HELPFUL BACKGROUND: A government has three main legal needs: (1) managing criminal litigation; (2) managing civil litigation and (3) providing advice to the government. In effect, every "district attorney" represents the State he resides in, enforcing the laws of that State. District Attorney are one of several names given to prosecutors throughout the various legal systems in the United States. Most often, attorneys general concern themselves only with policymaking, agenda setting, and commanding the biggest cases (like consumer fraud against the entire state, or tobacco litigation). District Attorney: En mi opinión, es aquel al que se le denomina "Agente del Ministerio Público". Well, "the" attorney general for the state is a political appointment and is the state's highest law enforcement official and attorney.

The Attorney General is much higher ranking, usually for the nation or state.

District Attorney’s Office: Case numbers start with a year, then letters “CR,” “M,” or “JD,” then a number, as in 16CR01234, 17M1234, or 15JD7891. The term "State's Attorney" is therefore probably more accurate, but even in those states which use it, each county (district) has it's own "States Attorney," which prosecutes crimes, etc., that are allegedly committed in that county. As you might imagine, this creates a need for many attorneys. A district attorney works on a local district, usually a county or actual town. State Attorney: Fiscal del Estado, involucrado con cuestiones exclusivamente de índole criminal, a diferencia del Procurador General, cuyo campo de acción es más amplio. City Attorney’s Office: Case numbers start with a year, then letters “GV,” “GS,” or “D,” then a number, as in 17GS1234 or D5678, or case paperwork says “General Sessions Summons and Complaint.” Attorney Generals are appointed, and most district attornies are appointed as well, though in some larger cities, they are voted for. Well both are lawyers, naturally. Big difference.