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Attorney law clerk vs attorney

The differences between attorney law clerks and attorneys can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an attorney law clerk has an average salary of $112,527, which is higher than the $109,476 average annual salary of an attorney.

The top three skills for an attorney law clerk include litigation, discovery responses and settlement agreements. The most important skills for an attorney are litigation, legal research, and law firm.

Attorney law clerk vs attorney overview

Attorney Law ClerkAttorney
Yearly salary$112,527$109,476
Hourly rate$54.10$52.63
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs72,64110,991
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeDoctoral Degree, 46%Doctoral Degree, 48%
Average age4146
Years of experience-4

What does an attorney law clerk do?

An Attorney Law Clerk helps attorneys by assembling and organizing information for legal documents. They research and analyze law sources to prepare drafts of briefs or arguments for review and approval.

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.

Attorney law clerk vs attorney salary

Attorney law clerks and attorneys have different pay scales, as shown below.

Attorney Law ClerkAttorney
Average salary$112,527$109,476
Salary rangeBetween $72,000 And $174,000Between $69,000 And $172,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCWhite Plains, NY
Highest paying stateNew YorkNew York
Best paying companyReed SmithThompson Coburn
Best paying industryProfessional-

Differences between attorney law clerk and attorney education

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

Attorney Law ClerkAttorney
Most common degreeDoctoral Degree, 46%Doctoral Degree, 48%
Most common majorLawLaw
Most common collegeStanford UniversityStanford University

Attorney law clerk vs attorney demographics

Here are the differences between attorney law clerks' and attorneys' demographics:

Attorney Law ClerkAttorney
Average age4146
Gender ratioMale, 53.5% Female, 46.5%Male, 49.9% Female, 50.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 8.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.8% Asian, 10.3% White, 54.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%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%
LGBT Percentage13%10%

Differences between attorney law clerk and attorney duties and responsibilities

Attorney law clerk example responsibilities.

  • Draft motions, answers, memos, subpoenas, and client letters for a criminal defense attorney.
  • Conduct a general civil and commercial litigation practice, providing co- representation to either plaintiff or defendant parties in civil litigation.
  • Draft various motions, interrogatories, letters, memorandum, petitions, and jury charges in both civil and legal fields.
  • Draft real estate documents, wills and trusts, interrogatories, requests for admissions, and answers and objections to discovery.
  • Litigate contested probate matters and guardianship proceedings.
  • Conduct and defend depositions in contest probate proceedings.
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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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Attorney law clerk vs attorney skills

Common attorney law clerk skills
  • Litigation, 17%
  • Discovery Responses, 13%
  • Settlement Agreements, 5%
  • Pre-Trial Motions, 5%
  • Legal Issues, 4%
  • Legal Memoranda, 4%
Common attorney skills
  • Litigation, 19%
  • Legal Research, 9%
  • Law Firm, 8%
  • Legal Issues, 6%
  • Legal Advice, 5%
  • Juris, 4%