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The differences between trial 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 trial attorney and an assistant district attorney. Additionally, a trial attorney has an average salary of $110,340, which is higher than the $73,970 average annual salary of an assistant district attorney.
The top three skills for a trial attorney include litigation, legal research and property damage. The most important skills for an assistant district attorney are felony cases, criminal justice, and criminal cases.
| Trial Attorney | Assistant District Attorney | |
| Yearly salary | $110,340 | $73,970 |
| Hourly rate | $53.05 | $35.56 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 7,253 | 15,857 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 57% | Doctoral Degree, 55% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Trial attorneys are responsible for representing and defending clients in court. Trial attorneys must have excellent legal research skills to assess pieces of evidence and examining relevant judicial decisions to support the client's claims. A trial attorney should also provide legal advice for the clients and guide them through the legal procedures depending on the severity of the case. Trial attorneys must be able to develop trial strategies and arguments in the court to win the judge and the trial jury's decision.
An Assistant District Attorney helps the District Attorney, a government official. They represent the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses.
Trial attorneys and assistant district attorneys have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Trial Attorney | Assistant District Attorney | |
| Average salary | $110,340 | $73,970 |
| Salary range | Between $73,000 And $166,000 | Between $50,000 And $108,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith | Gwinnett Center |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Government |
There are a few differences between a trial attorney and an assistant district attorney in terms of educational background:
| Trial Attorney | Assistant District Attorney | |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 57% | Doctoral Degree, 55% |
| Most common major | Law | Law |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between trial attorneys' and assistant district attorneys' demographics:
| Trial Attorney | Assistant District Attorney | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 66.2% Female, 33.8% | Male, 55.2% Female, 44.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.5% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 6.4% White, 75.7% 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 Percentage | 10% | 10% |