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Attorney vs senior attorney

The differences between attorneys and senior 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 senior attorney. Additionally, a senior attorney has an average salary of $111,002, 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 senior attorney are litigation, law firm, and legal advice.

Attorney vs senior attorney overview

AttorneySenior Attorney
Yearly salary$109,476$111,002
Hourly rate$52.63$53.37
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs10,99110,445
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 senior attorney do?

A Senior Attorney supervises all activities of junior attorneys and deals with all complex legal transactions. They identify legal issues and offer businesses and their customers optimum solutions, as well as ensure that businesses respond appropriately to any legislative changes.

Attorney vs senior attorney salary

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

AttorneySenior Attorney
Average salary$109,476$111,002
Salary rangeBetween $69,000 And $172,000Between $67,000 And $183,000
Highest paying CityWhite Plains, NYWashington, DC
Highest paying stateNew YorkCalifornia
Best paying companyThompson CoburnClifford Chance
Best paying industry-Professional

Differences between attorney and senior attorney education

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

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

Attorney vs senior attorney demographics

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

AttorneySenior Attorney
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 49.9% Female, 50.1%Male, 60.1% Female, 39.9%
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, 5.4% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.6% Asian, 6.2% White, 76.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between attorney and senior 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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Senior attorney example responsibilities.

  • Manage and respond to corporate subpoenas including drafting appropriate objections and preparing witnesses for deposition.
  • Manage the death administration department with approximately thirty-five plus estates through trust administration, Medicaid estate recovery or probate.
  • Draft charging instruments, pleadings, subpoenas, consent agreements, orders and other documents pertaining to administrative enforcement litigation proceedings.
  • Experience litigation attorney, with emphasis on management of civil and matrimonial litigation, from initial interview through trial or settlement.
  • Communicate with client and insurance carriers concerning the progress of the litigation and provide recommendations regarding settlement or other claim resolution.
  • Represent individual and institutional clients in all aspects of commercial and residential real estate acquisition, financing and leasing and foreclosure.
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Attorney vs senior attorney skills

Common attorney skills
  • Litigation, 19%
  • Legal Research, 9%
  • Law Firm, 8%
  • Legal Issues, 6%
  • Legal Advice, 5%
  • Juris, 4%
Common senior attorney skills
  • Litigation, 14%
  • Law Firm, 8%
  • Legal Advice, 8%
  • Juris, 7%
  • Legal Research, 7%
  • Legal Support, 4%