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: 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

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: 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

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: Yearly rankings of firms by practice areas ranging from Antitrust to Environmental Law to IP Boutiques and everything in between.

Why It Matters To You: These firms were voted strongest in each practice area by associates working in that area at peer firms.

Considerations: To reach their rankings, associates are invited to vote for up to three firms in their practice area, but can’t nominate their own. It is important to consider that this is the only criteria considered in the ranking. It is also useful to note there is a significant backlog of years and it is easy to look at compare which have firms have risen and fallen over the years.

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