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The differences between immigration 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 an immigration attorney and a trial attorney. Additionally, a trial attorney has an average salary of $110,340, which is higher than the $80,187 average annual salary of an immigration attorney.
The top three skills for an immigration attorney include immigration law, business immigration and USCIS. The most important skills for a trial attorney are litigation, legal research, and property damage.
| Immigration Attorney | Trial Attorney | |
| Yearly salary | $80,187 | $110,340 |
| Hourly rate | $38.55 | $53.05 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 7,703 | 7,253 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 47% | Doctoral Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Dealing with immigration requirements can be a daunting task. An immigration attorney helps those who are struggling with these requirements. Functioning in this role means that they serve in an advisory capacity to foreign citizens and immigrants who are required to work with the country's immigration authorities. They are the go-to guy for immigrants in matters such as Visa applications, naturalization, employment, and deportation.
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.
Immigration attorneys and trial attorneys have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Immigration Attorney | Trial Attorney | |
| Average salary | $80,187 | $110,340 |
| Salary range | Between $48,000 And $132,000 | Between $73,000 And $166,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | California |
| Best paying company | Seyfarth Shaw | Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Professional |
There are a few differences between an immigration attorney and a trial attorney in terms of educational background:
| Immigration Attorney | Trial Attorney | |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 47% | Doctoral Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Law | Law |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between immigration attorneys' and trial attorneys' demographics:
| Immigration Attorney | Trial Attorney | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 39.5% Female, 60.5% | Male, 66.2% Female, 33.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.4% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.6% Asian, 6.3% White, 76.0% 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% |