associate, n. 1. A colleague or companion. 2. A junior member of an organization or profession; esp., a lawyer in a law firm, usu. with fewer than a certain number of years in practice, who may, upon achieving the requisite se-niority, receive an offer to become a partner or shareholder. — Also termed associate attorney. […]
associate n. (1)合伙人；同事；伙伴 (2)(协会)会员 (3)〈美〉受雇律师 受律师事务所僱用的、非合伙人的律师。 (4)〈英〉法院事务官 旧时英格兰普通法法院中的一种官员，由每个法院的首席法官任命，其职责主要是保存法院记录、参加初审〔nisi prius sittings〕、制定案件目录、主持挑选陪审团的投票〔jury ballot〕、发布判决、整理诉讼程序说明〔postea〕(或证明审判结果)、负责将记录送交有关当事人等法庭事务与行政工作。1873年的《司法组织法》〔Judicature Act〕规定其为最高法院〔Supreme Court of Judicature〕的官员，1879年的《司法(官员)法》〔Judicature (Officers)Act〕任命其为「最高法院主事官」〔Masters of the Supreme Court〕。现在法院事务官的职责由最高法院中央办公室的刑事部和事务官部〔Crown Office and Associates Department of the Central Office〕的书记官来行使。