Data Analyst, Economic Consulting (US)

Cornerstone Research; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Cornerstone Research is seeking an early-career Data Analyst to support rigorous analyses for complex litigation, regulatory investigations, and financial disputes. You will join case teams to contribute across data ingestion, cleaning, modeling, and reproducible outputs.

This is a hybrid role requiring at least 50% in-office work at a local office, with ongoing training through the firm’s Data Science Center to build technical capability and professional judgment for client-facing work.

Qualifications

• BA/BS or MA/MS in a quantitative field; strong academic performance expected
• 1–3 years of relevant work experience with data analysis, econometrics, statistics, or programming
• Strong analytical skills to manipulate structured datasets and produce clean outputs
• Working knowledge of SQL for data extraction and analysis and relational databases
• Proficiency in Python or R for analytical programming
• Understanding of statistical concepts and their business applications
• Effective written and verbal communication with team collaboration
• Experience with large/complex datasets (terabytes)
• Familiarity with Bash/CLI/Git is a plus
• Demonstrated attention to detail in quantitative work

Responsibilities

• Execute exploratory and econometric analyses to accelerate insights on complex datasets
• Own end-to-end data workflows: ingestion, cleaning, transformation, validation
• Build, document, and maintain data infrastructure and pipelines for reproducibility
• Translate case strategy into structured, well-documented data outputs
• Uphold coding standards and serve as technical reference on data decisions
• Lead escalation and resolution when technical issues arise

Skills

SQL for data extraction

Python or R

Data manipulation

Documentation & reproducibility

Statistical thinking

Effective communication

Education

BA/BS or MA/MS in quantitative field

Tools

SQL

Job description

Responsibilities

The Data Analyst Role

This role is open to candidates in Boston, New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago, LA, Silicon Valley, and San Francisco.

The Data Analyst plays a central role in delivering the rigorous analyses that underpin Cornerstone Research’s work in complex litigation, regulatory investigations, and financial disputes. You will work in case teams that range in size but typically include an academic or industry expert, senior consultants, and analysts. Within a case team, you will make important contributions during all phases of a project – from initial data ingestion through final deliverable.

Your work will span a wide range of analytical tasks, including building and cleaning large datasets, running quantitative models, and translating case team needs into structured, reproducible data outputs. The role demands precision and attention to detail, as the outputs you produce directly support expert testimony and client-facing work in high-stakes legal and regulatory proceedings. You will operate within a collaborative team environment and are expected to develop your understanding of the economic and legal context of the cases you support.

This is a hybrid role. Data Analysts are expected to work at least 50% in-office at their respective local office.

Workstreams & Tasks

• Execute exploratory and econometric analyses, investigating the analytical possibilities of case data and accelerating the case team’s time-to-insight on complex datasets
• Own end-to-end data workflows on cases, including ingestion, cleaning, transformation, and validation of large, complex datasets, collaborating with team members to ensure shared understanding of approach and scope
• Build, document, and maintain data infrastructure and pipelines that meet the firm's standards for reproducibility and defensibility
• Apply independent technical judgment to translate case strategy into structured, well-documented data outputs
• Uphold coding standards and reproducibility practices on data work across the case lifecycle, serving as the technical reference point for the case team on data infrastructure decisions
• Lead escalation and resolution when technical issues arise

Data Analyst Development

This is an early-career role designed to build deep technical capability and professional judgment, beginning with a comprehensive orientation and training program to introduce you to the firm.

Data Analysts are part of Cornerstone Research's industry-leading Data Science Center, which provides continuous learning and development programs covering sophisticated data analysis and engineering tools, as well as the soft skills needed to work effectively with case teams, clients, and experts.

Required

• BA/BS or MA/MS in a quantitative field, such as Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Operations Research, or a related discipline; strong academic performance expected
• 1-3 years of relevant work experience, including demonstrated ownership of projects involving data analysis, econometrics or statistical research, or programming, with the ability to execute data tasks accurately and efficiently
• Strong foundational analytical skills, including the ability to manipulate structured datasets, identify data quality issues, and produce clean, well-documented outputs
• Working knowledge of SQL for data extraction and analysis, and experience working with relational databases
• Proficiency in at least one analytical programming language (e.g., Python, R)
• Understanding of statistical concepts and their applications in business settings
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work collaboratively within a team structure
• Exposure to large or complex datasets (terabytes, not gigabytes)
• Comfort working with Bash/CLI/Git
• High attention to detail and a demonstrated commitment to accuracy in quantitative work

Preferred

• Familiarity with economic or financial concepts, through coursework or prior work experience
• Demonstrated ability to produce clean, well-documented, and reproducible analytical work
• Experience working with cloud data platforms (e.g., Redshift, S3, Databricks)
• Interest in business and economics
• Interest or familiarity in using AI coding tools

Application Requirements

• Resume
• Cover Letter (required when finalizing your application on the employer's career portal)
• Portfolio (optional, if applicable please upload under “Additional Documents” when finalizing your application on the employer's career portal)

Cornerstone Research will provide H-1B, H-1B1, E3 and