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The differences between defense attorneys and assistant state 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 defense attorney and an assistant state attorney. Additionally, a defense attorney has an average salary of $103,209, which is higher than the $82,255 average annual salary of an assistant state attorney.
The top three skills for a defense attorney include litigation, insurance defense and law firm. The most important skills for an assistant state attorney are litigation, criminal cases, and appeals.
| Defense Attorney | Assistant State Attorney | |
| Yearly salary | $103,209 | $82,255 |
| Hourly rate | $49.62 | $39.55 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 6,557 | 9,855 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 50% | Doctoral Degree, 51% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A defense attorney serves as an advocate for individuals accused of committing crimes, representing and defending them at court to prove their innocence or negotiate plea bargains. As a defense attorney, they are responsible for studying everything about the case, preparing legal documents, gathering evidence, conducting interviews with the client and potential witnesses, coordinating with paralegals, and developing different strategies to defend the client during the court proceedings. They also provide counseling to clients, offer legal advice, give them updates about the case, and help them understand the procedures and risks.
An Assistant Staff Attorney performs a wide range of clerical and administrative work that requires knowledge of legal terms, documents, and procedures. They also communicate with clients to keep them informed on case progress.
Defense attorneys and assistant state attorneys have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Defense Attorney | Assistant State Attorney | |
| Average salary | $103,209 | $82,255 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $152,000 | Between $55,000 And $122,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Oakland, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Taylor English Duma | State Attorney's Office |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Government |
There are a few differences between a defense attorney and an assistant state attorney in terms of educational background:
| Defense Attorney | Assistant State Attorney | |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 50% | Doctoral Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Law | Law |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between defense attorneys' and assistant state attorneys' demographics:
| Defense Attorney | Assistant State Attorney | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 52.1% Female, 47.9% | Male, 54.1% Female, 45.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.7% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 8.0% Asian, 6.5% White, 75.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 5.5% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.7% Asian, 6.3% White, 75.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |