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Legal department manager vs lawyer

The differences between legal department managers and lawyers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a legal department manager and a lawyer. Additionally, a lawyer has an average salary of $115,808, which is higher than the $66,307 average annual salary of a legal department manager.

The top three skills for a legal department manager include litigation, external counsel and risk management. The most important skills for a lawyer are litigation, law firm, and legal issues.

Legal department manager vs lawyer overview

Legal Department ManagerLawyer
Yearly salary$66,307$115,808
Hourly rate$31.88$55.68
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs38,1462,897
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Average age4646
Years of experience44

Legal department manager vs lawyer salary

Legal department managers and lawyers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Legal Department ManagerLawyer
Average salary$66,307$115,808
Salary rangeBetween $38,000 And $114,000Between $64,000 And $208,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MAWashington, DC
Highest paying stateMassachusettsNew York
Best paying companyMetaNelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough
Best paying industry--

Differences between legal department manager and lawyer education

There are a few differences between a legal department manager and a lawyer in terms of educational background:

Legal Department ManagerLawyer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Most common majorLawLaw
Most common collegeStanford UniversityStanford University

Legal department manager vs lawyer demographics

Here are the differences between legal department managers' and lawyers' demographics:

Legal Department ManagerLawyer
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 34.5% Female, 65.5%Male, 48.5% Female, 51.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.5% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 6.4% White, 75.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black 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%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between legal department manager and lawyer duties and responsibilities

Legal department manager example responsibilities.

  • Prepare and distribute payroll manage daily office operations and equipment and maintain supplies for office to run effectively.
  • Coordinate with litigation department on state and federal government subpoenas on customer account activity.
  • Provide expert testimony at NASD/NYSE arbitration hearings.
  • Handpick arbitration ready accounts and oversee the legal department.
  • Review and analyze third-party subpoenas, garnishments and other document requests and coordinate require responses.
  • Work hand-in-hand with legal representation in litigation discovery process, development of legal arguments and exhibits as well as deposition preparation.
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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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Legal department manager vs lawyer skills

Common legal department manager skills
  • Litigation, 12%
  • External Counsel, 9%
  • Risk Management, 8%
  • Due Diligence, 5%
  • Legal Issues, 5%
  • Legal Research, 5%
Common lawyer skills
  • Litigation, 14%
  • Law Firm, 8%
  • Legal Issues, 7%
  • Real Estate, 6%
  • Legal Research, 6%
  • Civil Law, 5%