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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 2021 Rankings are derived from Vault's Annual Associate Survey conducted between late January 2020 through early April 2020.
Survey Methodology

Which law firms are the best to work for? For some, this is a far more important consideration than prestige. To determine our Best Law Firms to Work For, we used a formula that weighed the most relevant categories for an overall quality of life ranking. Each firm's overall score was calculated using the following formula:

25% satisfaction; 10% firm culture; 10% hours; 10% compensation; 10% quality of work; 5% business outlook; 5% career outlook; 5% associate/partner relations; 5% transparency; 5% formal and informal training; 5% pro bono; 5% overall diversity

Like our Vault Law 100 rankings, our quality of life rankings are meant to reflect the subjective opinions of associates. These rankings are based on perceptions of insiders—some of whom may be biased in favor of (or against) their firms.

Vault's 2021 Rankings are derived from Vault's Annual Associate Survey conducted between late January 2020 through early April 2020.

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Each year Vault invites eligible law firms to participate in our annual Law Survey. Please contact us if you’re interested in having your firm considered for inclusion.

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2021 Best Law Firms for Firm Culture

#1
SCORE 9.531
2020 Rank 1

O'Melveny & Myers LLP

Long rooted in California—where it maintains a quintet of offices—O’Melveny & Myers has branched out in all directions with offices in seven countries on three continents. The firm is known for its work in antitrust, appellate litigation,...

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#2
SCORE 9.391
2020 Rank 4

Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

Orrick is a global firm of more than 1,100 attorneys that is fiercely committed to teamwork and innovation. The firm has dozens of offices across the globe, including domestic locations in California, New York, Oregon, and Texas. It All Began...

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#3
SCORE 9.351
2020 Rank 12

Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP

With around 200 attorneys working out of its single outpost in Manhattan, Patterson Belknap may seem like a modest operation relative to New York’s megafirms, but the firm holds its own. Handling litigation and corporate matters on behalf of...

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#4
SCORE 9.296
2020 Rank 23

Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP

Eversheds Sutherland is one of the largest firms in the world, with more than 3,000 attorneys practicing in offices in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the United States. In addition, a network of more than 200 related law firms,...

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#5
SCORE 9.291
2020 Rank 3

Jackson Walker

Jackson Walker is the largest firm contained completely in Texas. The firm has more than 400 attorneys practicing in a broad range of practice areas in seven offices across the Lone Star State: Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, San Angelo,...

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#6
SCORE 9.281
2020 Rank 6

Ropes & Gray LLP

With 11 offices across the U.S., Europe, and Asia, Ropes & Gray is an international firm that prides itself in handling cutting-edge work. A regular atop legal industry rankings, the firm is adept at assisting clients in complex, highly...

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#7
SCORE 9.200
2020 Rank 2

Latham & Watkins LLP

Latham is one of the world’s largest law firms, a bona fide member of the clique that includes the Magic Circle and the elite U.S. heritage firms. With more than 2,800 attorneys in 29 offices around the world, Latham practices in all the major...

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#8
SCORE 9.172
2020 Rank 9

Clifford Chance US LLP

With 2,500 lawyers across more than 30 offices around the globe, Clifford Chance is a legal behemoth. The firm boasts a growing practice in the U.S. and a global reputation that shines. Brits and Yanks The modern Clifford Chance was...

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#9
SCORE 9.153
2020 Not Ranked

Lowenstein Sandler LLP

With more than 300 attorneys, Lowenstein Sandler is a full-service firm with five domestic offices. The firm boasts dozens of practices and is particularly well known for its work with investment funds and in the life sciences and technology...

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#10
SCORE 9.123
2020 Rank 24

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP

One of the New York elites, Willkie is home to more than 750 attorneys. In addition to its home in the Big Apple, the firm has offices in Chicago, DC, Houston, Palo Alto, and San Francisco, plus six locations across Europe. The firm is known for...

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