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Law internship vs attorney law clerk

The differences between law interns and attorney law clerks can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an attorney law clerk has an average salary of $112,527, 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 law clerk are litigation, discovery responses, and settlement agreements.

Law internship vs attorney law clerk overview

Law InternshipAttorney Law Clerk
Yearly salary$39,394$112,527
Hourly rate$18.94$54.10
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs51,66372,641
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 68%Doctoral Degree, 46%
Average age4141
Years of experience--

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 law clerk do?

An Attorney Law Clerk helps attorneys by assembling and organizing information for legal documents. They research and analyze law sources to prepare drafts of briefs or arguments for review and approval.

Law internship vs attorney law clerk salary

Law interns and attorney law clerks have different pay scales, as shown below.

Law InternshipAttorney Law Clerk
Average salary$39,394$112,527
Salary rangeBetween $24,000 And $63,000Between $72,000 And $174,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCWashington, DC
Highest paying stateNew YorkNew York
Best paying companyNAICReed Smith
Best paying industry-Professional

Differences between law internship and attorney law clerk education

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

Law InternshipAttorney Law Clerk
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 68%Doctoral Degree, 46%
Most common majorLawLaw
Most common collegeUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillStanford University

Law internship vs attorney law clerk demographics

Here are the differences between law interns' and attorney law clerks' demographics:

Law InternshipAttorney Law Clerk
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 46.9% Female, 53.1%Male, 53.5% Female, 46.5%
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, 9.4% Unknown, 8.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.8% Asian, 10.3% White, 54.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage13%13%

Differences between law internship and attorney law clerk 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 law clerk example responsibilities.

  • Draft motions, answers, memos, subpoenas, and client letters for a criminal defense attorney.
  • Conduct a general civil and commercial litigation practice, providing co- representation to either plaintiff or defendant parties in civil litigation.
  • Draft various motions, interrogatories, letters, memorandum, petitions, and jury charges in both civil and legal fields.
  • Draft real estate documents, wills and trusts, interrogatories, requests for admissions, and answers and objections to discovery.
  • Litigate contested probate matters and guardianship proceedings.
  • Conduct and defend depositions in contest probate proceedings.
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Law internship vs attorney law clerk skills

Common law internship skills
  • Litigation, 13%
  • Legal Issues, 9%
  • Trial Preparation, 6%
  • Legal Memos, 5%
  • Real Estate, 3%
  • Legal Intern, 3%
Common attorney law clerk skills
  • Litigation, 17%
  • Discovery Responses, 13%
  • Settlement Agreements, 5%
  • Pre-Trial Motions, 5%
  • Legal Issues, 4%
  • Legal Memoranda, 4%