1

Reference Attorney Jobs (NOW HIRING)

ATTORNEY

Berea, KY ยท On-site

$40K - $75K/yr

Blevins Law seeks associate attorney at its firm in Madison County, Kentucky which focuses ... Please present a resume, transcript and references by email to TBlevins@BlevinsLaw.net Blevins Law ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Reference Attorney information

See salary details

$46K

$108.2K

$172.5K

How much do reference attorney jobs pay per year?

As of May 30, 2026, the average yearly pay for reference attorney in the United States is $108,160.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $80,000.00 and $130,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Reference Attorney, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Reference Attorney, you need strong legal research skills, a Juris Doctor (JD) degree, and proficiency in legal analysis and writing. Familiarity with legal research platforms like Westlaw, LexisNexis, and citation management tools is typically required. Outstanding communication, problem-solving abilities, and customer service skills help reference attorneys effectively support clients and colleagues. These competencies ensure accurate, timely legal information delivery and foster trust with law professionals relying on research support.

What are some common challenges Reference Attorneys face when assisting clients with legal research?

Reference Attorneys often encounter the challenge of interpreting complex legal queries from clients who may have varying levels of legal expertise. They must quickly locate and synthesize relevant case law, statutes, or secondary sources while ensuring the information is accurate and up-to-date. Additionally, balancing multiple requests simultaneously and maintaining strong communication with clients and internal teams are key aspects of the role. Adapting to new legal research tools and staying current with changes in the law are also ongoing challenges.

What are reference attorneys?

Reference attorneys are licensed legal professionals who provide research assistance and support to attorneys, law firms, and legal departments. They are often employed by legal research companies to help users navigate complex legal databases, find relevant case law, statutes, and secondary sources, and answer procedural or research-related questions. While they do not offer legal advice or represent clients, reference attorneys play a crucial role in streamlining legal research and improving the efficiency of legal professionals.

What is the difference between Reference Attorney vs Paralegal?

AspectReference AttorneyParalegal
Required CredentialsJuris Doctor (JD), license to practice lawAssociate's or Bachelor's degree, paralegal certification often preferred
Work EnvironmentLaw firms, courts, legal departments, research settingsLaw firms, corporate legal departments, government agencies
Employer & Industry UsageLegal research, case preparation, legal analysisLegal research, document preparation, case management

Reference Attorneys typically hold a JD and are licensed to practice law, focusing on legal research and analysis. Paralegals usually have a paralegal certification or degree, assisting attorneys with research, document drafting, and case organization. While both roles support legal work, Reference Attorneys often perform more advanced legal tasks and may have more extensive legal education.

More about Reference Attorney jobs
What states have the most Reference Attorney jobs? States with the most job openings for Reference Attorney jobs include:
Infographic showing various Reference Attorney job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Locum Tenens, 1% Internship, 60% Full Time, 25% Part Time, 12% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 78% Physical, 6% Hybrid, and 16% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $108,160 per year, or $52 per hour.
Assistant Attorney General - Public Integrity - Chicago

Assistant Attorney General - Public Integrity - Chicago

Illinois Attorney General (IL)

Springfield, IL โ€ข On-site

$84.48K - $107.55K/yr

Full-time

Posted 10 days ago


Job description

Summary of Duties and Responsibilities The Public Integrity Bureau is a specialized public corruption prosecution group of the Office of the Illinois Attorney General. Attorneys prosecute a wide variety of crimes ranging from Official Misconduct committed by state, county and city officials and employees to government vendor and grant fraud. Cases are received from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies along with referrals from Inspectors General, and State's Attorneys and concerned citizens.

Assistants handle cases throughout Illinois. Cases in the Bureau are handled as vertical prosecutions. Accordingly, attorneys handle cases from intake through sentencing.

An attorney is expected to evaluate cases, provide legal advice and assistance to law enforcement during the course of investigations, initiate charges, and litigate motions, trials, sentencing hearings, and post-trial motions. Assistants frequently direct grand jury investigations and litigate grand jury matters. Attorneys are expected to draft complaints and obtain search warrants and overhear orders.

Qualifications The candidate should have knowledge of the principles of criminal law, particularly as they relate to white collar crime. Candidates should have 3 years of trial experience preferably with experience involving investigations and trials of white-collar crimes. Candidates should work well with others and be a contributing member of the team.

The candidate must be an attorney licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois at the time of the application and must be willing to travel. Supplemental Information Salary: Salaries are commensurate with number of years of practice as a licensed attorney and range from $ 84,480 to $ 107,550. To ensure full consideration, please submit a cover letter, resume, three professional references, and a writing sample.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us: Attn: Thor Y. Inouye Office of the Illinois Attorney General 115 S. LaSalle St.

Chicago, IL 60603 (312) 814-3695 (312) 814-5024 (Fax) attorneyhiring@ilag.gov