John Grisham's The Associate is a story of a young law graduate's final semester at Yale law school and first year of work as a lawyer. Such a story would ordinarily be unexceptional, as would any recent graduate's first year in the workforce. Grisham's tale is hardly unexceptional because of his skill at writing an engaging story involving interesting characters (Ivy League law school graduates), their employers (massive Wall Street law firms), their huge salaries, their crimes and indiscretions (bribery, rape, conspiracy, billing fraud, breach of attorney-client privilege, to name a few), and scorn that many young lawyers have for their chosen profession.
The Associate is a story about the use of bribery to compel a bright Yale law school graduate (Kyle McAvoy) to forsake his yearning to work in public interest law and instead accept an offer to practice litigation in the nation’s largest law firm in New York City. He his compelled by a group of well organized thugs, in particular, their threat to ruin his life by exposing his appearance on a video recording at a party he hosted where his friends allegedly raped a woman. Police investigated the case but never filed charges; however, that was before it was known that there was a video recording. The thugs have a copy of the video and threaten to release it to McAvoy’s friends, the victim’s attorney, the police, and potential employers if McAvoy doesn't do what they require. The thugs not only want McAvoy to accept an offer to work at a Wall Street law firm, but also spy for them and provide them with privileged client information, material, and evidence that his firm's clients are using in their defense in an upcoming trial. In his first few months at his new firm, McAvoy settles into a job he despises. He masters the billing practices, manipulates his fellow employees and wins the confidence of the managers to such an extent that the firm’s partners appoint him to the team involved in the multi-million dollar trial mentioned by his thug handlers. Once in a position to steal information, McAvoy executes his long gestating plan to get out of his handler's grasp. His plan involves co-operating with Federal law enforcement to expose/catch the thugs who compelled him to commit crimes. Kyle McAvoy also set in place a series of negotiations that, primarily through the use of intermediaries, settle the matter of the alleged rape.
Grisham’s reputation as an exceptional storyteller is well established, particularly of stories involving young lawyers in trouble that are disillusioned by the big money practice of law, who have to use their wits to save their skin. The Associate is such a story, but even though it’s a fast-paced and engaging story, it’s more than that. Sure, it’s a ripping yarn, but on another level it a cautionary tale of how difficult it is to prosecute sexual assault crimes. It also is a story of how large big city law firms pay fabulous salaries, but require their staff to virtually enslave themselves to their chosen careers. Grisham implies, none to subtlety, that small “main street” walk-up law practices are the true, noble, legitimate and most rewarding ways to practice law. The large wall street firms may pay large salaries, however, many lawyers who chose this option become disillusioned with their chosen profession - its almost as though he's warning young lawyers to not go for the dollars because it will bring misery, Rather, he implies, do what your heart tells you to do and listen to that inner voice; you’ll be happier and live a more fulfilling and useful life.
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