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The differences between trial attorneys and defense 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 a defense attorney. Additionally, a trial attorney has an average salary of $110,340, which is higher than the $103,209 average annual salary of a defense attorney.
The top three skills for a trial attorney include litigation, legal research and property damage. The most important skills for a defense attorney are litigation, insurance defense, and law firm.
| Trial Attorney | Defense Attorney | |
| Yearly salary | $110,340 | $103,209 |
| Hourly rate | $53.05 | $49.62 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 7,253 | 6,557 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 57% | Doctoral Degree, 50% |
| 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.
A defense attorney serves as an advocate for individuals accused of committing crimes, representing and defending them at court to prove their innocence or negotiate plea bargains. As a defense attorney, they are responsible for studying everything about the case, preparing legal documents, gathering evidence, conducting interviews with the client and potential witnesses, coordinating with paralegals, and developing different strategies to defend the client during the court proceedings. They also provide counseling to clients, offer legal advice, give them updates about the case, and help them understand the procedures and risks.
Trial attorneys and defense attorneys have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Trial Attorney | Defense Attorney | |
| Average salary | $110,340 | $103,209 |
| Salary range | Between $73,000 And $166,000 | Between $69,000 And $152,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith | Taylor English Duma |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Professional |
There are a few differences between a trial attorney and a defense attorney in terms of educational background:
| Trial Attorney | Defense Attorney | |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 57% | Doctoral Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Law | Law |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between trial attorneys' and defense attorneys' demographics:
| Trial Attorney | Defense Attorney | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 66.2% Female, 33.8% | Male, 52.1% Female, 47.9% |
| 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, 5.7% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 8.0% Asian, 6.5% White, 75.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |