Associates need to know what’s expected of them. If you’re an associate, you want to know whether you’re doing a good job. If you’ve hired an associate, you’d like to have reasonable expectations.

What is reasonable from an associate?

In our world, most associates are seeking experience. They’re hoping to become a partner in the firm or planning to go out on their own at some point in the future. They’re working in their present position to learn, provide value, and grow as lawyers.

At a minimum, an associate should:

• Expect to put in 10 to 12 hours per day for the first year, with fewer hours in subsequent years. That time should be carefully tracked and, depending on the firm’s system, properly accounted for in the firm’s billing system.
• Expect to work weekends sometimes.
• Ask lots of questions.
• Research the answers before asking the questions and come prepared to discuss the possibilities.
• Ask for more experience: ask for courtroom opportunities, ask for client contact, and ask to go further with the research, writing, and drafting.
• Read everything you can put your hands on. Find books on litigation, discovery, tax, business valuations, forensic accounting, custody evaluations, etc.
• Read the pertinent statutes and family law treatises for your jurisdiction.
• Meet other lawyers in the community by getting involved in bar association activities. Build your network.
• Meet the local judges at bar functions, etc.
• Get along with the staff in your office. Be humble, not arrogant.
• Attend every educational event available and pay attention.
• Begin reading all significant family law cases in your jurisdiction and develop a system for outlining and tracking that case law.
• Read the state legal newspaper, blogs, and family law publications discussing current case law.
• Be afraid, but be willing to step up and volunteer to do things you many not feel ready to do. Do them anyway.
• Don’t complain; it’s supposed to be hard. Cope with the challenges and stay positive.

There are probably other things reasonably expected of an associate. That’s my start for the list. Did I miss anything?