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Patent attorney vs assistant district attorney

The differences between patent attorneys and assistant district 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 patent attorney and an assistant district attorney. Additionally, a patent attorney has an average salary of $86,919, which is higher than the $73,970 average annual salary of an assistant district attorney.

The top three skills for a patent attorney include electrical engineering, USPTO and law firm. The most important skills for an assistant district attorney are felony cases, criminal justice, and criminal cases.

Patent attorney vs assistant district attorney overview

Patent AttorneyAssistant District Attorney
Yearly salary$86,919$73,970
Hourly rate$41.79$35.56
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs7,88915,857
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 45%Doctoral Degree, 55%
Average age4646
Years of experience44

What does a patent attorney do?

A patent attorney is an intellectual property expert whose responsibilities revolve around assisting and representing clients on patent application procedures. A patent attorney must meet with clients to identify their needs, provide advice when it comes to trademarks and trade secrets, discuss and interpret complex subjects such as regulations and laws, and secure rights and properties. Furthermore, as a patent attorney, it is essential to review and negotiate contracts and proposals to avoid disputes in the future.

What does an assistant district attorney do?

An Assistant District Attorney helps the District Attorney, a government official. They represent the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses.

Patent attorney vs assistant district attorney salary

Patent attorneys and assistant district attorneys have different pay scales, as shown below.

Patent AttorneyAssistant District Attorney
Average salary$86,919$73,970
Salary rangeBetween $49,000 And $152,000Between $50,000 And $108,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateMassachusettsCalifornia
Best paying companyGoodwinGwinnett Center
Best paying industryProfessionalGovernment

Differences between patent attorney and assistant district attorney education

There are a few differences between a patent attorney and an assistant district attorney in terms of educational background:

Patent AttorneyAssistant District Attorney
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 45%Doctoral Degree, 55%
Most common majorLawLaw
Most common collegeStanford UniversityStanford University

Patent attorney vs assistant district attorney demographics

Here are the differences between patent attorneys' and assistant district attorneys' demographics:

Patent AttorneyAssistant District Attorney
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 79.3% Female, 20.7%Male, 55.2% Female, 44.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.7% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 6.5% White, 75.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 5.4% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.6% Asian, 6.3% White, 76.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between patent attorney and assistant district attorney duties and responsibilities

Patent attorney example responsibilities.

  • Advise client in requirements to achieve and maintain critical FCPA compliance.
  • Conduct extensive legal research and prepare pleadings, discovery requests and responses and motions in trademark and copyright litigation matters.
  • Conduct trademark oppositions, cancellations and appeals before TTAB.
  • Review and execute infringement and invalidity analyses for patents relating to telecommunications and call routing in support of major infringement litigation.
  • Represent individual and institutional clients in all aspects of commercial and residential real estate acquisition, financing and leasing and foreclosure.
  • Handle subpoenas, discovery requests, and occasionally legal research to provide counsel to senior attorneys regarding statutory and regulatory issues.

Assistant district attorney example responsibilities.

  • Draft search warrants, cell site orders, and subpoenas on a frequent basis as part of developing and managing investigations.
  • Handle all phases of criminal prosecution including witness interviews, grand jury presentations, hearings, trials and appeals.
  • Draft briefs, motions, orders, subpoenas, contracts and other legal documents, as well as correspondence and reports.
  • Research and co-authore multiple briefs for interlocutory appeals regarding suppression of evidence.
  • Provide presentation and legal defense of insure persons in personal injury actions through mediation and/or trial.
  • Review and analyze medical records, permanency evaluations, interrogatories, and transcripts.

Patent attorney vs assistant district attorney skills

Common patent attorney skills
  • Electrical Engineering, 15%
  • USPTO, 13%
  • Law Firm, 11%
  • Litigation, 8%
  • Patent Prosecution, 8%
  • Intellectual Property Law, 6%
Common assistant district attorney skills
  • Felony Cases, 7%
  • Criminal Justice, 7%
  • Criminal Cases, 6%
  • Litigation, 6%
  • Crime Scenes, 6%
  • Adas, 5%