what is an assocate in law

[mollymoo]

if someone is called an associate in a legal firm..what does that mean..are they a lawyer...or more an understudy so to speak and not fully qualified..thanks

[Clanad]

At least here in the U.S., an associate in a law firm is an employee attorney. The law firm is owned by partners, usually under a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC) or an outright corporation. An employee attorney (associate) may, after a certain time and proven productivity, be selected as a partner. Usually, after a fixed time, most larger law corporations require an associate to either be selected as a partner or leave the firm... usually due to lower than expected productivity of hours billed...

[mollymoo]

got you so they are a lawyer but just not a partner on the busniess..that makes sense..thankyou are the great explaination