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Attorney vs litigation attorney

The differences between attorneys and litigation 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 attorney and a litigation attorney. Additionally, an attorney has an average salary of $109,476, which is higher than the $109,027 average annual salary of a litigation attorney.

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

Attorney vs litigation attorney overview

AttorneyLitigation Attorney
Yearly salary$109,476$109,027
Hourly rate$52.63$52.42
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs10,9916,918
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeDoctoral Degree, 48%Doctoral Degree, 53%
Average age4646
Years of experience44

What does an attorney do?

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.

What does a litigation attorney do?

A Litigation Attorney manages all phases of the litigation process from investigation and pleading to trial, settlement, and appeal. They also question witnesses, victims, and others involved in cases.

Attorney vs litigation attorney salary

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

AttorneyLitigation Attorney
Average salary$109,476$109,027
Salary rangeBetween $69,000 And $172,000Between $69,000 And $172,000
Highest paying CityWhite Plains, NYSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateNew YorkCalifornia
Best paying companyThompson CoburnPerkins Coie
Best paying industry-Professional

Differences between attorney and litigation attorney education

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

AttorneyLitigation Attorney
Most common degreeDoctoral Degree, 48%Doctoral Degree, 53%
Most common majorLawLaw
Most common collegeStanford UniversityStanford University

Attorney vs litigation attorney demographics

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

AttorneyLitigation Attorney
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 49.9% Female, 50.1%Male, 56.8% Female, 43.2%
Race ratioBlack 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, 5.5% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 6.4% White, 75.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between attorney and litigation attorney duties and responsibilities

Attorney example responsibilities.

  • Manage the death administration department with approximately thirty-five plus estates through trust administration, Medicaid estate recovery or probate.
  • Respond to subpoenas and pleadings in litigation and in regulatory inquiries and investigations involving corporate clients.
  • Represent employers before federal administrative agencies, including inspections, administrative litigation, court-enforcement actions and appeals.
  • Litigate personal injury, and general liability matters, worker's compensation, estate planning and litigation, environmental liability litigation.
  • Create and give a presentation regarding non- attorney ethics to division staff.
  • Comply with all agency policies and procedures, including those pertaining to ethics and integrity
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Litigation attorney example responsibilities.

  • Supervise and manage plaintiff's personal injury practice.
  • Develop litigation strategies including discovery, deposition, arbitration, and jury trial.
  • Draft internal memos, subpoenas and various discovery documents.
  • Direct and determine all aspects of plaintiff litigation and resolution strategy.
  • Review documents for FINRA arbitration concerning poaching of traders between inter-dealer brokers.
  • Respond to investigative subpoenas from U.S. government regulatory agencies requesting production of relevant client and third party material.
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Attorney vs litigation attorney skills

Common attorney skills
  • Litigation, 19%
  • Legal Research, 9%
  • Law Firm, 8%
  • Legal Issues, 6%
  • Legal Advice, 5%
  • Juris, 4%
Common litigation attorney skills
  • Litigation, 30%
  • Law Firm, 14%
  • Legal Research, 6%
  • Civil Litigation, 4%
  • Commercial Litigation, 3%
  • Insurance Defense, 3%