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The differences between assistant county attorneys and trial 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 trial attorney. Additionally, a trial attorney has an average salary of $110,340, 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 a trial attorney are litigation, legal research, and property damage.
| Assistant County Attorney | Trial Attorney | |
| Yearly salary | $103,838 | $110,340 |
| Hourly rate | $49.92 | $53.05 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 9,281 | 7,253 |
| 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.
Trial attorneys are responsible for representing and defending clients in court. Trial attorneys must have excellent legal research skills to assess pieces of evidence and examining relevant judicial decisions to support the client's claims. A trial attorney should also provide legal advice for the clients and guide them through the legal procedures depending on the severity of the case. Trial attorneys must be able to develop trial strategies and arguments in the court to win the judge and the trial jury's decision.
Assistant county attorneys and trial attorneys have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Assistant County Attorney | Trial Attorney | |
| Average salary | $103,838 | $110,340 |
| Salary range | Between $68,000 And $156,000 | Between $73,000 And $166,000 |
| Highest paying City | West Seneca, NY | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Anne Arundel County Public Schools | Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Professional |
There are a few differences between an assistant county attorney and a trial attorney in terms of educational background:
| Assistant County Attorney | Trial 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 trial attorneys' demographics:
| Assistant County Attorney | Trial Attorney | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 52.9% Female, 47.1% | Male, 66.2% Female, 33.8% |
| 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, 7.8% Asian, 6.4% White, 75.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |