In our latest survey, we identified the best-performing law firms for associate retention.
Methodology
For every firm taking part in our annual interview-based research, we also invite their junior associates to respond to an online survey covering every aspect of law firm life. They complete 40 questions asking about everything from their initial views on the firm and its competitors, to their relationships with partners and clients, to the firm's handling of D&I and pro bono. We also ask them about their expectations, aspirations and how important all these factors were when joining the profession and how those views change as they mature. Each question involves a rating, which we agglomerate here for comparison. The retention scores are a combination of all topics that can affect firm loyalty, such as work acquisition and practice-building, partner mentoring and client contact, quality of case experiences, D&I policy affecting upward progress, pro bono work that develops skills.
The best firms for retention 2023
The elite
Clifford Chance | Dechert | Duane Morris | Finnegan | Gibson, Dunn | Goulston & Storrs | Holwell Shuster & Goldberg | Jackson Walker | McDermott | Wiley Rein |
Excellent performer
Adam Leitman Bailey | Arnold & Porter | Ashurst | Baker Botts | Crowell & Moring | Greenberg Glusker | Jenner & Block | Latham & Watkins | Linklaters | Morgan, Lewis & Bockius | Morrison & Foerster | Orrick | Paul Hastings | Ropes & Gray | White & Case |
Strong performer
Debevoise & Plimpton | DLA Piper | Fish & Richardson | Foley Hoag | Goodwin | Haynes and Boone | Holland & Knight | Hunton Andrews Kurth | Jones Day | Katten | Kramer Levin | Munger, Tolles & Olson | Norton Rose Fulbright | Perkins Coie | Pillsbury | Proskauer Rose | Reed Smith | Seyfarth Shaw | Sidley Austin | Sterne Kessler | Vedder Price | Willkie Farr | WilmerHale | Wilson Sonsini | Winston & Strawn |
Endorsed
Allen & Overy | Alston & Bird | Axinn | Bracewell | Brown Rudnick | Cadwalader | Cahill | Cleary Gottlieb | Covington & Burling | Cozen O'Connor | Cravath | Davis Polk & Wardwell | Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath | Foley & Lardner | Fox Rothschild | Freshfields | Fried, Frank | Greenberg Traurig | Gunderson | Hogan Lovells US | Irell & Manella | K&L Gates | Kasowitz | King & Spalding | Mayer Brown | Milbank | Mintz Levin | Nelson Mullins | Patterson Belknap | Paul, Weiss | Polsinelli | Richards, Layton & Finger | Schulte Roth & Zabel | Seward & Kissel | Shearman & Sterling | Sheppard, Mullin | Simpson Thacher | Skadden | Sullivan & Cromwell | Venable | Vinson & Elkins | Weil |
Benefits and quality of life survey