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 2024
The Elite
Cooley | Duane Morris | Finnegan | Gibson, Dunn | Jackson Walker | Katten | McDermott | Morgan, Lewis & Bockius | Reed Smith | Wiley Rein |
Excellent performer
Adam Leitman Bailey | Alston & Bird | Arnold & Porter | Bracewell | Clifford Chance | Dechert | Fish & Richardson | Fried, Frank | Haynes and Boone | Jenner & Block | Jones Day | Polsinelli | Proskauer Rose | Sidley Austin | Willkie Farr | Wilson Sonsini |
Strong performer
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld | Baker Botts | Brown Rudnick | Cahill | Cleary Gottlieb | Debevoise & Plimpton | Foley Hoag | Freshfields | Goulston & Storrs | Gunderson | Holland & Knight | Hunton Andrews Kurth | Kasowitz | Kramer Levin | Latham & Watkins | Mayer Brown | Morrison & Foerster | Munger, Tolles & Olson | Paul Hastings | Paul, Weiss | Schulte Roth & Zabel | Sheppard, Mullin | Simpson Thacher | Vedder Price | Winston & Strawn |
Endorsed
Axinn | Cadwalader | Covington & Burling | Cozen O'Connor | Cravath | Davis Polk & Wardwell | DLA Piper | Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath | Foley & Lardner | Fox Rothschild | Goodwin | Greenberg Traurig | Hogan Lovells US | Holwell Shuster | Irell & Manella | K&L Gates | King & Spalding | Milbank | Mintz Levin | Nelson Mullins | Norton Rose Fulbright | Orrick | Patterson Belknap | Perkins Coie | Pillsbury | Richards, Layton & Finger | Ropes & Gray | Seward & Kissel | Seyfarth Shaw | Skadden | Sterne, Kessler | Sullivan & Cromwell | Venable | Vinson & Elkins | Weil | White & Case | WilmerHale |
Benefits and quality of life survey