Above The Law Directory

/
Above The Law Directory

What It Is: An annually updated grades-based ranking of a variety of considerations from insider ratings and industry ratings to firm morale and culture.

Why It Matters To You: The ranking is easily sortable by categories so you can weigh the various considerations for yourself. Look at rankings based on the aspects that matter most to you from location, compensation, hours, culture, and more.

Considerations: The methodology is thorough with a minimum threshold of survey responses based on firm size required to be included, but it is important to note that not all firms featured are ranked in all categories. The average response overall is tabulated as a “B.”

Created By: Above The Law

Read More

Above The Law Power 100 Firms

/
Above The Law Power 100 Firms

What It Is: This ranking keeps track of the top market players today. These are the firms that set the pace on lawyer pay and compete for the wealthiest clients. These are the market leaders.

Why It Matters to You: An updated methodology for looking at market leaders beyond revenue. Firms are rewarded for maintaining low leverage, or for offering a better chance for incoming associates to eventually ascend to partnership.

Considerations: This ranking most heavily looks at reputation and compensation ratings in determining overall scores. Reputation is measured by both the reputed strength and quality of a firm’s practice and the perceived desirability of the firm as a potential employer.


Created By: Above The Law

Read More

Above The Law Power 100 Offices

/
Above The Law Power 100 Offices

What It Is: Most rankings compare law firms nationally or solely within specific regions. This ranking looks at specific offices and ranks them against each other and against other firms to capture the strength and relevance of major law firms in today’s market.

Why It Matters To You: Law firm rankings are important, but not all offices are created equal, even within the same firm. Some offices are standouts in their field, while others may not even be on the map. This additional information provides insights into which firm offices are more desirable and which firms have the strongest presence in specific regions

Considerations: The Office 100 blends objective data points with subjective feedback, most heavily weighing a market-specific reputation survey. The result is a more complete picture of each individual office, encompassing employee satisfaction, compensation, reputation, desirability as an employer, and data-driven measures of firm growth.

Created By: Above The Law

Read More

Above The Law Top Regional Offices

/
Above The Law Top Regional Offices

What It Is: This is a ranking that provides a targeted look at the top firms in 9 major markets: Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Silicon Valley and Washington, DC.

Why It Matters To You: Most legal careers are dependent on personal and professional connections in a particular community, each with its own courthouse culture and folkways. This might be less true for those practicing in a more “globalized” large law firm context, yet a firm’s practice and culture in one market do not necessarily translate everywhere.

Considerations: Included in this ranking are market-specific questions, inquiring about both the reputation of firms in each survey participant's city as well as each firm's desirability as a potential employer. City-specific firm choices are limited to offices with at least 50 lawyers.


Created By: Above The Law

Read More

Appellate Hot List

/
Appellate Hot List

What It Is: Annual list of firms with at least one significant appellate win and that had an impressive track record overall.

Why It Matters To You: Shows you which law firms are on fire that year.

Considerations: The methodology isn’t objective and only about 20 firms receive the honor each year. Thus, repeated appearances on surveys are more important than single appearances.

Created By: The American Lawyer

Read More

Chambers Rankings Guides

/
Chambers Rankings Guides

What It Is: Industry-leading ranking of law firms and lawyers around the world.

Why It Matters To You: Highly searchable directory allows you to find the highest ranking law firms and individuals lawyers, by practice area and jurisdiction, anywhere in world.

Considerations: Extensive, well-documented, and well-respected methodology earns Chambers a global reputation for accuracy and reliability. A must-see if you’re considering law practice outside the U.S. Importantly, the rankings consider small law firms, boutique law firms, individual lawyers, as well as BigLaw. 

Created By: Chambers & Partners

Read More

Corporate Scorecard

/
Corporate Scorecard

What It Is: Tracks the transactional practices of leading firms.

Why It Matters To You: For those interested in pursuing corporate or transactional law, this survey can give you a sense of the leading law firms in particular areas of corporate law.

Considerations: This survey only tracks public data. Searchable via practice areas which include IPOs/equities, M&A, private equity, project finance, corporate debt, securities, municipal bonds, EITS, and bankruptcy.

Created By: The American Lawyer

Read More

Diversity Scorecard

/
Diversity Scorecard

What It Is: Annual law firm survey to measure the number of minority lawyers at the nation’s law firms.

Why It Matters To You: This survey lets you know what progress law firms are making in terms of hiring.

Considerations: Retention and satisfaction of these minority attorneys might not be reflected in the sheer numbers.

Created By: The American Lawyer

Read More

Glassdoor Company Trends in Legal

/
Glassdoor Company Trends in Legal

What It Is: A monthly ranking of trending companies in the legal industry, based on job-seeker activity.

Why It Matters To You: For job seekers, this ranking offers indicators into which jobs and companies may be highly in demand or especially popular among other job seekers.

Considerations: The most recent rankings available are a few years old and it is unclear whether there will be updates.

Read More

Human Rights Campaign Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality

/
Human Rights Campaign Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality

What It Is: This is a list of all the companies and law firms that earned 100% on HRC's Corporate Equality Index (CEI) sorted by industry.

Why It Matters To You: The CEI rates companies and top law firms on detailed criteria falling under five broad categories non-discrimination policies, employment benefits, demonstrated organizational competency and accountability around LGBTQ diversity and inclusion, public commitment to LGBTQ equality, responsible citizenship. Both publicly available and self-reported data is evaluated.

Considerations: Participation in the index is voluntary. Companies and law firms evaluated are gathered through Fortune magazine's 1000 largest publicly traded businesses and American Lawyer magazine's top 200 revenue-grossing law firms. In addition, any private-sector for-profit employer with 500 or more full-time employees can request to participate. It is important to note that law firms have only been included in the ranking since 2006.

Created By: Human Rights Campaign

Read More

ILRG America's Largest 350 Law Firms

/
ILRG America's Largest 350 Law Firms

What It Is: Rankings of largest law firms.

Why It Matters To You: Law firms are listed by size only, but are easily sortable by base office city, changes in the past year, and number of attorneys/partners/associates.

Considerations: ILRG deletes old data when a new ranking comes out, so it's difficult to trace trends over time.

Created By: Internet Legal Research Group

Read More

Law360 Glass Ceiling Report

/
Law360 Glass Ceiling Report

What It Is: These rankings highlight the ways women's representation has advanced (or not) among the nation's top law firms.

Why It Matters To You: Rankings are available for best firms for female attorneys and female equity partners as well as analysis of trends within the world of law firms.

Considerations:  There is not an overall ranking for women's representation, but rather specific rankings for certain markers such as headcount. Rankings also don't measure other measures of diversity, which may provide a fuller picture. Firms are grouped within the rankings by headcount.

Created By: Law360

Read More

Law360 Global 20

/
Law360 Global 20

What It Is: An annual ranking of the firms with the biggest international presence.

Why It Matters To You: This list profiles the 20 law firms with the greatest global reach and expertise.  Winning firms are selected based on how much they've expanded outside their home countries and the breadth, volume, and sophistication of their cross-border work.

Considerations:  Each firm must have office locations in numerous countries, and a significant portion of their attorneys and offices must be outside their home country. Firms are ranked based on five factors: the percentage of the firm's attorneys located outside its home country; the number of offices outside the firm's home country; the number of countries where the firm has at least one office; the practice area breadth of the firm's cross-border and international work; and the size and complexity of the firm's cross-border and international work.


Created By: Law360

Read More

Law360 Law Firm Diversity Snapshot

/
Law360 Law Firm Diversity Snapshot

What It Is: These rankings highlight the ways diversity has advanced (or not) among the nation's top law firms.

Why It Matters To You: Rankings are available for best firms for minority attorneys and minority equity partners as well as analysis of trends within the world of law firms.

Considerations:  There is not an overall ranking for diversity, but rather specific rankings for certain markers such as headcount. Rankings also don't measure other measures of diversity, which may provide a fuller picture. Firms are grouped within the rankings by headcount.

Created By: Law360

Read More

Law360 Pro Bono Firms of the Year

/
Law360 Pro Bono Firms of the Year

What It Is: This list profiles the firms that had the biggest wins for clients in pro bono matters over the course of the year.

Why It Matters To You: This annual pro bono series highlights some of the most impactful work and impressive victories that attorneys at major law firms took on without compensation. Winners also demonstrated a strong firm-wide commitment to pro bono work.

Considerations:  Firm commitment was measured by average hours per attorney dedicated to pro bono work.

Created By: Law360

Read More

Mid-Level Associates Survey

/
Mid-Level Associates Survey

What It Is: Annual survey of thousands of 3rd, 4th, and 5th year associates at 100-150 law firms nationwide.

Why It Matters To You: This survey gives a good sense of what it’s really like at these law firms, including quality of work, firm culture, and training. You’ll learn about whether these firms will help you develop critical skills necessary to advance your career, whether there are opportunities for advancement, and much more.

Considerations: The survey is an opportunity to vent anonymously. Dissatisfied associates might be more likely to complete these surveys than satisfied associates.

Created By: The American Lawyer

Read More

Midsize Hot List

/
Midsize Hot List

What It Is: List of midsized law firms recognized for excellence.

Why It Matters To You: Unlike other listings, the Midsize Hot List puts the spotlight on outstanding law firms with 50+ lawyers.

Considerations: The methodology isn’t objective and only about 20 firms receive the honor each year.

Created By: The American Lawyer

Read More

Summer Associates Survey

/
Summer Associates Survey

What It Is: Annual survey of thousands of summer associates at 100-150 law firms nationwide.

Why It Matters To You: This ranking depends on a survey of fellow summer associates.They can give you a view of the day-to-day experience at these law firms, especially comparing that experience to the information they received through promotional literature, NALP, and interviews. How does the actual experience compare to what they were told to expect?

Considerations: Happy summer associates do not necessarily become happy associates. These programs are recruiting tools; law firms try to make a good impression. Additionally, some summer associates don’t yet have a broad context for their experiences. Some opinions may be based on limited knowledge of how law firms work and what it means to be an employee in a formal office setting. But these opinions may also give insight into the sometimes difficult transition from law student to lawyer.

Created By: The American Lawyer

Read More

The A-List

/
The A-List

What It Is: Annual law firm survey promoted as the “decathlon for law firms.”

Why It Matters To You: Unlike other listings, the A-List is intended as a more all-around measure, that takes into account financial performance, but also associate satisfaction, diversity, pro bono efforts, and more.

Considerations: Because of the large number of factors considered, it may be more difficult for law firms to deliberately influence their rankings.

Created By: The American Lawyer

Read More