Though you’ll learn significant amount of law jargon throughout your stay in law school, there are some terms associated with law firms that could still sound foreign to you. To avoid giving off the impression that you’re an “outsider” to the realm of law, here are a few terms used in law firms along with their definitions:
Pro Bono
This term literally translates to “for the good of the public,” but is used in law firms and offices to refer to the provision of free legal service to clients. To do something pro bono means to do it for free. Contrary to what many people think, pro bono service and hours do not just come from the goodness of lawyers. The American Bar Association actually requires all lawyers to render 50 pro bono hours each. Although the ABA has a set requirement for ABA hours, the state bars have the authority of lowering this number according to their discretion.
Summer Associate
Summer associates are law students employed by law firms as interns. The duration of service for summer associates is three months. If they perform well as interns, the firm may invite these students to stay as associates or guarantee their employment with the firm after they graduate.
Partner
Law firms are rarely owned by just one individual. Ownership is usually shared with one or two other persons called partner or partners. Equity partners own part of the law firm and is entitled to a cut from the total profits raked in.
Associate
This is the title lawyers get once they’re hired by a law firm. Entry-level positions for lawyers come with the title as associate, and can be further categorized into junior associate and senior associate.
Billable hours
Billable hours are what sustains lawyers’ subsistence. Because lawyers get paid by the hour, the more hours of service rendered means more income for the lawyer. Billable hours refer to the time periods wherein legal service is rendered to the client in exchange for a certain fee. Associates are sometimes ranked, albeit informally, according to their billable hours.
Paralegal
Paralegals are those equipped with the knowledge and expertise to work in the law industry even though they don’t have law degrees. Paralegals are usually hired to help lawyers conduct research, prepare documents, and provide legal advice to clients under the supervision of a licensed attorney. In the US, the National Association of Legal Assistants and the National Federation of Paralegal Associations can certify and register paralegals to increase their chances for employment.
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