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Law internship vs attorney

The differences between law interns and attorneys can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an attorney has an average salary of $109,476, which is higher than the $39,394 average annual salary of a law internship.

The top three skills for a law internship include litigation, legal issues and trial preparation. The most important skills for an attorney are litigation, legal research, and law firm.

Law internship vs attorney overview

Law InternshipAttorney
Yearly salary$39,394$109,476
Hourly rate$18.94$52.63
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs51,66310,991
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 68%Doctoral Degree, 48%
Average age4146
Years of experience-4

What does a law internship do?

A law internship is a program that is designed for law students to give them valuable insight into the professional lives of attorneys and judges. Law interns need to understand and observe what being a lawyer involves. They are required to conduct research and present it to their superiors for case preparations. They must assist their senior lawyers in organizing all of their legal paperwork that includes case files, evidence records, and legal documents. Law interns are also required to be present in the courtroom to assist lawyers and experience actual courtroom proceedings.

What does an attorney do?

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.

Law internship vs attorney salary

Law interns and attorneys have different pay scales, as shown below.

Law InternshipAttorney
Average salary$39,394$109,476
Salary rangeBetween $24,000 And $63,000Between $69,000 And $172,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCWhite Plains, NY
Highest paying stateNew YorkNew York
Best paying companyNAICThompson Coburn
Best paying industry--

Differences between law internship and attorney education

There are a few differences between a law internship and an attorney in terms of educational background:

Law InternshipAttorney
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 68%Doctoral Degree, 48%
Most common majorLawLaw
Most common collegeUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillStanford University

Law internship vs attorney demographics

Here are the differences between law interns' and attorneys' demographics:

Law InternshipAttorney
Average age4146
Gender ratioMale, 46.9% Female, 53.1%Male, 49.9% Female, 50.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 8.3% Hispanic or Latino, 17.8% Asian, 10.3% White, 53.9% 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 Percentage13%10%

Differences between law internship and attorney duties and responsibilities

Law internship example responsibilities.

  • Prepare probate documents, including petition for probate, inventory, and statement of account.
  • Observe investigations and write different court documents including subpoenas, court orders and affidavits
  • File commercial cases, develop affidavits and correspondence, and coordinate subpoenas delivery.
  • Draft summary judgment motions and answer interrogatories and production requests in medical malpractice cases.
  • Research proposed legislative bill allowing survivor access to a decedent s online accounts in probate proceedings.
  • Research and prepare for arbitration of labor contract disputes; participate in collective bargaining agreement negotiations.
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Attorney example responsibilities.

  • Manage the death administration department with approximately thirty-five plus estates through trust administration, Medicaid estate recovery or probate.
  • Respond to subpoenas and pleadings in litigation and in regulatory inquiries and investigations involving corporate clients.
  • Represent employers before federal administrative agencies, including inspections, administrative litigation, court-enforcement actions and appeals.
  • Litigate personal injury, and general liability matters, worker's compensation, estate planning and litigation, environmental liability litigation.
  • Create and give a presentation regarding non- attorney ethics to division staff.
  • Comply with all agency policies and procedures, including those pertaining to ethics and integrity
  • Show more

Law internship vs attorney skills

Common law internship skills
  • Litigation, 13%
  • Legal Issues, 9%
  • Trial Preparation, 6%
  • Legal Memos, 5%
  • Real Estate, 3%
  • Legal Intern, 3%
Common attorney skills
  • Litigation, 19%
  • Legal Research, 9%
  • Law Firm, 8%
  • Legal Issues, 6%
  • Legal Advice, 5%
  • Juris, 4%