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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

What It Is: Ranks law firms by practice area, considering factors such as expertise, responsiveness, understanding of a business and its needs, cost-effectiveness, civility, and integrity.

Why It Matters To You: If you know what practice areas interest you, you can check out this list to see what firms excel in them. The ranking is also easily sortable by state and/or city. Also take a look at the profiles of lawyers at these firms to get a sense of what needs to be done to succeed on these career paths.

Considerations: Remember no list is perfect. Large firms have more clients and more clout. As with many of these lists, large firms are over-represented while small firms and boutiques are under-represented. There are plenty of excellent lawyers doing excellent work in excellent firms that—because of the way rankings are constructed—may never appear on these lists.

Created By: U.S. News & World Reports

What It Is: Annual ranking of U.S. law firms, rated on lawyer experience by law firm associates worldwide.

Why It Matters To You: Rankings are calculated for overall quality of life, weighing factors like satisfaction; firm culture; hours; compensation; substantive work; business outlook; career outlook; associate/partner relations; transparency; formal and informal training; pro bono; and overall diversity. The ranking is also easily sortable by these factors so you can choose which qualities matter most.

Considerations: Potential a great overview and apples-to-apples comparison of what’s it’s actually like to work there.

Created By: The Vault

What It Is: Annual ranking of U.S. law firms, rated on prestige by some 18,000 (give or take) associates worldwide.

Why It Matters To You: In addition to revealing the changing fortunes of law firms, the Vault Law 100 shows trends in what law firm associates think of BigLaw firms.

Considerations: This survey focuses on the opinions of law firm associates—not law firm partners or clients—who may not have sufficient information to make judgments about firms prestige in the marketplace. 

Created By: Vault

What It Is: List of leading midsize law firms with fewer than 150 attorneys.

Why It Matters To You: Check this out if you like the idea of being a big fish in a small pond, work-life balance, and a better chance at making partner.

Considerations: Easily sorted by practice areas and locations, although the firms are not ranked. Prioritizes leading law firms with fewer attorneys.

Created By: Vault