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Project attorney vs legal extern

The differences between project attorneys and legal externs 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 legal extern. Additionally, a project attorney has an average salary of $84,138, which is higher than the $47,238 average annual salary of a legal extern.

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

Project attorney vs legal extern overview

Project AttorneyLegal Extern
Yearly salary$84,138$47,238
Hourly rate$40.45$22.71
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs13,05010,986
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeDoctoral Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Average age4646
Years of experience44

Project attorney vs legal extern salary

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

Project AttorneyLegal Extern
Average salary$84,138$47,238
Salary rangeBetween $50,000 And $140,000Between $23,000 And $93,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYWashington, DC
Highest paying stateNew YorkNew York
Best paying companyAlston & BirdJones Day
Best paying industryProfessionalProfessional

Differences between project attorney and legal extern education

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

Project AttorneyLegal Extern
Most common degreeDoctoral Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Most common majorLawLaw
Most common collegeStanford UniversityStanford University

Project attorney vs legal extern demographics

Here are the differences between project attorneys' and legal externs' demographics:

Project AttorneyLegal Extern
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 49.2% Female, 50.8%Male, 46.0% Female, 54.0%
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, 5.6% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 6.4% White, 75.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between project attorney and legal extern 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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Legal extern example responsibilities.

  • Create PowerPoint presentation used to train staff on managing copyright and trademark infringement risk.
  • Research various aspects of criminal law; write inter-office memos defining the present juris prudence of issue research.
  • Train attorneys and librarians to use the Lexis-Nexis legal research system.
  • Proofread and edit attorney work product (grammar, usage, and content . )
  • Hire by criminal defense and plaintiff's personal injury attorneys on a case basis.
  • Proofread and edit legal documents for correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, syntax, format, and content.
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Project attorney vs legal extern skills

Common project attorney skills
  • Litigation, 25%
  • E-Discovery, 13%
  • Legal Research, 7%
  • Privilege Logs, 5%
  • Due Diligence, 5%
  • Legal Analysis, 4%
Common legal extern skills
  • Litigation, 12%
  • Legal Intern, 10%
  • Legal Issues, 9%
  • Legal Memos, 6%
  • Intellectual Property, 5%
  • Pre-Trial Motions, 5%