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Lawyer vs senior attorney

The differences between lawyers and senior attorneys can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a lawyer and a senior attorney. Additionally, a lawyer has an average salary of $115,808, which is higher than the $111,002 average annual salary of a senior attorney.

The top three skills for a lawyer include litigation, law firm and legal issues. The most important skills for a senior attorney are litigation, law firm, and legal advice.

Lawyer vs senior attorney overview

LawyerSenior Attorney
Yearly salary$115,808$111,002
Hourly rate$55.68$53.37
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs2,89710,445
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Doctoral Degree, 53%
Average age4646
Years of experience44

What does a lawyer do?

A lawyer is a legal practitioner who specializes in understanding and interpreting laws and other legal matters. Their responsibilities revolve around providing legal counseling and advice, representing clients in different kinds of court proceedings, conducting research, collecting evidence, and coordinating with various experts. A lawyer must also manage and oversee the performance of assistants, paralegals, and other team members. Furthermore, there are instances when a lawyer must draft or manage documents such as contracts, trusts, deeds, and wills, assisting clients as needed.

What does a senior attorney do?

A Senior Attorney supervises all activities of junior attorneys and deals with all complex legal transactions. They identify legal issues and offer businesses and their customers optimum solutions, as well as ensure that businesses respond appropriately to any legislative changes.

Lawyer vs senior attorney salary

Lawyers and senior attorneys have different pay scales, as shown below.

LawyerSenior Attorney
Average salary$115,808$111,002
Salary rangeBetween $64,000 And $208,000Between $67,000 And $183,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCWashington, DC
Highest paying stateNew YorkCalifornia
Best paying companyNelson Mullins Riley & ScarboroughClifford Chance
Best paying industry-Professional

Differences between lawyer and senior attorney education

There are a few differences between a lawyer and a senior attorney in terms of educational background:

LawyerSenior Attorney
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Doctoral Degree, 53%
Most common majorLawLaw
Most common collegeStanford UniversityStanford University

Lawyer vs senior attorney demographics

Here are the differences between lawyers' and senior attorneys' demographics:

LawyerSenior Attorney
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 48.5% Female, 51.5%Male, 60.1% Female, 39.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.4% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.7% Asian, 6.3% White, 76.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 5.4% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.6% Asian, 6.2% White, 76.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between lawyer and senior attorney duties and responsibilities

Lawyer example responsibilities.

  • Participate in drafting legal documents and prepare business contracts, perform taxation duties for the enterprise and settle disputes with employees.
  • Handle all types of civil claims and provide notary services
  • Review of complaints relate to judicial ethics and employee misconduct.
  • Draft, proofread and ensure filing and service of criminal motions.
  • Draft a variety of pleadings and motions on behalf of the plaintiff.
  • Assist clients at the notary public office and negotiate licensing agreements for virtual data rooms.
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Senior attorney example responsibilities.

  • Manage and respond to corporate subpoenas including drafting appropriate objections and preparing witnesses for deposition.
  • Manage the death administration department with approximately thirty-five plus estates through trust administration, Medicaid estate recovery or probate.
  • Draft charging instruments, pleadings, subpoenas, consent agreements, orders and other documents pertaining to administrative enforcement litigation proceedings.
  • Experience litigation attorney, with emphasis on management of civil and matrimonial litigation, from initial interview through trial or settlement.
  • Communicate with client and insurance carriers concerning the progress of the litigation and provide recommendations regarding settlement or other claim resolution.
  • Represent individual and institutional clients in all aspects of commercial and residential real estate acquisition, financing and leasing and foreclosure.
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Lawyer vs senior attorney skills

Common lawyer skills
  • Litigation, 14%
  • Law Firm, 8%
  • Legal Issues, 7%
  • Real Estate, 6%
  • Legal Research, 6%
  • Civil Law, 5%
Common senior attorney skills
  • Litigation, 14%
  • Law Firm, 8%
  • Legal Advice, 8%
  • Juris, 7%
  • Legal Research, 7%
  • Legal Support, 4%