What is an associate lawyer

An associate attorney is a lawyer and an employee of a law firm who does not hold an ownership interest as a partner would. Fresh from law school and bar admission, these attorneys handle essential tasks like legal research, document drafting, and client consultation while working under senior lawyers and partners.

In Dutch law firms, particularly in Amsterdam and Eindhoven, associate lawyers (advocaat-medewerkers) must complete their Dutch law degree, professional training (beroepsopleiding), and register with the Nederlandse Orde van Advocaten. They typically spend 7-9 years developing expertise before being considered for partnership, though some choose alternative career paths like in-house counsel positions.