Associate attorney
Encyclopedia
An associate attorney is a lower-level employee of a traditional law firm
who does not hold an ownership interest as a partner
.
graduates in their first year working in a firm.
Junior attorneys were initially called "law clerks"; the term "associate attorney" was coined by Emory Buckner
, hiring partner of Root, Clark & Bird (which subsequently became Dewey Ballantine
) in the 1920s.
students who have usually completed their second year of school and are interning at the firm for the summer. Summer associates have not passed the bar exam
and are not lawyers.
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
who does not hold an ownership interest as a partner
Business partner
Business partner is a term used to denote a commercial entity with which another commercial entity has some form of alliance. This relationship may be a highly contractual, exclusive bond in which both entities commit not to ally with third parties...
.
Attorneys
An associate may be a junior or senior associate, but normally does not yet hold an ownership interest in the firm even if they have been associated with the firm for many years. First-year associates are entry-level junior attorneys and are generally recent law schoolLaw school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
graduates in their first year working in a firm.
Junior attorneys were initially called "law clerks"; the term "associate attorney" was coined by Emory Buckner
Emory Buckner
Emory Buckner was a prominent U.S. lawyer who served as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, where he gained a reputation as one of the greatest prosecutors in American history...
, hiring partner of Root, Clark & Bird (which subsequently became Dewey Ballantine
Dewey Ballantine
Dewey Ballantine LLP was a white shoe corporate law firm headquartered in New York City. In 2007, Dewey Ballantine merged with LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae to form Dewey & LeBoeuf...
) in the 1920s.
Summer associates
Summer associates are current law schoolLaw school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
students who have usually completed their second year of school and are interning at the firm for the summer. Summer associates have not passed the bar exam
Admission to the bar
An admission to practice law, also called admission to the bar, is acquired when a lawyer receives a license to practice law. Becoming a lawyer is a widely varied process around the world. Common to all jurisdictions are requirements of age and competence; some jurisdictions also require citizenship...
and are not lawyers.