Best Law Firms for Diversity
Law students, lawyers, and firm management place increasing value on a diverse working environment. That's why Vault has devoted a special section to associates’ rankings on diversity issues. Vault's 2025 Rankings are derived from Vault's Annual Associate Survey conducted from January 2024 through March 2024.
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2025 Best Law Firms for Women
Hanson Bridgett LLP
Hanson Bridgett LLP is an AmLaw 200 California firm with more than 200 attorneys across the state. While all of the firm's offices are in California, and the firm lists many California public agencies as clients, it is a member of national and international legal networks that allow the firm to serve its clients anywhere. The firm is the first law firm recognized as a certified B Corp, indicating its commitment to the communities surrounding its offices and their efforts toward pro bono and social impact work.
SCORE 9.710
2024 Ranking
#Not Ranked
O'Melveny & Myers LLP
A top law firm for quality of life every year, a mainstay among the Vault Law 30 firms, and the oldest firm in Los Angeles, O’Melveny is a highly sought-after firm with hundreds of lawyers across 18 offices and eight countries. The firm prioritizes associate development and is a leader in DE&I, pro bono, and employee wellness. Its prominence in California and elsewhere has fostered exceptional opportunities in many areas of law, including entertainment law and technology/emerging companies.
SCORE 9.688
2024 Ranking
#2
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
A top firm for labor and employment work, Morgan Lewis has an expansive worldwide reach across 30+ offices. The firm attracts those who want to give back via pro bono work—20 hours are required for bonus eligibility—and who are seeking a nonhierarchical culture with ample transparency. Boasting an army of over 2,000 attorneys nationwide and worldwide, Morgan Lewis provides a wealth of opportunities to work on diverse and high-stakes matters in the firm’s core practice areas.
SCORE 9.632
2024 Ranking
#2
Clifford Chance US LLP
As a global force since its merger in 1987, Clifford Chance unsurprisingly seeks candidates with international aspirations and foreign language skills. This Magic Circle firm offers a welcoming culture and interesting work, and it genuinely supports pro bono and diversity efforts. One might assume that it would be easy to get lost in such a massive enterprise, but employee relations and firm transparency are exceptional.
SCORE 9.606
2024 Ranking
#1
BakerHostetler
BakerHostetler’s culture reflects its Midwest roots—professional yet warm and welcoming. Associates are also treated to strong mentorship and transparent leadership. The cutting-edge IncuBaker team is representative of the firm’s commitment to innovation, especially in helping clients navigate the intersection of digital business, emerging technologies, and the law.
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SCORE 9.553
2024 Ranking
#4
McDermott Will & Emery
Sitting comfortably among the Vault 100 law firms, McDermott is best known for its work in healthcare and tax law—though its practices extend far beyond these. The firm is forward-thinking when it comes to wellness—it was the first to offer lawyers billable credit for participating in 25 wellness hours—and will appeal to those seeking a collegial, supportive environment.
SCORE 9.401
2024 Ranking
#9
Bracewell
With approximately 350 lawyers across 10 offices—including two international posts—Bracewell LLP is a global firm with a range of practices. But the firm’s Texas roots are still as strong as demonstrated by its impact in the energy sector, four offices within the state, and a friendly, hospitable culture.
SCORE 9.400
2024 Ranking
#Not Ranked
Warner Norcross + Judd LLP
With over 230 attorneys across more than 50 practice areas, Michigan-based Warner Norcross + Judd LLP serves clients worldwide across a full range of practice areas, including litigation, corporate transactions, regulatory and intellectual property matters, and estate planning. The firm represents clients from startups to family-owned businesses and Fortune 500 companies. There’s a lot for associates to like at Warner, including the firm’s core values of client service and teamwork.
SCORE 9.400
2024 Ranking
#Not Ranked
Proskauer Rose LLP
Proskauer Rose is an all-around legal powerhouse, including a top-ranked media, entertainment, and sports practice and nationally recognized labor and employment and investment funds practices. Pro bono is part of the firm’s lifeblood, as is a strong commitment to diversity. Amiable go-getters will do well in the firm’s supportive, team environment.
SCORE 9.397
2024 Ranking
#13
Orrick
Innovation is the name of the game at Orrick—from the energy, tech, and finance clients that the firm counsels, to its impactful well-being initiatives and its modern technology tools. Associates who are down-to-earth, collaborative, and forward-thinking will fit right in at this progressive firm. With offices in over 25 markets across the United States, Europe, and Asia, Orrick is a legal powerhouse with dedication to pro bono, diversity, and competitive compensation.
SCORE 9.372
2024 Ranking
#5
Jenner & Block
Jenner & Block, home to 500 attorneys in seven offices, is known for its friendly, down-to-earth culture and commitment to public service and pro bono. Top-notch attorneys come here not only because they want to do good work but because they also want to do good. Associate development is a priority at the firm, and mentorship opportunities abound. Boasting several excellent practices, Jenner & Block is a place where driven attorneys tackle complex legal work.
SCORE 9.340
2024 Ranking
#7
Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP
Eversheds Sutherland is a legal behemoth with thousands of lawyers practicing across areas such as corporate, energy, financial services, intellectual property, litigation, real estate, and tax. Its top practice areas include tax law, in which the firm is active in every respect, from planning the most complex corporate tax transactions to representing taxpayers in administrative and judicial tax controversies. The firm also ranks high for associate quality of life, earning recognition for its training and mentorship programs.
SCORE 9.333
2024 Ranking
#Not Ranked
Lowenstein Sandler LLP
Lowenstein Sandler is a full-service law firm, with over 300 attorneys in nearly 50 practice areas. Founded in New Jersey, the firm now has five offices across the U.S. Associates report challenging but satisfying work, and they are overwhelmingly pleased with various aspects of working here, from the culture to the work-life balance. Of particular note is the firm’s real commitment to pro bono work, which associates report is genuine.
SCORE 9.329
2024 Ranking
#Not Ranked
Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC
Baker Donelson has a strong footprint in the southeastern U.S., with 22 offices spanning 11 states and Washington, DC. Over 600 attorneys provide representation to clients in over 30 practice areas, including public policy. Baker Donelson is business focused, with an emphasis on creating and implementing innovative solutions that reduce client cost, build on its Centers of Excellence practice areas, and promote business development opportunities for the firm and its attorneys.
SCORE 9.328
2024 Ranking
#12
Littler Mendelson P.C.
Labor and employment law is Littler Mendelson’s forte, and it dominates on an international scale. The firm has a massive footprint, with more than 1,500 attorneys across 58 offices nationwide and 36 abroad. Littler exclusively represents management, but its clients come in all sizes and industries, from Fortune 500 corporations to small, single-office businesses. The firm has also received a number of awards for its diversity initiatives and is known for offering its clients innovative solutions.
SCORE 9.327
2024 Ranking
#11
Constangy Brooks, Smith & Prophete LLP
Constangy is a management-side labor and employment firm, with offices in 16 states across the U.S. Constangy handles a range of employment matters, including employment discrimination, harassment, and retaliation; wage and hour litigation; workplace safety; affirmative action compliance; OSHA; workers’ compensation; and ERISA and employee benefits. The firm also counsels clients on developing workplace policies. Among other positive aspects of working here, associates rave about the firm’s unique marketing mentorship program.
SCORE 9.320
2024 Ranking
#23
Freshfields US LLP
Freshfields is ideal for associates seeking exciting international work. The firm is in an expansion phase, which means lots of opportunity for early hands-on experience, as well as valuable mentorship in a friendly culture. Freshfields’ history may date back to the 1700s, but the firm’s recent momentum in the United States reveals an exciting career outlook for its associates. The attorneys at Freshfields have a global perspective, which allows the firm to excel at handling complex, cross-border work.
SCORE 9.317
2024 Ranking
#17
Linklaters
Linklaters is a Magic Circle firm with a 185-year legacy, including over 50 years in the United States. The firm presents great opportunities for international work and international travel to its 31 worldwide offices. The firm receives high praise for requiring pro bono work as part of its practice. Compensation and partner/associate relations are other highlights for Linklaters associates.
SCORE 9.314
2024 Ranking
#Not Ranked
Loeb & Loeb LLP
The Loeb brothers, more than 100 years ago, bypassed the family business and founded Loeb & Loeb, which has had an immense effect on the development of Los Angeles and, specifically, Hollywood as the center of the entertainment industry. The firm has grown to over 450 lawyers across eight offices in the U.S. and Asia, and has expanded services to include financial services, intellectual property, life sciences, real estate, tax, and trusts and estates.
SCORE 9.294
2024 Ranking
#Not Ranked
Jackson Walker
Jackson Walker is the largest exclusively-Texas law firm, with over 500 attorneys working from six offices across the state. Associates express high levels of satisfaction with nearly every aspect of firm life, from hours to culture to compensation to D&I. As a full-service firm, virtually all practice areas are represented, and associates enjoy a variety of sophisticated legal work.
SCORE 9.284
2024 Ranking
#21
Sheppard Mullin
Sheppard Mullin—new to the $1 billion-a-year revenue club—has continued to grow since its founding almost 100 years ago in Los Angeles. With 16 offices worldwide and 1,100 attorneys, it has expanded from a firm that primarily represents retailers and banks to one that offers stellar legal services in commercial law, litigation, aerospace and defense, land use and real estate, entertainment law, intellectual property law, and government contracts. Associates wanting pro bono experience will be happy with Sheppard Mullin’s dedicated pro bono partner and project coordinator.
SCORE 9.276
2024 Ranking
#25
Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP
One of DC’s finest, the global megafirm Arnold & Porter is home to nearly 1,000 lawyers practicing across dozens of areas—with antitrust being one of the most notable. The firm focuses heavily on mentoring, with mentoring budgets, shadowing opportunities, and multiple formal mentors for junior associates. Pro bono is a big deal at Arnold & Porter, too, as the firm allows up to 200 hours to count toward the annual billable goal and has won numerous awards for its efforts.
SCORE 9.231
2024 Ranking
#Not Ranked
Gibson Dunn
A litigation powerhouse, appellate all-star, and corporate law force, Gibson Dunn is a Vault top 10 firm with impressive practice and client lists across its 21 worldwide offices. Gibson attracts go-getters who will succeed in the firm’s free market system and integrate with the professional, amiable culture. Attorneys who want to engage in pro bono work, with these hours satisfying billable requirements, will find robust, dynamic opportunities at Gibson Dunn. The firm’s flex-time program with pro-rated hours and compensation, is attractive to many.
SCORE 9.215
2024 Ranking
#19
WilmerHale
Handling cases that often make front page headlines, WilmerHale is a litigation superstar with particular strength in intellectual property. The firm boasts a respectful culture where associates feel supported by partners and have the resources they need to succeed on high-level matters. The firm has a deeply rooted commitment to pro bono, and opportunities to dive headfirst into meaningful projects are abundant. WilmerHale associates value the people they work with and the firm’s culture and efforts to promote work-life balance.
SCORE 9.213
2024 Ranking
#14
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
Nine hundred lawyers strong with a long list of lauded practice areas, Akin excels at almost everything. Transparent? Check. Making strides in diversity? You bet. Walking the wellness walk? Absolutely. Social types who are down-to-earth will fit in well at the firm. Akin is a leader in lending a helping hand, with attorneys devoting an average of more than 100 hours to pro bono clients per year and over 70% of attorneys participating in pro bono work.
SCORE 9.197
2024 Ranking
#Not Ranked
Morrison Foerster
Exemplary work is standard at MoFo, but as its nickname suggests, the firm and its lawyers don’t take themselves too seriously. Morrison & Foerster LLP, with 18 global offices and more than 1,000 attorneys, excels in many practice areas, including intellectual property and privacy, and is a standout in the pro bono area, assisting in a wide range of matters. Diversity and related initiatives are key at MoFo, with DEI activities counting toward legal service hours.
SCORE 9.195
2024 Ranking
#18
Gibbons P.C.
Respected in the mid-Atlantic and beyond, Gibbons is a place for tackling substantive work—and making a mark with pro bono opportunities. The firm handles high-profile corporate transactions but is best known for its litigation department. Gibbons is home to 200 lawyers and a collegial culture that is flourishing at a firm stacked with former clerks.
SCORE 9.182
2024 Ranking
#Not Ranked
Robinson+Cole
In addition to its offices in Connecticut, Robinson+Cole has offices in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and other cities throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, California, and Florida. At more than 260 lawyers strong, the firm serves clients ranging from startups to Fortune 50 companies. Associates here are incredibly happy, which is clear from the firm’s placement in Vault’s quality of life rankings for Firm Culture and Wellness. The firm is also a leader in tech, diversity, and transparency.
SCORE 9.180
2024 Ranking
#6
Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
One of the elite New York firms, Debevoise is a leader in the private equity and M&A spaces and is also a go-to firm for white collar matters. The firm has a reputation for being intellectual and respectful and for providing ample support to its associates—from extensive mentoring to career coaching. Associates wanting extensive pro bono opportunities will find Debevoise a great place to land, as helping underserved communities has been an area of focus since the firm’s founding in 1931.
SCORE 9.152
2024 Ranking
#Not Ranked
Cozen O'Connor
At Cozen O’Connor, attorneys get to tackle exciting legal challenges while maintaining a life outside of work. Associates appreciate the autonomy they are given to do their jobs and the responsibility they are given early in their careers.
SCORE 9.150
2024 Ranking
#Not Ranked
White & Case
Look up “global law firm” in the thesaurus, and you’ll find White & Case. A leader in cross-border work, the firm works across two dozen practice areas. The firm is home to a truly diverse team of lawyers and boasts a top-down commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace.
SCORE 9.150
2024 Ranking
#22
