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Assistant county attorney vs associate attorney

The differences between assistant county attorneys and associate attorneys 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 county attorney and an associate attorney. Additionally, an associate attorney has an average salary of $110,053, which is higher than the $103,838 average annual salary of an assistant county attorney.

The top three skills for an assistant county attorney include legal research, litigation and legal advice. The most important skills for an associate attorney are litigation, law firm, and discovery responses.

Assistant county attorney vs associate attorney overview

Assistant County AttorneyAssociate Attorney
Yearly salary$103,838$110,053
Hourly rate$49.92$52.91
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs9,2819,183
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeDoctoral Degree, 51%Doctoral Degree, 57%
Average age4646
Years of experience44

What does an assistant county attorney do?

An assistant county attorney handles and represents cases involving the county. Part of their job includes assisting the county attorney by preparing and processing the necessary documents, conducting research and interviews, gathering and verifying pieces of evidence, and coordinating with staff as needed. They also participate in offering and providing legal advice to different departments and officials, including the public. Moreover, an assistant county attorney must maintain an active communication line with the office staff and the county attorney for a smooth and efficient workflow.

What does an associate attorney do?

An associate attorney's role is to provide legal counseling to an individual or business entity, resolve legal disputes through crafting agreements and negotiating contract terms, and serving as an advisor or advocate. Most associate attorneys work at law firms or government agencies, supervised by more experienced personnel. Among the duties of an associate attorney includes conducting extensive research on every case, presenting factual evidence and statements, producing the legal and necessary documentation, and representing clients in formal settings.

Assistant county attorney vs associate attorney salary

Assistant county attorneys and associate attorneys have different pay scales, as shown below.

Assistant County AttorneyAssociate Attorney
Average salary$103,838$110,053
Salary rangeBetween $68,000 And $156,000Between $70,000 And $170,000
Highest paying CityWest Seneca, NYSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyAnne Arundel County Public SchoolsSchiff Hardin
Best paying industryProfessionalProfessional

Differences between assistant county attorney and associate attorney education

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

Assistant County AttorneyAssociate Attorney
Most common degreeDoctoral Degree, 51%Doctoral Degree, 57%
Most common majorLawLaw
Most common collegeStanford UniversityStanford University

Assistant county attorney vs associate attorney demographics

Here are the differences between assistant county attorneys' and associate attorneys' demographics:

Assistant County AttorneyAssociate Attorney
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 52.9% Female, 47.1%Male, 57.1% Female, 42.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.4% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.6% Asian, 6.3% White, 76.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 5.5% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.7% Asian, 6.3% White, 75.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between assistant county attorney and associate attorney duties and responsibilities

Assistant county attorney example responsibilities.

  • Manage employment litigation in defense of organization, including wrongful termination, discrimination and retaliation claims.
  • Render legal advice concerning matters not in litigation but require prompt action to avoid litigation.
  • Represent county departments in administrative proceedings including contract bid protests and appeals of county-issu permits such as floodplain development permits.
  • Evaluate all incoming record requests and subpoenas.
  • Prepare petitions, subpoenas, and motions for court.
  • Represent government agency in civil child protection proceedings including appeals.
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Associate attorney example responsibilities.

  • Provide litigation support for general civil and probate litigation at trial and appellate levels.
  • Attend arbitration hearings, conduct and attend depositions, and negotiate and evaluate settlements in arbitration and litigation disputes.
  • Participate in all phases of commercial and construction litigation, arbitration, mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution.
  • Play instrumental role in all areas of litigation preparation, including authoring interrogatories, participating in depositions and preparing for trial.
  • Prepare briefs and counsele clients in matters pertaining to unemployment and workers' compensation, including hearings and appeals.
  • Represent contracting officers in administrative appeals.
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Assistant county attorney vs associate attorney skills

Common assistant county attorney skills
  • Legal Research, 14%
  • Litigation, 12%
  • Legal Advice, 6%
  • Bench Trials, 5%
  • Appeals, 5%
  • Legal Issues, 5%
Common associate attorney skills
  • Litigation, 24%
  • Law Firm, 10%
  • Discovery Responses, 9%
  • Pre-Trial Motions, 3%
  • Real Estate Transactions, 3%
  • Legal Issues, 2%