Associate may refer to: A business valuation concept. A term used by some companies instead of employee. A term used to signify an independent (often self employed) person working as if directly employed by the company of which they're an associate. Such a person may be an associate of more than one company. Associate attorney, lowest level employee lawyer in a traditional United States law firm Associate Justice, a member of a judicial panel who isn't the Chief Justice. Judge's associate:… (More on Associate)