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The differences between assistant county attorneys and contract 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 a contract attorney. Additionally, an assistant county attorney has an average salary of $103,838, which is higher than the $97,474 average annual salary of a contract attorney.
The top three skills for an assistant county attorney include legal research, litigation and legal advice. The most important skills for a contract attorney are litigation, e-discovery, and legal research.
| Assistant County Attorney | Contract Attorney | |
| Yearly salary | $103,838 | $97,474 |
| Hourly rate | $49.92 | $46.86 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 9,281 | 13,592 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 51% | Doctoral Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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.
A contract attorney is responsible for handling their clients' legal issues and settling cases by researching, analyzing, and collecting essential files that would support the clients' claims. Contract attorneys usually work for private clients without being permanently employed in a law firm or government agency. Contract attorneys represent clients at court, assist with law proceedings, and advise clients for the necessary legal procedures. A contract attorney must have excellent communication and critical-thinking skills to manage client legal matters and expertise in traditional disciplines and processes.
Assistant county attorneys and contract attorneys have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Assistant County Attorney | Contract Attorney | |
| Average salary | $103,838 | $97,474 |
| Salary range | Between $68,000 And $156,000 | Between $60,000 And $158,000 |
| Highest paying City | West Seneca, NY | San Ramon, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Anne Arundel County Public Schools | Perkins Coie |
| Best paying industry | Professional | - |
There are a few differences between an assistant county attorney and a contract attorney in terms of educational background:
| Assistant County Attorney | Contract Attorney | |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 51% | Doctoral Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Law | Law |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between assistant county attorneys' and contract attorneys' demographics:
| Assistant County Attorney | Contract Attorney | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 52.9% Female, 47.1% | Male, 50.9% Female, 49.1% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 75.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |