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Associate attorney vs litigation associate

The differences between associate attorneys and litigation associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an associate attorney and a litigation associate. Additionally, a litigation associate has an average salary of $112,116, which is higher than the $110,053 average annual salary of an associate attorney.

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

Associate attorney vs litigation associate overview

Associate AttorneyLitigation Associate
Yearly salary$110,053$112,116
Hourly rate$52.91$53.90
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs9,1839,779
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeDoctoral Degree, 57%Doctoral Degree, 56%
Average age4646
Years of experience44

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.

What does a litigation associate do?

A Litigation Associate offers legal advice for individuals involved in lawsuits and represents them in court. They prepare pleading, collect evidence, defend depositions, and manage the client database.

Associate attorney vs litigation associate salary

Associate attorneys and litigation associates have different pay scales, as shown below.

Associate AttorneyLitigation Associate
Average salary$110,053$112,116
Salary rangeBetween $70,000 And $170,000Between $68,000 And $182,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CAWhite Plains, NY
Highest paying stateCaliforniaNew York
Best paying companySchiff HardinBryan Cave Leighton Paisner
Best paying industryProfessionalProfessional

Differences between associate attorney and litigation associate education

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

Associate AttorneyLitigation Associate
Most common degreeDoctoral Degree, 57%Doctoral Degree, 56%
Most common majorLawLaw
Most common collegeStanford UniversityStanford University

Associate attorney vs litigation associate demographics

Here are the differences between associate attorneys' and litigation associates' demographics:

Associate AttorneyLitigation Associate
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 57.1% Female, 42.9%Male, 52.4% Female, 47.6%
Race ratioBlack 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%Black or African American, 5.7% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 6.5% White, 75.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between associate attorney and litigation associate duties and responsibilities

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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Litigation associate example responsibilities.

  • Lead and assist in out-of-court resolution of actions including settlement negotiations, mediation, and arbitration.
  • Manage all aspects of motion practice and discovery in class and institutional actions involving residential mortgage-backed securities investments.
  • Represent immigrants in deportation proceedings, federal litigation and appeals.
  • Participate in complex commercial litigation group, with matters involving insurance, entertainment, products liability, utilities and investment banking.
  • Research various aspects of family law, civil procedure, and tort law.
  • Ensure business compliance with FDCPA, HIPAA, ADA, and various other regulations.
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Associate attorney vs litigation associate skills

Common associate attorney skills
  • Litigation, 24%
  • Law Firm, 10%
  • Discovery Responses, 9%
  • Pre-Trial Motions, 3%
  • Real Estate Transactions, 3%
  • Legal Issues, 2%
Common litigation associate skills
  • Litigation, 28%
  • Law Firm, 11%
  • Legal Research, 6%
  • Commercial Litigation, 5%
  • Discovery Motions, 3%
  • Insurance Coverage, 3%