Using the Term “Associate” for Lawyers

I've never liked the term "associate" for lawyers.

Earlier in my legal career, I was an associate attorney, and I was made to feel "less than" by a partner at another firm for being "just an associate."

He would copy my managing partner on emails and not acknowledge me.

He would use the term associate in a derogatory, demeaning way.

My partner, who was awesome, would just let me respond, and wouldn't play along with that nonsense.

Because even though I was "just an associate," I:

✅Won motions
✅Supported clients
✅Found winning cases for my briefs
✅Tried cases on my own
✅Responded to countless client emails and calls and left them feeling better after the communication
✅Won arbitration hearings
✅Settled cases favorably for my business and individual clients
✅Put my heart and soul into every employment and business client that hired me.

When I asked my colleagues who work for me now whether they preferred the term "associate" or attorney, they unanimously preferred attorney.

So we use that title at my firm.

How do we dismantle the traditional hierarchical way of practicing law that is not working for most of us?

With words.

Bit by bit.

What do you think about the term associate?

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