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Project attorney vs contract attorney

The differences between project attorneys and contract 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 project attorney and a contract attorney. Additionally, a contract attorney has an average salary of $97,474, which is higher than the $84,138 average annual salary of a project attorney.

The top three skills for a project attorney include litigation, e-discovery and legal research. The most important skills for a contract attorney are litigation, e-discovery, and legal research.

Project attorney vs contract attorney overview

Project AttorneyContract Attorney
Yearly salary$84,138$97,474
Hourly rate$40.45$46.86
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs13,05013,592
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeDoctoral Degree, 57%Doctoral Degree, 57%
Average age4646
Years of experience44

Project attorney vs contract attorney salary

Project attorneys and contract attorneys have different pay scales, as shown below.

Project AttorneyContract Attorney
Average salary$84,138$97,474
Salary rangeBetween $50,000 And $140,000Between $60,000 And $158,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYSan Ramon, CA
Highest paying stateNew YorkCalifornia
Best paying companyAlston & BirdPerkins Coie
Best paying industryProfessional-

Differences between project attorney and contract attorney education

There are a few differences between a project attorney and a contract attorney in terms of educational background:

Project AttorneyContract Attorney
Most common degreeDoctoral Degree, 57%Doctoral Degree, 57%
Most common majorLawLaw
Most common collegeStanford UniversityStanford University

Project attorney vs contract attorney demographics

Here are the differences between project attorneys' and contract attorneys' demographics:

Project AttorneyContract Attorney
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 49.2% Female, 50.8%Male, 50.9% Female, 49.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.7% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 6.5% White, 75.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 5.5% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.7% Asian, 6.3% White, 75.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between project attorney and contract attorney duties and responsibilities

Project attorney example responsibilities.

  • Advise client in requirements to achieve and maintain critical FCPA compliance.
  • Perform electronic document review for complex litigation matters involving product liability claims, environmental and toxic torts, and securities fraud.
  • Review and analyze e-discovery responses in complex mortgage-backed securities litigation
  • Represent individual and institutional clients in all aspects of commercial and residential real estate acquisition, financing and leasing and foreclosure.
  • Review internal corporate documents to prepare response to DOJ subpoena regarding nationwide corporate merger.
  • Review electronic documents as requested by the DOJ for potential antitrust violations in corporate acquisitions.
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Contract attorney example responsibilities.

  • Conduct first-level document review, QC review, and privilege review for complex residential mortgage-backed securities litigation.
  • Experience in e-discovery document review teams assessing responsiveness in second requests, pharmaceutical litigation/product liability cases and patent infringement suits.
  • Consult with law firms regarding deposition and hearing preparations and provide other litigation support services for various banking and pharmaceutical antitrust matters
  • Remove confidential personal information and HIPAA.
  • Prepare deposition files, write pleadings, subpoenas and participate in other discovery-relate projects.
  • Privilege log line writing and privilege QC in large-scale anti-trust litigation/investigation of several private equity firms.
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Project attorney vs contract attorney skills

Common project attorney skills
  • Litigation, 25%
  • E-Discovery, 13%
  • Legal Research, 7%
  • Privilege Logs, 5%
  • Due Diligence, 5%
  • Legal Analysis, 4%
Common contract attorney skills
  • Litigation, 23%
  • E-Discovery, 11%
  • Legal Research, 7%
  • Legal Issues, 4%
  • Real Estate, 3%
  • Intellectual Property, 3%