Best Law Firms to Work For
Associates assess their own firms on a range of workplace issues related to career development, job satisfaction, and quality of life. 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 Integration of Laterals & Clerks
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
M&A giant and leader in the New York legal market, Wachtell Lipton is one of the most elite law firms in the industry. Known for its high-profile matters and above-market compensation, Wachtell Lipton is home to a passionate group of lawyers who embrace hard work and professionalism. The firm is small by elite, BigLaw standards, which fosters a collegial atmosphere, and it has spurned domestic or international expansion, preferring to maintain a sole office in NYC.
SCORE 9.300
2024 Ranking
#Not Ranked
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 9.200
2024 Ranking
#3
Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP
Munger Tolles is incredibly selective, but if you’re hired, you join a top-notch, tight-knit firm where associates participate in major firm decisions. With strong mentorship, which is critical for maintaining the firm’s commitment to maintaining a low partner-to-associate ratio and only 200 attorneys in three U.S. offices—new associates tackle exciting work from day one. Munger Tolles associates can expect meaningful pro bono opportunities, for which the firm has been recognized.
SCORE 9.200
2024 Ranking
#1
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 9.200
2024 Ranking
#6
Skadden
With practices from M&A to tax, Skadden is a legal powerhouse and mainstay among the most prestigious firms in Vault’s Top 100 ranking. Skadden lawyers are a social bunch who value teamwork and mentorship, and they dive headfirst into complex matters. From New York to Hong Kong, the Skadden name is known worldwide, with nearly 1,700 attorneys across eight U.S. offices and 13 international offices. Exit opportunities are endless for Skadden attorneys due to the firm’s strong alumni network and prestigious name. Attorneys are committed to pro bono work and are encouraged from day one to find a pro bono matter that sparks their interest to benefit the community.
SCORE 9.185
2024 Ranking
#29
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 9.157
2024 Ranking
#7
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 9.024
2024 Ranking
#5
Patterson Belknap
From its single New York office, Patterson Belknap is a heavy hitter across a full spectrum of litigation and corporate services. The firm is also vigorously devoted to pro bono, with an impressive resume of various matters and a long-standing 100% attorney participation rate in the program. To highlight one example, the firm received Benchmark Litigation’s 2021 “Pro Bono Firm of the Year” award for its work representing a union of Department of Homeland Security officers who opposed refugee entry restrictions.
SCORE 9.000
2024 Ranking
#2
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 8.933
2024 Ranking
#Not Ranked
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 8.880
2024 Ranking
#9
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 8.857
2024 Ranking
#Not Ranked
Vinson & Elkins
Vinson and Elkins’ lean-team model leads to great training opportunities for associates via hands-on experience, strong partner mentorship, and new challenges. Overall, associates agree that V&E offers a great culture, great compensation, and great work. With its largest office in Texas, V&E’s southern hospitality shines at the firm, and associates don’t shy away from an opportunity to socialize inside and outside the office. Through its market-leading approach, V&E has been tackling some of the most complex legal disputes for more than 100 years.
SCORE 8.846
2024 Ranking
#17
Robins Kaplan LLP
Robins Kaplan is a litigation powerhouse, with a resume full of victories across industries and practices. The firm is especially known for its strengths in antitrust, intellectual property & technology litigation, insurance, mass torts, and plaintiff’s personal injury and medical malpractice litigation. Founded in Minneapolis, the firm has broadened its reach beyond the Midwest with offices across California, Massachusetts, New York, and the Dakotas. Beyond on-the-job training, professional development is a priority that the firm bolsters through its six-year trial academy program.
SCORE 8.810
2024 Ranking
#11
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 8.800
2024 Ranking
#10
Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP
Fried Frank associates work on complex legal matters in a top-to-bottom friendly and social environment across five global offices with 750 attorneys. The firm prioritizes its people and communities, with associate perks like generous wellness offerings—including fitness stipends and an associates-only lounge in the New York office—and strong dedication to pro bono work.
SCORE 8.783
2024 Ranking
#16
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 8.769
2024 Ranking
#28
Boies Schiller Flexner LLP
At Boies Schiller Flexner, associates toss aside the life vest and dive right in, and lawyers at this litigation powerhouse wouldn’t have it any other way. Litigators looking to roll up their sleeves and learn on the job will feel right at home here.
SCORE 8.750
2024 Ranking
#12
Williams & Connolly LLP
One of the most selective law firms, Williams & Connolly is a litigation standout known for handling complex, high-stakes matters. The firm has a promote-from-within culture with an emphasis on organic mentorship. Associates are given great responsibility early in their careers and appreciate being treated with respect, as shown by their ability to work when, how, and where they wish.
SCORE 8.735
2024 Ranking
#4
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 8.650
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 8.614
2024 Ranking
#Not Ranked
Fish & Richardson P.C.
Intellectual property is the name of the game at Fish & Richardson, so be prepared to show off your technical or science background during interviews. Founded in 1878 and home to over 360 attorneys, the firm is home to busy associates who are treated to a great culture, top-notch IP work, and high levels of flexibility. Fish & Richardson hires candidates with the expectation that they will climb the ranks, offering a clear path to partnership for anyone willing to put in the work.
SCORE 8.611
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 8.593
2024 Ranking
#Not Ranked
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 8.588
2024 Ranking
#22
Winston & Strawn LLP
Winston’s Midwestern roots are reflected in its top-to-bottom friendly culture despite its expansion to 10 domestic and 5 international offices. The firm is known for its work in middle-market private equity, intellectual property, labor and employment, renewable energy, sports law, and white collar expertise. Strong mentorship allows junior associates to develop skills on high-profile matters quickly, and robust wellness, diversity, and pro bono programs contribute to the overall Winston experience.
SCORE 8.534
2024 Ranking
#29
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 8.456
2024 Ranking
#Not Ranked
Benesch Law
Founded in 1938, Benesch is one of Cleveland's most notable law firms, but it has expanded beyond its Midwest roots to provide legal services coast-to-coast, counseling clients in more than 20 industries. The firm's core practices are Corporate & Securities, Commercial Finance & Banking, Healthcare, Information Technology, Intellectual Property, Labor & Employment, Litigation, and Real Estate. The firm takes training seriously, and associates appreciate the transparency into career development at the firm.
SCORE 8.455
2024 Ranking
#21
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 8.440
2024 Ranking
#18
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 8.434
2024 Ranking
#Not Ranked
Kirkland & Ellis
A legal giant—both in size and reputation—Kirkland is known for its private equity, M&A and other complex corporate transactions; investment fund formation and alternative asset management; restructurings; high-stakes commercial and intellectual property litigation; and government, regulatory, and internal investigations work, with lawyers working across more than 60 practice areas for high-profile clients. With over 3,500 attorneys across 20 offices and a commitment to ‘innovative and comprehensive legal education and development,’ Kirkland is the perfect firm for driven individuals who are ready to take control of their legal careers.
SCORE 8.433
2024 Ranking
#Not Ranked
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 8.417
2024 Ranking
#Not Ranked
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 8.417
2024 Ranking
#13
