Legal Research Analyst

Baker Donelson; Johnson City (TN); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Baker Donelson in Johnson City, TN, seeks a Legal Research Analyst to join the Client Solutions Group. This role blends legal knowledge, information science, and client service to deliver sophisticated research supporting the Firm’s matters and strategy.

You will work with attorneys, paralegals, and business services to translate complex questions into precise answers, build durable knowledge resources, and train colleagues while handling a demanding caseload with diligence.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5+ years of progressive legal reference and research experience.
• Strong mastery of legal materials and multiple jurisdictions.
• Proficiency with major research databases and software.

Responsibilities

• Deliver expert research and reference support to attorneys, paralegals, legal assistants, and administrative departments.
• Lead training on the best use of research materials and online databases.
• Pilot new research tools and contribute to the firm’s research technology roadmap.
• Manage a varied caseload with autonomy and professionalism.

Skills

Research proficiency

Legal databases

Communication skills

Customer service

Education

High school diploma

BA/MLS/JD preferred

Tools

Westlaw Precision

Lexis+ with Protégé

Bloomberg Law

PACER

Checkpoint RIA

HeinOnline

Job description

POSITION: Legal Research Analyst

FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt

DEPARTMENT: Client Solutions Group

SUPERVISOR: Director of Knowledge Management and Research

SUMMARY

The Legal Research Analyst serves as a trusted expert resource at the intersection of legal knowledge, information science, and client service, delivering sophisticated research support that underpins the Firm’s important matters. Leveraging deep expertise across legal, legislative, and company research databases, the Analyst partners directly with attorneys, paralegals, and business services teams to translate complex research questions into precise, actionable answers under tight deadlines. Beyond day-to-day reference support, the Analyst shapes how the Firm discovers, evaluates, and adopts research tools and technologies, piloting new products, building durable knowledge resources, and training colleagues to work smarter. Empowered to manage a demanding and varied caseload with autonomy, the Analyst is equally comfortable providing white-glove service to a single requestor and producing firmwide thought leadership on emerging industry issues. Candidates who take pride in research excellence, thrive on solving hard information problems, and want their expertise to directly shape client outcomes are encouraged to apply. This position operates within Baker Donelson's Client Solutions and Innovation Group, provides research services firm-wide under general supervision and according to Firm policies and procedures, and reports to the Director of Knowledge Management and Research.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Research and Reference Services
  • Deliver efficient, effective, and reliable expert research and reference support to attorneys, paralegals, legal assistants, and administrative departments, drawing on the most appropriate online databases and materials to meet daily demands.
  • Own the full lifecycle of reference inquiries, from promptly self-assigning requests and corresponding with requestors to accurately recording completed research in the Firm's research queue.
  • Apply proficient legal, legislative, and company research expertise to resolve complex, high-stakes questions across the Firm's practice areas and jurisdictions.
  • Produce content on industry hot topics, as needed, to keep attorneys and clients informed on emerging developments.
  • Build and maintain current awareness newsletters, alerts, and legislative tracking to keep stakeholders ahead of developments that affect their matters.
• Knowledge Enablement and Training
  • Instruct attorneys and staff on the best use of research materials and online databases, elevating firmwide research fluency.
  • Create user reference guides, training programs, and other resources that promote awareness and equip end‑users to conduct research more effectively.
  • Maintain up-to-date research resources across practice group sites, proactively reflecting changes and additions across the various databases.
  • Actively engage in continuous professional development to sustain expert‑level knowledge and stay ahead of changes and enhancements to all Firm resources.
• Innovation and Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Participate in pilot programs evaluating new research products and testing emerging applications, helping shape the Firm’s research technology roadmap.
  • Partner with Firm leadership to drive research strategy and product development, ensuring the Firm's research capabilities remain best-in-class.
  • Collaborate with the Client Solutions and Innovation Group, Marketing & Business Development, and other departments on cross‑functional projects and assignments.
• Perform other responsibilities as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities Required

Experience and Knowledge

• High school diploma required. BA, MLS and/or JD strongly preferred. Minimum of 5+ years of progressive legal reference and research experience, with deep and broad mastery of the legal materials and databases needed to support the Firm's vast array of practice areas and jurisdictions.
• Demonstrated proficiency across a wide range of legal research databases and software programs, including but not limited to Westlaw Precision, Lexis+ with Protégé, Wolters Kluwer-VitalLaw, Bloomberg Law, PACER, CasePortal, Checkpoint RIA, HeinOnline, Drafting Assistant, Quest, and TLO. Technology fluency, with familiarity with SharePoint preferred.

Skills

• Polished professional interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate complex research findings clearly, follow instructions effectively, and provide information with consistent courtesy and tact.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distill sophisticated legal and business research into clear, actionable guidance for attorneys and clients.

Abilities

• Strong customer service orientation, with a commitment to delivering a consistently high level of responsiveness and professionalism.
• Proven ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, skillfully prioritizing multiple competing requests and demands while maintaining a professional demeanor at all times.
• Self-motivated, meticulous, and well organized, with the ability to work independently or collaboratively against tight deadlines.
• Flexibility to provide after-hours and weekend coverage occasionally, as needed to perform the essential duties of the position.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Normal office environment with little exposure to excessive noise, dust, extreme temperatures and the like.

Additional Info

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of essential functions, responsibilities or requirements. All employees are required to comply with BDBCB's information privacy and security requirements including its acceptable use policy. Such requirements are dictated by laws and regulations, by professional standards and by the marketplace and are directly applicable to BDBCB as well as to BDBCB through its clients.