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City attorney vs prosecutor

The differences between city attorneys and prosecutors 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 prosecutor. Additionally, a city attorney has an average salary of $102,836, which is higher than the $68,988 average annual salary of a prosecutor.

The top three skills for a city attorney include litigation, legal research and legal advice. The most important skills for a prosecutor are jury trials, legal research, and criminal cases.

City attorney vs prosecutor overview

City AttorneyProsecutor
Yearly salary$102,836$68,988
Hourly rate$49.44$33.17
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs10,583749
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeDoctoral Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Average age4646
Years of experience44

City attorney vs prosecutor salary

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

City AttorneyProsecutor
Average salary$102,836$68,988
Salary rangeBetween $66,000 And $158,000Between $48,000 And $98,000
Highest paying CityRedwood City, CA-
Highest paying stateCalifornia-
Best paying companyIcma-rc-
Best paying industryFinance-

Differences between city attorney and prosecutor education

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

City AttorneyProsecutor
Most common degreeDoctoral Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Most common majorLawLaw
Most common collegeStanford UniversityStanford University

City attorney vs prosecutor demographics

Here are the differences between city attorneys' and prosecutors' demographics:

City AttorneyProsecutor
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 53.4% Female, 46.6%Male, 55.0% Female, 45.0%
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, 5.6% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 6.5% White, 75.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between city attorney and prosecutor 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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Prosecutor example responsibilities.

  • Manage, train and mentore newly hire ADA's in courtroom management and trial advocacy.
  • Draft findings for defendants to stand trial, appeals and dismissals.
  • Type various legal documents, including complaints, journal entries, and subpoenas.
  • Draft subpoenas, warrants and legal documents relating to family court and civil court matters.
  • Conduct pre-trial investigations and negotiations; prepare and litigate motions and appeals; present hearings and trials.
  • Maintain contact with local law enforcement about ongoing investigations and litigation.
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City attorney vs prosecutor skills

Common city attorney skills
  • Litigation, 11%
  • Legal Research, 10%
  • Legal Advice, 7%
  • Legal Issues, 5%
  • Municipal Law, 4%
  • District Court, 4%
Common prosecutor skills
  • Jury Trials, 15%
  • Legal Research, 13%
  • Criminal Cases, 8%
  • Legal Advice, 8%
  • Motion Hearings, 7%
  • Law Enforcement Agencies, 5%