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Assistant attorney general vs lawyer

The differences between assistant attorney generals and lawyers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an assistant attorney general and a lawyer. Additionally, a lawyer has an average salary of $115,808, which is higher than the $99,341 average annual salary of an assistant attorney general.

The top three skills for an assistant attorney general include litigation, legal research and state agencies. The most important skills for a lawyer are litigation, law firm, and legal issues.

Assistant attorney general vs lawyer overview

Assistant Attorney GeneralLawyer
Yearly salary$99,341$115,808
Hourly rate$47.76$55.68
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs60,5462,897
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeDoctoral Degree, 56%Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Average age4646
Years of experience44

What does an assistant attorney general do?

An assistant attorney general works for the federal government to help in the enforcement of law and administration of justice at the executive level. He/She or she heads judicial divisions such as civil rights, criminal, national security, and environment and natural resources. The position requires good interpersonal, analytical, and problem-solving skills. The education requirements for the job include obtaining a bachelor's or master's degree in law, political science, criminal justice, and a related field.

What does a lawyer do?

A lawyer is a legal practitioner who specializes in understanding and interpreting laws and other legal matters. Their responsibilities revolve around providing legal counseling and advice, representing clients in different kinds of court proceedings, conducting research, collecting evidence, and coordinating with various experts. A lawyer must also manage and oversee the performance of assistants, paralegals, and other team members. Furthermore, there are instances when a lawyer must draft or manage documents such as contracts, trusts, deeds, and wills, assisting clients as needed.

Assistant attorney general vs lawyer salary

Assistant attorney generals and lawyers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Assistant Attorney GeneralLawyer
Average salary$99,341$115,808
Salary rangeBetween $64,000 And $152,000Between $64,000 And $208,000
Highest paying CityAlbany, NYWashington, DC
Highest paying stateCaliforniaNew York
Best paying companyCommonwealthNelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough
Best paying industryGovernment-

Differences between assistant attorney general and lawyer education

There are a few differences between an assistant attorney general and a lawyer in terms of educational background:

Assistant Attorney GeneralLawyer
Most common degreeDoctoral Degree, 56%Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Most common majorLawLaw
Most common collegeStanford UniversityStanford University

Assistant attorney general vs lawyer demographics

Here are the differences between assistant attorney generals' and lawyers' demographics:

Assistant Attorney GeneralLawyer
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 51.2% Female, 48.8%Male, 48.5% Female, 51.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.4% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.6% Asian, 6.2% White, 76.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 5.4% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.7% Asian, 6.3% White, 76.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between assistant attorney general and lawyer duties and responsibilities

Assistant attorney general example responsibilities.

  • Manage, organize and analyze documents and information produce pursuant to subpoenas.
  • Represent state agencies and employees in civil litigation and administrative hearings while performing extensive motion preparation and pretrial discovery.
  • General trial and appellate counsel for major civil litigation involving state and federal constitutional questions and matters of statutory construction.
  • Investigate and prosecute health care providers who defraud Medicaid and Medicare.
  • Investigate and prosecute Medicaid fraud, as well as patient abuse and neglect cases.
  • Provide mediation services for consumers in Nebraska.
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Lawyer example responsibilities.

  • Participate in drafting legal documents and prepare business contracts, perform taxation duties for the enterprise and settle disputes with employees.
  • Handle all types of civil claims and provide notary services
  • Review of complaints relate to judicial ethics and employee misconduct.
  • Draft, proofread and ensure filing and service of criminal motions.
  • Draft a variety of pleadings and motions on behalf of the plaintiff.
  • Assist clients at the notary public office and negotiate licensing agreements for virtual data rooms.
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Assistant attorney general vs lawyer skills

Common assistant attorney general skills
  • Litigation, 17%
  • Legal Research, 7%
  • State Agencies, 6%
  • Legal Advice, 5%
  • Appeals, 5%
  • Civil Litigation, 4%
Common lawyer skills
  • Litigation, 14%
  • Law Firm, 8%
  • Legal Issues, 7%
  • Real Estate, 6%
  • Legal Research, 6%
  • Civil Law, 5%