The staff attorney position is a distinct career path within the legal field, focused on the direct application of legal expertise for a single organization. This position differs from the traditional associate path that often leads to partnership in a law firm. Understanding the role provides clarity for those considering a career in law.
What is a Staff Attorney?
A staff attorney is a lawyer employed by a single organization, like a law firm or corporation, to provide dedicated legal services. As salaried employees, they function as internal legal experts. The role’s defining characteristic, particularly in law firms, is that it is a non-partner track position, meaning they are not on a path to become partners.
A staff attorney’s focus is almost exclusively on performing substantive legal work. Their responsibilities do not include business development or the high billable hour requirements associated with partner-track associates. This structure allows them to concentrate on the day-to-day legal tasks the organization requires.
Associates are hired with the expectation of developing into partners, whereas staff attorneys are hired for their expertise in specific areas or to handle ongoing legal work. They are valued for the direct legal support they provide. This distinction can also mean staff attorneys have less access to firm resources for professional development geared toward building a book of business.
What Does a Staff Attorney Do on a Day-to-Day Basis?
The daily responsibilities of a staff attorney center on their employer’s core legal functions. While specific tasks vary by organization, they consistently involve applying legal knowledge to the entity’s needs to help it navigate legal obligations.
Legal Research and Writing
A significant portion of a staff attorney’s time is dedicated to legal research and analysis. This involves examining statutes, regulations, and case law to advise their organization on legal questions. The output of this research often takes the form of internal memorandums or legal opinions for senior attorneys. They may also verify legal citations in documents prepared by others.
Document Drafting and Review
Staff attorneys are heavily involved in creating and reviewing legal documents, including contracts, employment agreements, pleadings, and motions. In a corporate setting, this might involve reviewing internal policies to ensure legal compliance. This work is meticulous and requires a detail-oriented approach.
Case and Project Management
Managing the workflow of legal matters is another function. This includes tracking court filing deadlines, organizing case files, and maintaining the case docket. In some litigation roles, they may lead temporary attorneys or paralegals during large document production phases, ensuring projects move forward efficiently.
Client Communication and Counseling
Staff attorneys frequently provide legal advice to internal clients or colleagues. In a corporate or government setting, these “clients” are the various departments they advise on the legal ramifications of proposed business strategies. In a non-profit setting, they might directly advise individuals the organization serves.
Litigation Support
In organizations that handle litigation, staff attorneys support the trial team. This includes assisting with the discovery process by gathering and exchanging information with the opposing side. They may draft interrogatories and prepare for depositions to help build the case for trial.
Where Staff Attorneys Typically Work
Large law firms hire staff attorneys for specific legal needs or for rate-sensitive practice areas like immigration or patent prosecution. They provide quality legal work without the partner-track pressures, allowing firms to offer more competitive billing rates.
Corporate legal departments employ staff attorneys for a company’s day-to-day legal issues. These in-house roles involve contract review, compliance, and advising business units on legal risks. A 2019 State Bar of California survey noted corporate attorneys are evenly distributed among staff, management, and executive roles.
Government agencies at all levels are major employers of staff attorneys. Data from California shows about two-thirds of government attorneys work in these roles. Positions range from prosecutors and public defenders to agency counsel responsible for writing and enforcing laws.
Non-profit organizations like legal aid societies and advocacy groups rely on staff attorneys to fulfill their missions. In these roles, attorneys provide direct legal services to low-income individuals or work on impact litigation for issues like housing or civil rights. The work is mission-driven, focusing on community service.
Essential Skills and Qualifications for a Staff Attorney
The requirements for becoming a staff attorney are consistent with those for any practicing lawyer. A candidate must earn a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school. Following graduation, they must pass the bar examination in the state where they intend to work, which grants them a license to practice law.
Beyond these qualifications, employers look for a specific set of skills. Employers often seek candidates with several years of prior experience in a field of law relevant to the organization’s work. Other valued skills include:
- Strong analytical and research abilities to interpret complex legal issues.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills to draft documents and advise colleagues.
- A meticulous and detail-oriented approach, given the importance of accuracy in legal documents.
- The ability to manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously.
Staff Attorney Career Path and Salary
The career trajectory for a staff attorney differs from the “up or out” model for associates because the role is not on the partner track. Advancement does not lead to an ownership stake in a firm. Career progression is possible through promotions to “senior staff attorney” or management roles supervising other attorneys.
Some staff attorneys leverage their experience to move into an associate role at a different firm or transition to an in-house counsel position with more responsibility. The role provides an opportunity to gain specialized legal experience that can open doors to other career paths.
Salary for staff attorneys varies based on the employer and location. Corporate staff attorneys earn more than those in non-profit or government roles. While the earning potential is lower than a law firm partner’s, the salary can be competitive and stable, with national averages often exceeding $110,000, though it can be lower in the public sector.
Pros and Cons of Being a Staff Attorney
A primary advantage of the staff attorney role is a better work-life balance. These positions often have more predictable hours and lower stress levels, as they do not involve the pressure of business development or high billable hour targets. This allows for a focus on substantive legal work.
On the other hand, the position has disadvantages. The long-term earning potential is lower than that of an associate who becomes a partner. The role can be viewed as having less prestige within a law firm, with less access to advancement opportunities. Some firms may also be quicker to let staff attorneys go during economic downturns.