Associate Attorney Salary

Associate attorneys are lawyers who usually have a minimal amount of experience in the field. Many are just out of law school and developing their careers. Associate attorneys typically start out under the guidance of an experienced attorney, assisting with cases and writing reports. After gaining experience, associate attorneys can move up in the ranks of a law firm and start taking on their own clients, and acting as the lead attorney in cases. Associate attorneys essentially do the same job as a regular attorney, and also have other responsibilities such as researching legal information, writing legal briefs and preparing legal documents. Associate attorneys may also take part in jury selection, advising clients, negotiating with outside colleagues, and helping to argue a case in court. Associate attorneys work for their law firms as employees and are not considered partners, nor do they have any ownership in the firm. Their time in a position at a law firm is a valuable opportunity to build their contact list and create a network that they can use throughout their career.
Becoming an associate attorney requires one to graduate from college with a bachelor's degree, followed by law school. Majoring in law or political science is advised. Interning at a law firm during this time is also highly recommended, as it will provide the experience and contacts necessary to obtain a job once graduated from law school. Finally, the future associate attorney must take and pass the bar exam in order to be able to practice law.

Associate Attorney Tasks