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The differences between research 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 research attorney and a litigation attorney. Additionally, a litigation attorney has an average salary of $109,027, which is higher than the $92,154 average annual salary of a research attorney.
The top three skills for a research attorney include litigation, legal issues and legal memoranda. The most important skills for a litigation attorney are litigation, law firm, and legal research.
| Research Attorney | Litigation Attorney | |
| Yearly salary | $92,154 | $109,027 |
| Hourly rate | $44.30 | $52.42 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 52,731 | 6,918 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 54% | Doctoral Degree, 53% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A research attorney researches laws, court decisions, documents, opinions, briefs, or other information related to cases before the court. They also review jury notes and opinions and judiciary notes. Their duties and responsibilities also include verifying that all files, complaints, or other papers are available and in the proper order.
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.
Research attorneys and litigation attorneys have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Research Attorney | Litigation Attorney | |
| Average salary | $92,154 | $109,027 |
| Salary range | Between $58,000 And $146,000 | Between $69,000 And $172,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Airbnb | Perkins Coie |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Professional |
There are a few differences between a research attorney and a litigation attorney in terms of educational background:
| Research Attorney | Litigation Attorney | |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 54% | Doctoral Degree, 53% |
| Most common major | Law | Law |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between research attorneys' and litigation attorneys' demographics:
| Research Attorney | Litigation Attorney | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 43.7% Female, 56.3% | Male, 56.8% Female, 43.2% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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% |