What does a trial attorney do?
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.
Trial attorney responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real trial attorney resumes:
- Lead trial attorney in general practice litigation firm managing a diverse portfolio of cases representing individuals face with difficult legal problems.
- Recommend initiation of litigation and appeals.
- Research and draft numerous criminal appeals and perform oral arguments in defense thereof.
- Conduct trials in complex class action litigation involving cemetery claims of allege mistreatment of remains and emotional distress without bodily injury.
- Prepare, argue and litigate a large roster of plaintiff cases involving automobile accidents and tort claims.
- General practice of law including plaintiff and insurance defense personal injury representation.
- Conduct discovery including taking depositions, responding to subpoenas, and drafting/arguing motions.
- Participate in all dispute resolution forums including mediation, binding and non-binding arbitration and settlement conferences.
- Participate in numerous mediation and arbitration hearings with excellent results, including trial preparation and representation.
- Conduct extensive discovery including depositions, production of documents, issuance of subpoenas, and doctor cross-examinations.
- Lead trial attorney in general practice litigation firm managing a diverse portfolio of cases representing individuals face with difficult legal problems.
- Conduct depositions and other discovery including drafting interrogatories, witness lists, etc.
- Initiate discovery; take depositions, cross-examination witnesses.
Trial attorney skills and personality traits
We calculated that 21% of Trial Attorneys are proficient in Litigation, Legal Research, and Property Damage. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Interpersonal skills, and Problem-solving skills.
We break down the percentage of Trial Attorneys that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Litigation, 21%
Complied with litigation plans/procedures and reporting requirements implemented by State Farm, American International Group, Nationwide and Risk Enterprise Management.
- Legal Research, 8%
Conduct extensive legal research, analysis, and document preparation related to aforementioned areas of practice.
- Property Damage, 7%
Represented developers, homeowners, condominium associations, retailers, and commercial property clients for property damage lawsuits.
- Legal Advice, 6%
Provided legal advice to agency investigators and officials.
- Legal Issues, 6%
Plan and execute educational workshops for various community organizations concerning criminal, family & estate planning legal issues.
- Civil Litigation, 4%
Represented federal agencies and federal employees in their official capacities in civil litigation.
"litigation," "legal research," and "property damage" are among the most common skills that trial attorneys use at work. You can find even more trial attorney responsibilities below, including:
Analytical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a trial attorney to have is analytical skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "lawyers interpret the law as it applies to their client’s case." Trial attorneys often use analytical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "developed litigation theory and strategy, and provided written and oral analysis and advice on litigation risks. "
Interpersonal skills. Another essential skill to perform trial attorney duties is interpersonal skills. Trial attorneys responsibilities require that "lawyers must build relationships with current and prospective clients, as well as with their colleagues and other members of the legal community." Trial attorneys also use interpersonal skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "leveraged interpersonal skills to explain to juries complex legal issues and obtain convictions. "
Problem-solving skills. trial attorneys are also known for problem-solving skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to trial attorney responsibilities, because "lawyers must evaluate information to propose viable solutions, mediate disputes, and reach agreements or settlements for their clients." A trial attorney resume example shows how problem-solving skills is used in the workplace: "solo practitioner providing litigation services for growing book of individuals, carriers and self-insured clientele from claim origination through resolution. "
Research skills. For certain trial attorney responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "research skills." The day-to-day duties of a trial attorney rely on this skill, as "lawyers need to find laws and regulations that apply to a specific matter in order to provide appropriate legal advice for their clients." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what trial attorneys do: "supervised and mentored junior staff attorneys, on litigation strategy, cross examination, trial prep and legal research. "
The three companies that hire the most trial attorneys are:
- Allstate34 trial attorneys jobs
- Zurich18 trial attorneys jobs
- AIG8 trial attorneys jobs
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Compare different trial attorneys
Trial attorney vs. Assistant counsel
Assistant counsels are legal professionals who research and analyze various laws so they can apply them to the different legal issues that arose in a corporation. These counsels must develop an agency-wide client privacy policy and manage responses to all matters involving subpoenas and warrants. They advise other departments for legal claims related to the right of privacy and publicity as well as defamation. Assistant counsels are also required to act as labor attorneys for employees facing internal discrimination suits while dealing with FMLA, ERISA, and HIPAA issues.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, trial attorney responsibilities require skills like "property damage," "civil litigation," "appeals," and "pip." Meanwhile a typical assistant counsel has skills in areas such as "strong work ethic," "excellent organizational," "intellectual property," and "mental health." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Assistant counsels tend to make the most money working in the government industry, where they earn an average salary of $70,495. In contrast, trial attorneys make the biggest average salary, $100,067, in the professional industry.The education levels that assistant counsels earn slightly differ from trial attorneys. In particular, assistant counsels are 4.7% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a trial attorney. Additionally, they're 38.9% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Trial attorney vs. Litigation associate
A Litigation Associate offers legal advice for individuals involved in lawsuits and represents them in court. They prepare pleading, collect evidence, defend depositions, and manage the client database.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that trial attorney responsibilities requires skills like "property damage," "legal advice," "pip," and "bodily injury." But a litigation associate might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "discovery motions," "intellectual property," "mediation," and "insurance defense."
Litigation associates may earn a higher salary than trial attorneys, but litigation associates earn the most pay in the professional industry with an average salary of $151,203. On the other hand, trial attorneys receive higher pay in the professional industry, where they earn an average salary of $100,067.litigation associates earn similar levels of education than trial attorneys in general. They're 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 38.9% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Trial attorney vs. Housing counselor
A Housing Counselor works directly with clients and organizations to support moderate and low-income clients in overcoming barriers to housing and financial stability. They represent the homeowner in interventions and/or mediation proceedings with the mortgage servicer, lender, and/or other stakeholders.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a trial attorney is likely to be skilled in "property damage," "appeals," "pip," and "bodily injury," while a typical housing counselor is skilled in "social work," "regulatory compliance," "crisis intervention," and "rental assistance."
Housing counselors make a very good living in the manufacturing industry with an average annual salary of $91,338. On the other hand, trial attorneys are paid the highest salary in the professional industry, with average annual pay of $100,067.Most housing counselors achieve a higher degree level compared to trial attorneys. For example, they're 5.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 29.7% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Trial attorney vs. Council member
Types of trial attorney
Updated January 8, 2025
