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The differences between paralegals and attorneys can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a paralegal, becoming an attorney takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an attorney has an average salary of $109,476, which is higher than the $49,943 average annual salary of a paralegal.
The top three skills for a paralegal include litigation, legal research and law firm. The most important skills for an attorney are litigation, legal research, and law firm.
| Paralegal | Attorney | |
| Yearly salary | $49,943 | $109,476 |
| Hourly rate | $24.01 | $52.63 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 5,177 | 10,991 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Doctoral Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 4 |
Paralegals are law firm or legal department employees who work on cases with lawyers. They handle different activities, usually administrative or clerical, such as organizing and maintaining files, updating records, and managing correspondences, among others. Paralegals also handle different activities directly related to active cases being worked on by lawyers in the firm or department. They assist lawyers on cases by preparing materials needed for trials, conducting legal research, verifying trial facts, helping during interviews, getting statements from those involved in the case, and creating presentation materials. Paralegals should have knowledge of laws and should be familiar with landmark cases.
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.
Paralegals and attorneys have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Paralegal | Attorney | |
| Average salary | $49,943 | $109,476 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $70,000 | Between $69,000 And $172,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | White Plains, NY |
| Highest paying state | California | New York |
| Best paying company | Arnall Golden Gregory | Thompson Coburn |
| Best paying industry | Professional | - |
There are a few differences between a paralegal and an attorney in terms of educational background:
| Paralegal | Attorney | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Doctoral Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Legal Support Services | Law |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between paralegals' and attorneys' demographics:
| Paralegal | Attorney | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 22.4% Female, 77.6% | Male, 49.9% Female, 50.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 20.2% Asian, 5.7% White, 59.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | 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 | 9% | 10% |