Vault's 2025 Top Ten Law Firms for Wellness
Published: Oct 10, 2024
World Mental Health Day is today, and the World Health Organization is calling for governments, organizations, and employers “to work together to improve mental health at work.”
Prioritizing mental health (and overall wellness) while meeting workload remains a challenge for law firms and attorneys. Vault’s annual associate survey looks for associate input on a number of things, including the wellness efforts at each associate’s law firm. We’re highlighting the top 10 law firms in Vault Law’s 2025 Wellness rankings below, sharing direct feedback from associates on each firm’s wellness efforts.
- “Firm cares about our employees' well-being and has implemented various initiatives to support their wellness; this includes a gym benefit and a Peloton benefit for exercise. We also offer confidential counseling sessions for mental health support. Our firm believes in prioritizing wellness and supports a healthy work-life balance.”
- “The firm offers many wellness initiatives, and, most importantly, the culture of the firm itself means a lot of the stresses often caused by work (e.g., office politics and lack of support) are not present in the first place. Many different benefits and support options are available, with 24/7 access to counseling services and the firm's own nutritionist.”
- “The firm emphasizes wellness. There are wellness trainings and guided meditations. Associates also may bill up to 25 hours to mindfulness as billable-equivalent hours, and all associates I know take advantage.”
- “Billable time for wellness activities. We have several Peloton bikes in the office (and private showers) so that we can work out before, during, or at the end of the day. The firm also has a suite of benefits for wellness including Guide Care Concierge and various telehealth/teletalk options.”
- “Morgan Lewis has abundant wellness efforts, including nutrition education and wellness program that attorneys and firm personnel can get involved in. In general, I also just feel like partners are willing to check in and make sure associates are okay. I have had several check-in calls just to see how I am doing.”
- “The firm is very invested in wellness initiatives, including counseling, exercise memberships, in-office exercise opportunities, and meditation and nutritional programs.”
Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP
- “We do have a wellness counselor available to us. And up to $750 of health-related spending (exercise classes, etc.) can be reimbursed per year. I think the firm tries to have messaging that indicates support of wellness efforts.”
- “Our firm is committed to wellness efforts and puts out a newsletter, focuses on nutrition in our cafeteria, offers guided meditation sessions, has counseling programs, etc. We also have a fitness reimbursement program and relationships with gyms that provide discounts. We have competitive sports teams, too, which people like.”
- “Excellent wellness efforts. By far the most important factor though is having partners and associates who understand the importance of having a work-life balance and who don't insist on you working late or at unsocial hours for the sake of it.”
- “The firm encourages wellness by providing healthy snacks and meals. We are encouraged to take part in firmwide initiatives, and Equinox (NY/DC) or the luxury gym in the Houston office is fully subsidized.”
- “The firm has a ton of wellness programs and activities. Along with relaxation facilities (nap rooms, showers, etc.), the firm also sponsors weekly programs in health and wellness and also offers other opportunities (chair massages, massages, etc.) on a regular basis. The firm also provides discounted gym memberships and a gym membership reimbursement program. The firm also provides healthy snacks and drinks (yogurt, etc.) throughout the day in the cafeteria that are free for everyone to use.”
- “We have counseling programs for the associates who need it.”
- “For Mental Health Month, we get eight free hours that are treated as billable time to spend however we want.”
- “The firm partners with a wellness program that provides financial and emotional support incentives to stay healthy. The firm also often participates in athletic events and highlights said events in the weekly newsletter.”
- “Our firm does a lot for our wellness. Sheppard Mullin implemented Headspace subscriptions company-wide (Headspace is an app for dealing with stress, sleep, and meditation). The firm created an internal email list for employees to email with personal or professional issues for which they need support. The firm also offers Lyra Health. The firm is also bringing in speakers to discuss health and well-being.”
- “We are given 40 hours of unplug and recharge time that are counted towards the billable hour requirement. It is an incredibly helpful way to encourage associates to take time off.”
- “The firm is very active with its wellness efforts, including counseling, exercise programs, meditation, nutrition education, etc.”
- “The firm is a signatory (and active participant) in the ABA wellness pledge, and I am a member of the firm's active well-being committee. The committee provides programming throughout the year, which includes a variety of speakers and resources.”
- “There are regular emails on wellness and activities planned. We also get stipends to spend on wellness apps and activities on our own.”
- “Pretty extensive. As mentioned, we have a transition coach to help us adjust to BigLaw life; there's a whole department focused on wellness that can include various wellness/exercise/nutrition-type challenges or information; we get the Calm app for free; and our building has a gym.”
For more information on the firms in this post, including additional Associate Reviews, visit their Vault profiles. You can also visit Vault Law’s 2025 quality of life rankings to find the best law firms to work for in a number of categories, including the Overall ranking.
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