An associate attorney performs the same duties as other attorneys, such as conducting legal research and writing legal briefs, as well as advising clients and presenting cases in court. This type of lawyer, on the other hand, is not a partner in a law firm. This essentially means that he is an employee of the law firm but does not own any of the firm’s assets. An associate is typically regarded as a lower-level attorney who does not earn as much as the firm’s partners for his legal services. He also might not get the most high-profile or desirable cases.
Attorneys who are considered associates often have less experience than those who are considered partners. Some associate attorneys have recently graduated from law school and are just starting their legal careers; associates typically have less than five to eight years of legal experience. While an associate attorney does not earn as much as a partner, his time as an associate allows him to gain experience and learn from more senior lawyers. During his time as an associate, he may make important contacts and gain experience attracting clients for the law firm.
In most cases, an associate attorney performs the same functions as other lawyers. This type of lawyer may be responsible for legal research and the preparation of legal documents, as well as filing duties and providing advice to clients in person and over the phone. An associate attorney usually meets with coworkers, both those from the same law firm and those from other firms. He represents the firm in negotiations, jury selection, and courtroom presentations. He may also devote a significant amount of time to analyzing laws and devising strategies for upcoming cases.
Typically, an associate attorney does not have a lot of responsibilities at first. Instead, he usually begins assisting with cases and learning under the tutelage of a more senior lawyer. With time and experience, he may be able to gradually assume more responsibility, obtain his own clients, and work as a lead attorney on trial cases. He could also work his way up to earning more money and eventually becoming a partner in the law firm. However, no matter how many years of experience a person has with a firm, he is not always guaranteed to become a partner.