What is an attorney general and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted Expert
Hanna Royce

Primarily, the work of an attorney general is to represent the state on legal matters. As an attorney general, you are to oversee and direct the operation and administration of the boards, offices, bureaus, and divisions that comprise the department. You must provide opinions and advice, formal and informal, on legal matters to the president, the head of the executive department, the cabinet, and agencies of the government, as provided by the Law.

During appointments to federal judicial positions and positions within the department, you are expected to make recommendations to the president to ensure the continuity of good governance. You are also allowed to oversee or represent the representation of the state government in the supreme court and all other courts. The performance of other executive orders or statutes must be well supervised or represented by you as an attorney general.

As an attorney general, you must be able to give legal advice to the president when required, be knowledgeable in administrative Law, give counsel, and enforce the Law. An average of $99,000 is what an attorney general earns annually. To become an attorney general, you must acquire a bachelor's degree in Law and other related fields.

What general advice would you give to an Attorney General?

H

Hanna Royce

Assistant Dean of Career Services, University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law

Graduates should keep their network active. This includes them taking the time to re-engage with the members of their network on a regular basis and continuing to make new contacts. They should make it a priority to stay in touch with their classmates and professors. They might be looking for a new position in the future, and their legal network can help them locate opportunities through the hidden job market.

Many graduates are securing remote positions. To be successful in a remote environment, employees need to make the extra effort to communicate and stay connected with colleagues. Even when employees are telecommuting, they should dress as if they are going into the office. This can help them with productivity and illustrate their professionalism when meeting with colleagues or clients.
ScoreAttorney GeneralUS Average
Salary
7.6

Avg. Salary $101,302

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
10.0

Growth Rate 10%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
2.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.31%

Asian 6.45%

Black or African American 5.63%

Hispanic or Latino 7.86%

Unknown 4.39%

White 75.36%

Gender

female 48.38%

male 51.62%

Age - 45
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 45
Stress Level
10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
10.0

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
4.9

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

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Attorney General career paths

Key steps to become an attorney general

  1. Explore attorney general education requirements

    Most common attorney general degrees

    Bachelor's

    56.4 %

    Doctorate

    25.1 %

    Associate

    8.2 %
  2. Start to develop specific attorney general skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Legal Advice23.82%
    Litigation23.53%
    Appeals13.28%
    Legal Research5.97%
    Legal Issues3.61%
  3. Complete relevant attorney general training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New attorneys general learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an attorney general based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real attorney general resumes.
  4. Research attorney general duties and responsibilities

    • Perform extensive trial litigation, facilitate contract administrations, negotiations, and arrange mediation and counseling.
    • Draft subpoenas and participate in investigations.
    • Prepare subpoenas and arrange for process-servers and couriers.
    • Prepare and participate as first chair at various administrative and arbitration hearings.
  5. Prepare your attorney general resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your attorney general resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an attorney general resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

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  6. Apply for attorney general jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an attorney general job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Attorney General Job

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Average attorney general salary

The average Attorney General salary in the United States is $101,302 per year or $49 per hour. Attorney general salaries range between $65,000 and $157,000 per year.

Average Attorney General Salary
$101,302 Yearly
$48.70 hourly

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Attorney General reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2019
Pros

As a civil litigation defense attorney I love the fact that every day is different. I enjoy assisting clients who have a problem to solve that problem in the most cost effective way, and how to avoid such problems in the future. I like that I basically set my own work schedule (other than court dates).

Cons

Billing hours. Unscrupulous opposing counsel. Occasional biased judges who do not follow the law.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.