What Is an Associate Attorney and How to Become One

By ZipRecruiter Marketplace Research Team

Associate attorneys are early career lawyers who work for law firms to gain experience and hone their skills after completing law school and passing the bar exam for their state. Under the guidance of an experienced attorney or a partner in the firm, associate attorneys assist with cases by conducting legal research and writing reports, legal briefs, and other documents. Associate attorneys also negotiate with colleagues from other law firms, participate in jury selection, and help argue cases in court.

To become an associate attorney, you need to graduate from college with at least a bachelor’s degree, take the LSAT exam, and then attend law school to obtain a Juris Doctor (JD) degree. After graduating from law school, you must pass the bar exam for your state to get your license to practice law there. Some states will allow you to practice law without a JD degree if you pass the bar exam. Internships and summer associate positions at law firms are highly recommended while you are in law school to improve your chances of getting a job.

The difference between an associate and a partner in a law firm is experience level and seniority. A law firm partner is an attorney with partial ownership of the law firm. In addition to their regular salary, equity partners also earn profit units. Non-equity partners help manage the law firm and have voting rights in the company, but they do not earn profit shares. Associate attorneys are regular employees. They make a salary and often receive benefits like health insurance.

The associate attorney career path starts with a junior associate attorney position for lawyers who are just starting out in the legal field. Junior associates are promoted to senior associate based on experience and merit. Lawyers typically spend between six to nine years working at the associate attorney level before making partner. Some attorneys go on to found their own law firms. Others become judges or get involved in politics.

The way that associate attorneys get paid varies from law firm to law firm. Some law firms pay associate attorneys a fixed salary that increases over time, while others pay a base salary plus bonuses. Other law firms forego salaries altogether and pay associate attorneys commission for their work. The commission is paid when the lawyer closes a case. This commission is a percentage of the fee clients pay, either a flat fee or based on billable hours.

Job Summary

Our firm is looking for an Associate Attorney to help with our high volume of litigation cases. As an Associate Attorney, you work underneath a senior attorney on each case you are assigned. Your tasks include drafting legal documents, assisting with the discovery process, and performing legal research for each case. While we sometimes negotiate settlements on behalf of clients without going to trial, we are looking for someone who can aggressively represent our clients' interests. Our ideal applicant has 3-7 years of litigating experience, preferably focused on employment law, patent law, or intellectual property law.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist with drafting legal documents, including motions and pleadings
• Assist with the discovery process by administering depositions, issuing interrogatories, and reviewing documents
• Negotiate settlements
• Perform legal research
• Make court appearances as necessary
• Conduct initial consultations with potential clients

Requirements and Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school
• License to practice law
• Litigating experience (3-7 years)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Analytical skills
• Attention to detail