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City attorney vs litigation associate

The differences between city attorneys and litigation associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a city attorney and a litigation associate. Additionally, a litigation associate has an average salary of $112,116, which is higher than the $102,836 average annual salary of a city attorney.

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

City attorney vs litigation associate overview

City AttorneyLitigation Associate
Yearly salary$102,836$112,116
Hourly rate$49.44$53.90
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs10,5839,779
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeDoctoral Degree, 51%Doctoral Degree, 56%
Average age4646
Years of experience44

What does a city attorney do?

A city attorney typically works for the government and focuses on giving legal advice to city leaders when it comes to various matters that affect the city. Their responsibilities include maintaining knowledge of the latest changes in state and federal laws, helping city officials and staff understand procedures, drafting and reviewing contracts and laws, and performing extensive research and analysis. There are also instances when a city attorney may provide legal advice to citizens and even represent government agencies.

What does a litigation associate do?

A Litigation Associate offers legal advice for individuals involved in lawsuits and represents them in court. They prepare pleading, collect evidence, defend depositions, and manage the client database.

City attorney vs litigation associate salary

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

City AttorneyLitigation Associate
Average salary$102,836$112,116
Salary rangeBetween $66,000 And $158,000Between $68,000 And $182,000
Highest paying CityRedwood City, CAWhite Plains, NY
Highest paying stateCaliforniaNew York
Best paying companyIcma-rcBryan Cave Leighton Paisner
Best paying industryFinanceProfessional

Differences between city attorney and litigation associate education

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

City AttorneyLitigation Associate
Most common degreeDoctoral Degree, 51%Doctoral Degree, 56%
Most common majorLawLaw
Most common collegeStanford UniversityStanford University

City attorney vs litigation associate demographics

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

City AttorneyLitigation Associate
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 53.4% Female, 46.6%Male, 52.4% Female, 47.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.7% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 6.5% White, 75.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 5.7% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 6.5% White, 75.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between city attorney and litigation associate duties and responsibilities

City attorney example responsibilities.

  • Handle diverse general litigation practice in construction defect, product liability, contracts, municipal law and anti-discrimination enforcement.
  • Order subpoenas, certify driving records and accident reports.
  • Oversee responses to subpoenas, government requests and public records requests.
  • Provide counsel and advice to DHS employees regarding statutes, regulations, and policies that govern the child welfare system.
  • Prosecute civil service appeals of discipline city employees.
  • Represent departments in grievance appeals and arbitration proceedings.
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Litigation associate example responsibilities.

  • Lead and assist in out-of-court resolution of actions including settlement negotiations, mediation, and arbitration.
  • Manage all aspects of motion practice and discovery in class and institutional actions involving residential mortgage-backed securities investments.
  • Represent immigrants in deportation proceedings, federal litigation and appeals.
  • Participate in complex commercial litigation group, with matters involving insurance, entertainment, products liability, utilities and investment banking.
  • Research various aspects of family law, civil procedure, and tort law.
  • Ensure business compliance with FDCPA, HIPAA, ADA, and various other regulations.
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City attorney vs litigation associate skills

Common city attorney skills
  • Litigation, 11%
  • Legal Research, 10%
  • Legal Advice, 7%
  • Legal Issues, 5%
  • Municipal Law, 4%
  • District Court, 4%
Common litigation associate skills
  • Litigation, 28%
  • Law Firm, 11%
  • Legal Research, 6%
  • Commercial Litigation, 5%
  • Discovery Motions, 3%
  • Insurance Coverage, 3%