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Defense attorney vs prosecutor

The differences between defense 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 defense attorney and a prosecutor. Additionally, a defense attorney has an average salary of $103,209, which is higher than the $68,988 average annual salary of a prosecutor.

The top three skills for a defense attorney include litigation, insurance defense and law firm. The most important skills for a prosecutor are jury trials, legal research, and criminal cases.

Defense attorney vs prosecutor overview

Defense AttorneyProsecutor
Yearly salary$103,209$68,988
Hourly rate$49.62$33.17
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs6,557749
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeDoctoral Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Average age4646
Years of experience44

Defense attorney vs prosecutor salary

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

Defense AttorneyProsecutor
Average salary$103,209$68,988
Salary rangeBetween $69,000 And $152,000Between $48,000 And $98,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CA-
Highest paying stateCalifornia-
Best paying companyTaylor English Duma-
Best paying industryProfessional-

Differences between defense attorney and prosecutor education

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

Defense AttorneyProsecutor
Most common degreeDoctoral Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Most common majorLawLaw
Most common collegeStanford UniversityStanford University

Defense attorney vs prosecutor demographics

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

Defense AttorneyProsecutor
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 52.1% Female, 47.9%Male, 55.0% Female, 45.0%
Race ratioBlack 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, 7.9% Asian, 6.5% White, 75.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between defense attorney and prosecutor duties and responsibilities

Defense attorney example responsibilities.

  • Manage cases from intake through arbitration, trial, or settlement.
  • Excel at client relations, court advocacy, arbitration, counseling, and composing demurrers and motions for summary judgment.
  • Provide legal representation covering all facets of insurance litigation, including extensive fraud and exaggerate claims.
  • Represent clients in civil litigation matters including workers' compensation, automobile liability, commercial, and general liability cases.
  • Experience with plaintiff's personal injury from inception through settlement.
  • Enforce compliance with state ethics, education, and business laws.
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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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Defense attorney vs prosecutor skills

Common defense attorney skills
  • Litigation, 23%
  • Insurance Defense, 12%
  • Law Firm, 7%
  • Legal Issues, 7%
  • Legal Research, 7%
  • Civil Litigation, 6%
Common prosecutor skills
  • Jury Trials, 15%
  • Legal Research, 13%
  • Criminal Cases, 8%
  • Legal Advice, 8%
  • Motion Hearings, 7%
  • Law Enforcement Agencies, 5%