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Attorney general vs lawyer

The differences between attorneys general 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 attorney general and a lawyer. Additionally, a lawyer has an average salary of $115,808, which is higher than the $101,302 average annual salary of an attorney general.

The top three skills for an attorney general include legal advice, litigation and appeals. The most important skills for a lawyer are litigation, law firm, and legal issues.

Attorney general vs lawyer overview

Attorney GeneralLawyer
Yearly salary$101,302$115,808
Hourly rate$48.70$55.68
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs47,8132,897
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 56%Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Average age4646
Years of experience44

What does an attorney general do?

Attorney generals are one of the most important legal advisers for their government, state, or country. They provide legal advice and may be called on to advise ordinary citizens who may or may not be within the country's jurisdiction. Their power varies depending on the laws of the state or country. Most of them have special executive power related to the enforcement of laws. Attorney Generals also provide legal services to state departments and agencies.

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.

Attorney general vs lawyer salary

Attorneys general and lawyers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Attorney GeneralLawyer
Average salary$101,302$115,808
Salary rangeBetween $65,000 And $157,000Between $64,000 And $208,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CAWashington, DC
Highest paying stateCaliforniaNew York
Best paying companyLewis Brisbois Bisgaard & SmithNelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough
Best paying industryGovernment-

Differences between attorney general and lawyer education

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

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

Attorney general vs lawyer demographics

Here are the differences between attorneys general' and lawyers' demographics:

Attorney GeneralLawyer
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 51.6% Female, 48.4%Male, 48.5% Female, 51.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.6% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 6.5% White, 75.4% 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 attorney general and lawyer duties and responsibilities

Attorney general example responsibilities.

  • Perform extensive trial litigation, facilitate contract administrations, negotiations, and arrange mediation and counseling.
  • Draft subpoenas and participate in investigations.
  • Prepare subpoenas and arrange for process-servers and couriers.
  • Prepare and participate as first chair at various administrative and arbitration hearings.
  • Assist in preparing and responding to civil miscellaneous appeals, criminal miscellaneous appeals.
  • Investigate and assist in the preparation of litigation cases concerning fraud by officers of charitable organizations.
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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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Attorney general vs lawyer skills

Common attorney general skills
  • Legal Advice, 24%
  • Litigation, 24%
  • Appeals, 13%
  • Legal Research, 6%
  • Legal Issues, 4%
  • Mediation, 3%
Common lawyer skills
  • Litigation, 14%
  • Law Firm, 8%
  • Legal Issues, 7%
  • Real Estate, 6%
  • Legal Research, 6%
  • Civil Law, 5%