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The differences between attorneys 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 and a lawyer. Additionally, a lawyer has an average salary of $115,808, which is higher than the $109,476 average annual salary of an attorney.
The top three skills for an attorney include litigation, legal research and law firm. The most important skills for a lawyer are litigation, law firm, and legal issues.
| Attorney | Lawyer | |
| Yearly salary | $109,476 | $115,808 |
| Hourly rate | $52.63 | $55.68 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 10,991 | 2,897 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 48% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Generally, an attorney's responsibility is to advise the client with an ongoing lawsuit on the legal procedures and provide strategies to resolve the case as early as possible. An attorney compiles necessary documents or any records for appeal and client's defense. Attorneys must acquire strong problem-solving and critical-thinking skills to mediate disputes and settle pending litigation for the client's best interest. In some cases, an attorney's procedure depends on any evidence and research presented during the trial period. An attorney is expected to present clients on legal proceedings, seeking justice and justifying the law.
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.
Attorneys and lawyers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Attorney | Lawyer | |
| Average salary | $109,476 | $115,808 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $172,000 | Between $64,000 And $208,000 |
| Highest paying City | White Plains, NY | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | New York | New York |
| Best paying company | Thompson Coburn | Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between an attorney and a lawyer in terms of educational background:
| Attorney | Lawyer | |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 48% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Law | Law |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between attorneys' and lawyers' demographics:
| Attorney | Lawyer | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 49.9% Female, 50.1% | Male, 48.5% Female, 51.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.6% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 6.4% White, 75.5% 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 Percentage | 10% | 10% |