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The differences between contract 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 a contract attorney and a trial attorney. Additionally, a trial attorney has an average salary of $110,340, which is higher than the $97,474 average annual salary of a contract attorney.
The top three skills for a contract attorney include litigation, e-discovery and legal research. The most important skills for a trial attorney are litigation, legal research, and property damage.
| Contract Attorney | Trial Attorney | |
| Yearly salary | $97,474 | $110,340 |
| Hourly rate | $46.86 | $53.05 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 13,592 | 7,253 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 57% | Doctoral Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A contract attorney is responsible for handling their clients' legal issues and settling cases by researching, analyzing, and collecting essential files that would support the clients' claims. Contract attorneys usually work for private clients without being permanently employed in a law firm or government agency. Contract attorneys represent clients at court, assist with law proceedings, and advise clients for the necessary legal procedures. A contract attorney must have excellent communication and critical-thinking skills to manage client legal matters and expertise in traditional disciplines and processes.
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.
Contract attorneys and trial attorneys have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Contract Attorney | Trial Attorney | |
| Average salary | $97,474 | $110,340 |
| Salary range | Between $60,000 And $158,000 | Between $73,000 And $166,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Ramon, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Perkins Coie | Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith |
| Best paying industry | - | Professional |
There are a few differences between a contract attorney and a trial attorney in terms of educational background:
| Contract Attorney | Trial Attorney | |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 57% | Doctoral Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Law | Law |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between contract attorneys' and trial attorneys' demographics:
| Contract Attorney | Trial Attorney | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 50.9% Female, 49.1% | Male, 66.2% Female, 33.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.5% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.7% Asian, 6.3% White, 75.9% 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% |