Understanding Law Firm Job Titles
Thinking about working in the legal field? It’s easy to assume that law firms are just full of attorneys, but there’s a whole team of professionals who keep things running. From legal analysts and paralegals to case managers and court reporters, law firms and legal departments rely on a variety of roles to operate smoothly.
If you’re new to the legal world, the job titles can be confusing—especially when trying to figure out the difference between a lawyer and an attorney (yes, there is one!). Understanding these roles can help you decide where you might fit in, whether you’re considering law school or looking for a way into the industry without spending years earning a law degree.
This guide breaks down the most common law firm jobs, courthouse positions, and behind-the-scenes legal roles. Whether you want to argue cases in the courtroom or support the legal process in another way, this article will help you explore your options.
General Law Jobs
Not all legal careers involve arguing in front of a judge. Some legal professionals work behind the scenes, helping companies avoid lawsuits, settling disputes, or keeping cases organized. These jobs exist in law firms, corporations, and even government agencies. If you’re thinking about a career in law but don’t necessarily want to be in a courtroom every day, one of these roles might be a great fit.
Arbitrator
Arbitrators help people and businesses resolve legal disputes—without ever setting foot in a courtroom. Instead of a drawn-out trial, both sides present their case in a private hearing, and the arbitrator makes a legally binding decision. These cases can involve anything from business contracts to workplace disagreements. Many arbitrators are attorneys, but people with expertise in fields like finance or real estate can also take on this role with the right training.
Attorney
Attorneys are licensed legal professionals who represent clients, offer legal advice, draft contracts, and handle everything from business negotiations to criminal defense. They specialize in different areas of law—some work in big law firms, others in government, and some run their own practice.
To become an attorney, you’ll need to graduate from law school and pass the bar exam. Some attorneys specialize in high-demand areas like technology law, data privacy, and artificial intelligence regulation, where companies need legal guidance on rapidly evolving laws.
Lawyer
People use the terms lawyer and attorney like they mean the same thing—but they don’t. A lawyer is anyone who has graduated from law school. An attorney is a lawyer who has passed the bar exam and is licensed to practice law. In other words, all attorneys are lawyers, but not all lawyers are attorneys.
Corporate counsel
Big companies often have their own legal teams to handle contracts, lawsuits, and compliance issues. These in-house attorneys, called corporate counsel, make sure the business stays on the right side of the law. They help with things like mergers, employee policies, and intellectual property protection. Some companies keep a small legal team and hire outside firms when needed, while others handle everything in-house.
Case manager
Case managers help keep legal cases moving. They track deadlines, organize paperwork, and make sure attorneys have everything they need before heading to court. This role is especially important in big law firms where cases can have mountains of documents, multiple clients, and complex timelines.
Jury consultant
Picking the right jury can make or break a case, and that’s where jury consultants come in. They use psychology, social science, and data analysis to help attorneys choose jurors who might be more sympathetic to their side. They also run mock trials, analyze witness behavior, and coach attorneys on how to present their case.
Legal analyst
Legal analysts work behind the scenes, digging through case law, researching legal trends, and helping attorneys prepare strong arguments. They also draft reports and analyze contracts. Some legal analysts work in law firms, but many are hired by businesses, government agencies, and financial institutions that need legal expertise.
Paralegal
Paralegals are essential to any law firm. They help attorneys with research, draft legal documents, and organize case materials. While they can’t represent clients in court, they play a huge role in preparing for trials and hearings. Many people work as paralegals before deciding whether they want to go to law school, but others make it a long-term career. There are certification programs that can help paralegals advance without needing a law degree.
Mediator
Mediators help people settle disputes without going to court. Unlike arbitrators, they don’t make binding decisions. Instead, they guide conversations to help both sides find common ground and agree on a solution. Mediation is popular for things like divorce settlements, workplace conflicts, and business negotiations. Many mediators have backgrounds in law, human resources, or counseling.
Legal services director
In large companies or organizations, the legal services director leads the legal team, advising executives and making sure the company follows the law. They help prevent lawsuits, oversee contracts, and manage legal risks. This role is especially important in industries like healthcare, finance, and technology, where regulations change frequently.
Court Positions
Law firms aren’t the only places where legal professionals work—courthouses are full of people who keep the legal system running. From handling case documents to overseeing trials, these roles keep everything organized and fair. If you want to work in law but prefer a courtroom setting over a private firm, one of these jobs might be a great fit.
Court messenger
Court messengers—sometimes called legal couriers—are responsible for delivering important legal documents to attorneys, judges, and court officials. Since these documents often contain sensitive or time-sensitive information, reliability and confidentiality are a must.
Daily responsibilities include filing legal paperwork with the court, transporting confidential case documents, and delivering evidence and case materials between legal teams. This is an entry-level role that can provide a great introduction to the legal field.
Court transcriptionist
Court transcriptionists create official written records of legal proceedings. They transcribe everything said in the courtroom, ensuring accuracy and completeness. Some use specialized stenography machines, while others rely on advanced voice recognition technology.
This job requires fast and accurate typing skills, strong attention to detail, and knowledge of legal terminology. Many transcriptionists work for the court system, law firms, or independent agencies that handle legal documentation.
Court reporter
Court reporters perform the same duties as transcriptionists but in real time. They must be able to capture every word spoken in a trial, deposition, or hearing. In some cases, court reporters provide live captions for televised legal proceedings.
Training and certification are required, and many court reporters specialize in legal, medical, or technical transcription.
Magistrate
A magistrate functions like a junior judge, handling legal matters that don’t require a full courtroom trial. Their responsibilities vary by jurisdiction but often include issuing warrants, conducting preliminary hearings, and handling small claims cases and misdemeanor offenses.
Magistrates usually have a background in law and may be appointed by a judge or elected by the public.
Judge
Judges have the final say in legal disputes. They oversee trials, ensure proceedings follow the law, and issue rulings in cases without juries. Their primary responsibilities include conducting fair and lawful trials, instructing juries on legal standards, and making legal decisions in bench trials.
Most judges start as attorneys before being appointed or elected to the bench. It’s a high-level position that requires years of legal experience, deep knowledge of the law, and the ability to remain impartial.
Administrative Roles
Law firms need more than just attorneys to keep everything running. Administrative professionals handle office operations, client communication, case management, and legal research. These roles are a great way to gain experience in the legal field—especially if you’re interested in law but not planning on becoming a lawyer.
Law firm administrator
A law firm administrator is essentially the firm’s operations manager. They ensure the business side of the law firm runs smoothly, handling everything from finances to HR. Key responsibilities include managing billing, payroll, and office expenses, overseeing hiring, training, and employee relations, and implementing technology systems to improve efficiency.
This job requires strong leadership and organizational skills, making it ideal for those with a background in business management.
Legal assistant
Legal assistants help attorneys stay organized by handling research, preparing documents, and managing case files. Their tasks often overlap with those of paralegals, but legal assistants focus more on administrative work.
Typical responsibilities include drafting and proofreading legal documents, scheduling meetings, court dates, and deadlines, and managing client communication. Some legal assistants go on to become paralegals or even attorneys after gaining experience.
Legal secretary
A legal secretary plays a key role in keeping a law office running. While they perform many of the same tasks as a legal assistant, their focus is more on clerical duties like formatting legal documents to meet court requirements, organizing case files and client records, and handling emails, phone calls, and scheduling.
In larger firms, legal secretaries often specialize in certain areas of law, such as corporate law, litigation, or family law.
Legal clerk
Legal clerks—also known as judicial clerks—work directly with attorneys and judges, assisting with legal research and writing. They help analyze case law, draft legal opinions, and prepare arguments.
This role is often held by recent law school graduates looking to gain experience before becoming attorneys. A clerkship with a federal judge is considered one of the most prestigious positions for aspiring lawyers, opening doors to top-tier legal careers.
File clerk
File clerks manage legal documents, ensuring they’re properly organized, stored, and retrieved when needed. Their responsibilities include digitizing paper records for electronic storage, maintaining confidential case files, and tracking court deadlines and filing requirements.
Strong attention to detail is a must for this role, as even minor errors in legal filing can cause major delays in cases.
