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The differences between attorneys and trial 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 trial attorney. Additionally, a trial attorney has an average salary of $110,340, 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 trial attorney are litigation, legal research, and property damage.
| Attorney | Trial Attorney | |
| Yearly salary | $109,476 | $110,340 |
| Hourly rate | $52.63 | $53.05 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 10,991 | 7,253 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 48% | Doctoral Degree, 57% |
| 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.
Trial attorneys are responsible for representing and defending clients in court. Trial attorneys must have excellent legal research skills to assess pieces of evidence and examining relevant judicial decisions to support the client's claims. A trial attorney should also provide legal advice for the clients and guide them through the legal procedures depending on the severity of the case. Trial attorneys must be able to develop trial strategies and arguments in the court to win the judge and the trial jury's decision.
Attorneys and trial attorneys have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Attorney | Trial Attorney | |
| Average salary | $109,476 | $110,340 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $172,000 | Between $73,000 And $166,000 |
| Highest paying City | White Plains, NY | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | New York | California |
| Best paying company | Thompson Coburn | Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith |
| Best paying industry | - | Professional |
There are a few differences between an attorney and a trial attorney in terms of educational background:
| Attorney | Trial Attorney | |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 48% | Doctoral Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Law | Law |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between attorneys' and trial attorneys' demographics:
| Attorney | Trial Attorney | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 49.9% Female, 50.1% | Male, 66.2% Female, 33.8% |
| 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, 5.5% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 6.4% White, 75.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |