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What Is A State Attorney General?

  • Nabeel Ahmad
  • November 19, 2020

At the state level, most attorney generals are chosen by popular vote. The US state attorney general gives guidance to the lead representative and the state legislature. They aren’t straightforwardly liable for criminal indictments, in spite of the fact that they may offer help with exceptionally prominent cases. The attorney general of the state typically reports to the voters of the state.

At the Federal (US Government) level, the attorney general is delegated by the President of the United States and reports to the POTUS. The US attorney general is liable for practically all criminal cases and all respectful prosecution legitimately against the USA. Litigation by or against offices of the US Government is normally not the obligation of the US Attorney General.

Table of Contents

  • Attorney General Responsibilities
  • Attorney General Salary US
  • How to become the Attorney General?
    • Attorney General Qualifications
  • Conclusion

Attorney General Responsibilities

The mission of the Office of the Attorney General is to administer and coordinate the organization and activity of the Department of Justice, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Bureau of Prisons, Office of Justice Programs, and the U.S. Lawyers and U.S. Marshals Service, which are all inside the Department of Justice.

The basic duties of the Attorney General are to:

  • Represent the United States in legitimate issues.
  • Administer and direct the organization and activity of the workplaces, sheets, divisions, and authorities that contain the Department.
  • Furnish advice and opinions, formal and casual, on legitimate issues to the President and the Cabinet and to the tops of the chief divisions and offices of the legislature, as given by law.
  • Make proposals to the President concerning arrangements to government legal positions and to positions inside the Department, including U.S. Lawyers and U.S. Marshals.
  • Speak to or oversee the portrayal of the United States Government in the Supreme Court of the United States and every other court, unfamiliar and homegrown, in which the United States is a gathering or has an enthusiasm that might be considered fitting.
  • Perform or oversee the exhibition of different obligations needed by statute or Executive Order.

Attorney General Salary US

The salary rate for an attorney general is the highest in New York and the lowest in North Carolina. Here is another state-by-state breakdown of the salary for an attorney general in the United States.

StateHourly WageAnnual Salary
New York –   Attorney General Salary$33.10$68,845
Massachusetts –   Attorney General Salary$32.79$68,194
Washington –   Attorney General Salary$32.56$67,718
New Hampshire –   Attorney General Salary$31.91$66,369
Hawaii –   Attorney General Salary$31.49$65,496
Maryland –   Attorney General Salary$30.38$63,200
Connecticut –   Attorney General Salary$30.38$63,180
Rhode Island –   Attorney General Salary$30.13$62,666
Alaska –   Attorney General Salary$30.09$62,585
Vermont –   Attorney General Salary$29.96$62,325
Nebraska –   Attorney General Salary$29.93$62,246
Nevada –   Attorney General Salary$29.85$62,094
North Dakota –   Attorney General Salary$29.74$61,859
Wyoming –   Attorney General Salary$29.71$61,805
California –   Attorney General Salary$29.67$61,705
Virginia –   Attorney General Salary$29.53$61,431
Kentucky –   Attorney General Salary$28.94$60,194
South Dakota –   Attorney General Salary$28.87$60,052
New Jersey –   Attorney General Salary$28.81$59,923
West Virginia –   Attorney General Salary$28.77$59,849
Pennsylvania –   Attorney General Salary$28.63$59,560
South Carolina –   Attorney General Salary$28.49$59,252
Minnesota –   Attorney General Salary$28.46$59,197
Oregon –   Attorney General Salary$28.39$59,054
Delaware –   Attorney General Salary$28.39$59,046
Tennessee –   Attorney General Salary$28.37$59,004
Colorado –   Attorney General Salary$28.35$58,967
Montana –   Attorney General Salary$28.33$58,924
Ohio –   Attorney General Salary$28.16$58,579
Wisconsin –   Attorney General Salary$28.10$58,439
Arizona –   Attorney General Salary$28.04$58,318
Kansas –   Attorney General Salary$27.92$58,066
Utah –   Attorney General Salary$27.90$58,041
Indiana –   Attorney General Salary$27.86$57,944
Oklahoma –   Attorney General Salary$27.81$57,852
Idaho –   Attorney General Salary$27.74$57,689
Maine –   Attorney General Salary$27.71$57,645
Louisiana –   Attorney General Salary$27.60$57,411
Iowa –   Attorney General Salary$27.32$56,820
Georgia –   Attorney General Salary$27.05$56,259
Texas –   Attorney General Salary$26.74$55,613
New Mexico –   Attorney General Salary$26.68$55,492
Michigan –   Attorney General Salary$26.61$55,352
Arkansas –   Attorney General Salary$26.59$55,311
Illinois –   Attorney General Salary$26.45$55,010
Alabama –   Attorney General Salary$26.41$54,943
Mississippi –   Attorney General Salary$26.15$54,386
Missouri –   Attorney General Salary$26.09$54,259
Florida –   Attorney General Salary$25.49$53,025
North Carolina –   Attorney General Salary$24.27$50,491

Note: Sample rates have been extracted online, courtesy of ZipRecruiter.

How to become the Attorney General?

Under the Appointments Clause of the United States Constitution, the officeholder is nominated through the power of appointment by the president of the United States, then appointed with the advice and consent of the United States Senate.

Attorney General Qualifications

Every state has a different set of qualifications for an attorney general. Here is the basic checklist.

State

(citation)

Minimum AgeU.S. Citizenship (years, if applicable)State Resident

(years, if applicable)

Qualified voter

(years, if applicable)

Bar Admission Requirement
Alabama25Yes (7)Yes (5)YesN/A
Arizona

 

25Yes (10)Yes (5)YesMust be a practicing attorney before the state Supreme Court for at least five years immediately preceding the date of taking office
California

 

18YesYesYesMust be admitted to practice before the state Supreme Court for at least five years immediately preceding election or appointment to the office
Colorado

 

25YesYes (2)YesMust be a licensed attorney of the state Supreme Court in good standing
Georgia

 

25Yes (10)Yes (4)YesMust be an active-status member of the Georgia State Bar for seven years
Illinois

 

25YesYes (3)YesMust be a member of the state bar
Kentucky

 

30YesYes (2)N/AMust be a practicing lawyer for at least eight years before election
Maine

 

N/AN/AN/AN/AMust be a member in good standing of the state bar (i.e., admitted to the practice of law in Maine, registered with the Board of Overseers of the Bar as an active practitioner, and not disbarred or suspended from practice)
Maryland

 

18YesYesYesMust have resided and practiced law in the state for at least 10 years
Massachusetts

 

18N/AYes (5)YesMust be a member of the state bar
Montana

 

25YesYes (2)N/AMust be an attorney in good standing to practice law in the state and engaged in active practice for at least five years before election
New Hampshire

 

N/AYesYesN/AMust have been admitted to the practice of law in the state and shall be qualified by reason of education and experience
New Jersey

 

18N/AYesN/AN/A
New York

 

30YesYes (5)N/AN/A
Oklahoma

 

31YesYesYes (10)N/A
Rhode Island

 

18N/AN/AYesN/A
Utah

 

25YesYes (5)YesAt the time of election, must be admitted to practice before the state Supreme Court and in good standing at the bar
Vermont

 

18YesYesImpliedN/A
Virginia

 

30YesYes (1)YesMust have been admitted to the state bar at least five years prior to election (same as judge of court)
Wisconsin

 

N/AYesYesN/AN/A

Note: Sample figures have been extracted online, courtesy of OLR Research Project.

Conclusion

The attorney general represents the country in legitimate issues and concerns and is extremely important to the government and the judicial branch. He is appointed by the President himself and serves a term under them. There are certain educational and professional requirements that are a must to become an attorney general of the United States.

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Nabeel Ahmad

Nabeel Ahmad is the founder and editor-in-chief of Legal Inquirer. Apart from Legal Inquirer, he is a serial entrepreneur, and has founded multiple successful companies in different industries.

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