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 2025
The Elite
Bracewell | Duane Morris | Finnegan | Fish & Richardson | Irell & Manella | Jackson Walker | K&L Gates | McDermott | Sheppard Mullin | Wiley |
Excellent performer
Akin | Alston & Bird | Brown Rudnick | Clifford Chance | Cooley | Gibson Dunn | Haynes and Boone | Jenner & Block | Katten | Morgan Lewis | Munger, Tolles & Olson | Polsinelli | Proskauer Rose | Reed Smith | Vedder Price |
Strong performer
Arnold & Porter | Axinn | Baker Botts | Cahill | Cleary Gottlieb | Cozen O'Connor | Dechert | Faegre Drinker | Foley Hoag | Fox Rothschild | Freshfields | Fried Frank | Goulston & Storrs | Greenberg Glusker | Greenberg Traurig | Holland & Knight | Hunton Andrews Kurth | Jones Day | Mayer Brown | Morrison & Foerster | Norton Rose Fulbright | Paul Hastings | Skadden | Sterne Kessler | Willkie Farr |
Endorsed
A&O Shearman | Cadwalader | Covington & Burling | Cravath | Davis Polk & Wardwell | Debevoise & Plimpton | DLA Piper | Foley & Lardner | Goodwin | Gunderson | Hogan Lovells | Holwell Shuster | King & Spalding | Kramer Levin | Latham & Watkins | Linklaters | Milbank | Mintz Levin | Orrick | Paul, Weiss | Perkins Coie | Pillsbury | Richards, Layton & Finger | Ropes & Gray | Schulte Roth & Zabel | Seward & Kissel | Simpson Thacher | Sullivan & Cromwell | Vinson & Elkins | Weil | White & Case | WilmerHale | Wilson Sonsini |
