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Attorney's assistant vs assistant

The differences between attorney's assistants and assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become an attorney's assistant, becoming an assistant takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an attorney's assistant has an average salary of $52,855, which is higher than the $37,363 average annual salary of an assistant.

The top three skills for an attorney's assistant include law firm, litigation and pleadings. The most important skills for an assistant are patients, customer service, and patient care.

Attorney's assistant vs assistant overview

Attorney's AssistantAssistant
Yearly salary$52,855$37,363
Hourly rate$25.41$17.96
Growth rate14%-8%
Number of jobs6,425557,900
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Average age4650
Years of experience122

Attorney's assistant vs assistant salary

Attorney's assistants and assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Attorney's AssistantAssistant
Average salary$52,855$37,363
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $78,000Between $16,000 And $82,000
Highest paying City-Boston, MA
Highest paying state-Massachusetts
Best paying company-Latham & Watkins
Best paying industry-Education

Differences between attorney's assistant and assistant education

There are a few differences between an attorney's assistant and an assistant in terms of educational background:

Attorney's AssistantAssistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Most common majorLawBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaWestern Carolina University

Attorney's assistant vs assistant demographics

Here are the differences between attorney's assistants' and assistants' demographics:

Attorney's AssistantAssistant
Average age4650
Gender ratioMale, 30.3% Female, 69.7%Male, 40.7% Female, 59.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.3% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 21.7% Asian, 5.4% White, 59.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 3.8% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage9%6%

Differences between attorney's assistant and assistant duties and responsibilities

Attorney's assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage active caseload of labor arbitrations.
  • Assist patent attorneys by managing invention disclosure documentation and relate correspondence with outside counsel and USPTO.
  • Draft jury demands, discovery responses, subpoenas, and closing letters for the attorney's cases.
  • Draft legal complaints, summons and interrogatories.
  • Handle significant criminal, juvenile and probate cases.
  • Experience with presentation of software such as PowerPoint.
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Assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage circulations, including educational textbooks and DVDS, video technology and supplies.
  • Manage branches providing information technology support, logistics, training and operational support.
  • Manage company's twitter account and communicate with multiple physical therapy providers around the country
  • Optimize productivity in prioritizing and managing special projects, PowerPoint presentations for classes, and proctore exams for undergraduate classes.
  • Assist in jewelry design and assembly, manage company Facebook page, participate in wholesale buying, and manage retail inventory
  • Manage and update company Facebook page with daily updates, finding/sharing relevant and interesting information, and encouraging fan engagement.
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Attorney's assistant vs assistant skills

Common attorney's assistant skills
  • Law Firm, 10%
  • Litigation, 8%
  • Pleadings, 7%
  • Legal Research, 6%
  • Trial Preparation, 6%
  • Expense Reports, 5%
Common assistant skills
  • Patients, 27%
  • Customer Service, 13%
  • Patient Care, 8%
  • CPR, 5%
  • Sales Floor, 5%
  • Scheduling Appointments, 3%