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The differences between defense attorneys and 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 attorney. Additionally, an attorney has an average salary of $109,476, which is higher than the $103,209 average annual salary of a defense attorney.
The top three skills for a defense attorney include litigation, insurance defense and law firm. The most important skills for an attorney are litigation, legal research, and law firm.
| Defense Attorney | Attorney | |
| Yearly salary | $103,209 | $109,476 |
| Hourly rate | $49.62 | $52.63 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 6,557 | 10,991 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 50% | Doctoral Degree, 48% |
| 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.
Generally, an attorney's responsibility is to advise the client with an ongoing lawsuit on the legal procedures and provide strategies to resolve the case as early as possible. An attorney compiles necessary documents or any records for appeal and client's defense. Attorneys must acquire strong problem-solving and critical-thinking skills to mediate disputes and settle pending litigation for the client's best interest. In some cases, an attorney's procedure depends on any evidence and research presented during the trial period. An attorney is expected to present clients on legal proceedings, seeking justice and justifying the law.
Defense attorneys and attorneys have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Defense Attorney | Attorney | |
| Average salary | $103,209 | $109,476 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $152,000 | Between $69,000 And $172,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | White Plains, NY |
| Highest paying state | California | New York |
| Best paying company | Taylor English Duma | Thompson Coburn |
| Best paying industry | Professional | - |
There are a few differences between a defense attorney and an attorney in terms of educational background:
| Defense Attorney | Attorney | |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 50% | Doctoral Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Law | Law |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between defense attorneys' and attorneys' demographics:
| Defense Attorney | Attorney | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 52.1% Female, 47.9% | Male, 49.9% Female, 50.1% |
| 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, 5.6% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 6.4% White, 75.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |