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The differences between patent attorneys and litigation 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 a litigation attorney. Additionally, a litigation attorney has an average salary of $109,027, which is higher than the $86,919 average annual salary of a patent attorney.
The top three skills for a patent attorney include electrical engineering, USPTO and law firm. The most important skills for a litigation attorney are litigation, law firm, and legal research.
| Patent Attorney | Litigation Attorney | |
| Yearly salary | $86,919 | $109,027 |
| Hourly rate | $41.79 | $52.42 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 7,889 | 6,918 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Doctoral Degree, 53% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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.
A Litigation Attorney manages all phases of the litigation process from investigation and pleading to trial, settlement, and appeal. They also question witnesses, victims, and others involved in cases.
Patent attorneys and litigation attorneys have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Patent Attorney | Litigation Attorney | |
| Average salary | $86,919 | $109,027 |
| Salary range | Between $49,000 And $152,000 | Between $69,000 And $172,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | California |
| Best paying company | Goodwin | Perkins Coie |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Professional |
There are a few differences between a patent attorney and a litigation attorney in terms of educational background:
| Patent Attorney | Litigation Attorney | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Doctoral Degree, 53% |
| Most common major | Law | Law |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between patent attorneys' and litigation attorneys' demographics:
| Patent Attorney | Litigation Attorney | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 79.3% Female, 20.7% | Male, 56.8% Female, 43.2% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 5.5% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 6.4% White, 75.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |