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Is there a difference between an associate and an associate attorney? I keep seeing people using the terms in a way that implies they're not interchangeable, but I haven't been able to find a place that explains the difference.

Would associate attorney be a nicer way of saying staff attorney? Or does it mean something else?

Theyre the same. Usually of counsel is used in place of terms like Staff Attorney.

These terms are the same. Using associate attorney simply adds another descriptor.

FullRamboLSGrad wrote:Theyre the same. Usually of counsel is used in place of terms like Staff Attorney.

What? That's the first time I hear this. In many places, of counsel is used for senior associates who weren't on partner track but had some sort of useful specialized knowledge, so they got placed in this in-between position. Completely different (both in job responsibilities and salary) from a staff attorney. I'm sure it exists somewhere, but I've never heard of of counsel being used to describe a staff attorney

FullRamboLSGrad wrote:Theyre the same. Usually of counsel is used in place of terms like Staff Attorney.

This is wrong.

FullRamboLSGrad wrote:Theyre the same. Usually of counsel is used in place of terms like Staff Attorney.

"Of Counsel" is not equivalent to "staff attorney."

lol wtf at most firms of counsel/special counsel is billed out at the same rate as many partners. Def not staff attorney, which is usually a euphemism for temp doc review or permanent but part-time. The only thing the two have in common is usually not partner track, although many of counsel are in a holding pattern for pathern

Counsel's are sometimes also "on hold" to make partner. And sometimes make partner after a few years of being counsel.