Duties and Responsibilities 

Provide Legal Support

Associate Attorneys have to complete extensive case-related research into relevant laws and regulations, negotiate on behalf of clients, draft and interpret contracts and legal documents, and oversee compliance to these documents. They must plan and present arguments and counter-arguments in a court of law.

Maintain Client Relationships

Throughout any legal process, creating and maintaining a good rapport with a firm’s clients is a key task for Associate Attorneys. This includes communicating often and explaining complex legal proceedings and concepts.

Prepare Reports

Often, Associate Attorneys are responsible for keeping all stakeholders – from their senior colleagues to clients – abreast of the progress of a case by creating reports and communicating verbally.

Skills

Successful Associate Attorneys are excellent communicators with strong interpersonal skills. They have strong analytical abilities and extensive knowledge in their field. They are dedicated, honest, and possess integrity. Capable of working both in teams and independently, they’re versatile and they take the initiative in their work.

Core skills: Based on job listings we looked at, employers want Associate Attorneys with these core skills. If you want to work as an Associate Attorney, focus on the following.

• Appropriate certifications
• Hold a license from the state in which they wish to work
• Possess extensive legal knowledge
• Ability to manage several projects simultaneously
• Understanding confidentiality requirements
• Ability to work independently and collaborate with others

Advanced skills: While most employers did not require the following skills, multiple job listings included them as preferred. Add these to your Associate Attorney toolbox and broaden your career options.

• Experience in particular field of law
• Specialized knowledge