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Associates FAQ’s
How are Associates measured in terms of performance?
The expectation on those at the Associate level does differ across firms, depending on number of fee earners, structure and size of the firm. As the Associate level is commonly seen as the next step towards achieving Senior Associate/Partnership, chargeable hours, billing and business development initiatives are all likely to be measured.
Will I be expected to bring in work?
At the Associate level there will generally not be an immediate expectation to bring in work, however business development will be viewed in most commercial firms as a key part of an Associate’s role and any contacts made/work introduced will inevitably be considered on any further review/promotion. It is an important indicator of ability to progress to the Senior Associate/Partner level.
Will I be given support in terms of business development and marketing initiatives?
Each firm will differ slightly in terms of the financial and other support given to an Associate’s marketing. However, if the firm is committed to your development and long term prospects, they will provide as much support as possible to assist you in marketing initiatives and your long term business plan.
What processes exist to support Associates in their career development and achieving Senior Associate/Partnership?
Most commercial firms will have a structure in place for progressing up the ladder and achieving a long term goal of Partnership. It is worth asking the firm how they review progress and the steps to overcome to achieve promotion, but most firms will use billing and contacts/work introduced as key performance indicators.
What wider non-fee earning responsibility will I have within my team/the firm?
As an Associate you will be expected to be an ambassador of the firm, which means contributing to CSR initiatives and the wider profile of the firm in the market. Showing an enthusiasm for CSR and taking on a client facing/business development role will assist in your career progression.
Is there an alternative to Partnership if I don’t want to go down this path?
Typically the commercial firms today recognise that there should be a path for progression for exceptional lawyers who do not want to embark on becoming a Partner. Many offer a Legal Director option which comes with a lesser business development role and without the commitment that comes with Partnership.
Will I be responsible for supervising more junior members of the team?
As an Associate it is more than likely that you will have some supervisory responsibility, particularly for Trainees. The extent of your role will inevitably depend on the amount of experience you have had
previously, but if you are encouraged to supervise some guidance should be provided as part of your
wider Associate training.
What salary can I achieve and how will further salary increases be determined?
Unlike for more junior fee earning roles where salaries are determined by set bands, Associate level salaries are more negotiable. When joining a new firm, your ability to negotiate will depend on your level of experience and if you can bring anything additional to the team in terms of skill set or contacts. Going forward, billing, work introduced and wider contribution to the firm will all come into consideration on salary review.
What can I expect to be working on immediately and how does the pipeline look for the next 6-12 months?
The downturn in the economy has meant that it has become increasingly hard to predict with any certainty what work will be available in the long term. However, it is important for a prospective Associate to ask
the question to ensure the team is thinking ahead and treating your hire as part of the long term growth
of the team.
What are the firm/team’s business objectives and priorities in the coming year?
It is important for an Associate to gain an insight into the wider plans for the team/firm, as this may give a different slant and positively/negatively affect your decision to join. For instance, the plan to introduce additional Partners into the team may affect your career progression, or alternatively an objective to bolt
on teams in different disciplines may bring exposure to a new client base and positively raise the profile
of the firm.
1ST MAY 2012
What is your role at DAC Beachcroft? I am an associate in the employment and…
2ND APRIL 2012
What is your role at Sintons? I am a partner in the company commercial…
