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The differences between law interns and summer associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a summer associate has an average salary of $42,349, 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 a summer associate are powerpoint, litigation, and financial models.
| Law Internship | Summer Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $39,394 | $42,349 |
| Hourly rate | $18.94 | $20.36 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 51,663 | 7,546 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 41 | 46 |
| Years of experience | - | 12 |
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.
Summer associates are law students hired seasonally by law firms. The aim is for future lawyers to be exposed to the practical aspects of a firm. Typically, this program lasts for nine weeks, beginning in May and running through July. Summer associates are expected to be friendly and kind to people, preserve company reputation, support other associates, and perform legal tasks appropriately.
Law interns and summer associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Law Internship | Summer Associate | |
| Average salary | $39,394 | $42,349 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $63,000 | Between $22,000 And $81,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | New York | New York |
| Best paying company | NAIC | Crowell & Moring |
| Best paying industry | - | Professional |
There are a few differences between a law internship and a summer associate in terms of educational background:
| Law Internship | Summer Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Law | Law |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between law interns' and summer associates' demographics:
| Law Internship | Summer Associate | |
| Average age | 41 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 46.9% Female, 53.1% | Male, 57.0% Female, 43.0% |
| 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, 10.0% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 15.2% Asian, 6.0% White, 63.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 13% | 9% |