. Since data analysts frequently work directly with a client, having a strong business acumen is beneficial for those who want to pursue this career. Data integrity and quality are also key strengths, curiosity about data analytics and technology, management and communication skills are also beneficial. Due to the significant impact that legal data analysts have on their employers, professional advancement opportunities in this field are like to grow, as companies look to hire qualified candidates who can efficiently impact their bottom line. Since every law firm and organization has a unique culture , analysts can come from different backgrounds and find success. Existing attorneys, technology consultants, paralegals, accounting professionals, salespeople and corporate trainers have become successful legal data analysts. The emergence of data analytics in modern law firms has created significant growth in the demand for legal data analysts, as these professionals have become essential for businesses in the law sector. As large-scale data collection, analytics and intelligence become a part of the responsibility of every legal professional, legal data analysts will become indispensable, along with increasingly complex legal technology, artificial intelligence and data mining rewards. Analytics offers law firms and legal departments the best opportunity to make the most of their investment in technology and create a great deal of value. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs centered on data science, modeling and mining are forecasted to increase by 15 percent in the next six years. With technology, data and increased analytics becoming the way of legal practice, the barriers between data and legal professionals will continue to be broken down, paving the way for qualified legal data analysts to answer basic questions and solve problems with advanced organizational models. When real-time research, analysis and data are at your disposal, your decision-making quality increases exponentially, and this is a possibility that is appealing to everyone for their business going forward.