Overview
Introduction
After almost 140 years in Atlanta, King & Spalding is now a global firm with 24 offices in 10 countries and more than 1,300 attorneys. The firm counsels clients in many industries, including energy, financial services, life sciences and healthcare, technology, food and beverage, higher education, and transportation. Focusing on trial/disputes, regulatory, and transactional work, King & Spalding balances BigLaw with a social, congenial, and family-friendly culture.
Firm Stats
Total No. Attorneys (2025)
No. of Partners Named (2024)
Featured Rankings
No. of 1st Year Associates Hired (2025)
No. of Summer Associates (2025)
Base Salary
Vault Verdict
Expanding from Atlanta to 22 other cities, King & Spalding is noteworthy because of its top compensation, meaningful work, and exceptional tutelage from partners. Recruiting focuses on students from T20 schools with good grades and work or clerkship experience, and offices hire from area law schools as well. Coworkers are pleasant and collaborative. Social events are regularly held, but attendance is not mandatory. Partners embrace open-door policies and welcome opportunities to coach, mentor, answer questions, and help associates build their careers. Formal training is limited, but associates are given a $3,000 budget for professional development to pursue their own training. Lateral hires are transitioned effectively and staffed on cases quickly. Work assignments are bas...
About the Firm
Throughout its 140-year history, King & Spalding has expanded far from its Southern roots to open offices across the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The firm’s long-time clients include public and private companies across many industries.
A King Rises
In 1885, Alex C. King and Jack J. Spalding founded what would eventually become Atlanta’s largest law firm. In the early years, the firm offered extensive services to the railroad industry. In the mid-20th century, the firm’s key alliances grew to include The Coca-Cola Company and Trust Company Bank. In recent decades, the firm underwent a series of expansions that made it into the global firm that it is today, first opening shop in DC, followed by New York and Houston. The firm has continued to add office ...
2026 Vault Rankings
Associate Reviews
- “The work environment is very focused, with friendly colleagues who are willing to assist at any time if asked. There is a respectful atmosphere here, and people are happy to socialize when time permits.”
- “It varies by practice group, but my group is generally quite friendly. A lot of folks socialize outside of the office, but there's no expectation or requirement to do so. Everyone is friendly and cordial—that mutual respect and friendliness among colleagues are major parts of wha...
Getting Hired Here
- “As a whole, the firm has a preference for students from T14 law schools. However, each office typically has more local schools in the area that they recruit heavily from, even though the school is not ranked within the T14. Students from those schools generally need to be on law review and be near the top of their class or have heavily networked with the firm prior to OCI.”
- “The firm has guidelines to follow when interviewing candidates. Our hiring process focuses a lot on whether the...
Perks & Benefits