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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 | Attorney | |
| Yearly salary | $39,394 | $109,476 |
| Hourly rate | $18.94 | $52.63 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 51,663 | 10,991 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Doctoral Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 41 | 46 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
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.
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 interns and attorneys have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Law Internship | Attorney | |
| Average salary | $39,394 | $109,476 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $63,000 | Between $69,000 And $172,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | White Plains, NY |
| Highest paying state | New York | New York |
| Best paying company | NAIC | Thompson Coburn |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a law internship and an attorney in terms of educational background:
| Law Internship | Attorney | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Doctoral Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Law | Law |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between law interns' and attorneys' demographics:
| Law Internship | Attorney | |
| Average age | 41 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 46.9% Female, 53.1% | Male, 49.9% Female, 50.1% |
| Race ratio | Black 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 Percentage | 13% | 10% |