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 2022
The elite
Dechert | Finnegan | Gibson, Dunn | Holwell Shuster & Goldberg | McDermott | Munger, Tolles & Olson | Paul Hastings | Ropes & Gray | Sidley Austin | White & Case |
Excellent performer
Adam Leitman Bailey | Akin Gump | Clifford Chance | Debevoise & Plimpton | DLA Piper | Fish & Richardson | Foley & Lardner | Foley Hoag | Goodwin | Greenberg Glusker | Jackson Walker | Latham & Watkins | Morgan, Lewis & Bockius | Sterne, Kessler | Wiley Rein |
Strong performer
Arnold & Porter | Axinn | Baker Botts | Cooley | Crowell & Moring | Duane Morris | Freshfields | Goulston & Storrs | Greenberg Traurig | Haynes and Boone | Holland & Knight | Hunton Andrews Kurth | Jones Day | Linklaters | Mayer Brown | Mintz Levin | Orrick | Patterson Belknap | Perkins Coie | Proskauer Rose | Seyfarth Shaw | Sheppard, Mullin | Waller | Willkie Farr | Winston & Strawn |
Endorsed
Allen & Overy | Alston & Bird | Bracewell | Brown Rudnick | Cadwalader | Cahill | Choate Hall & Stewart | Cleary Gottlieb | Covington & Burling | Cozen O'Connor | Cravath | Davis Polk & Wardwell | Dorsey & Whitney | Fox Rothschild | Fried, Frank | Gunderson | Hogan Lovells US | Irell & Manella | K&L Gates | Kasowitz | Katten | King & Spalding | Kramer Levin | Milbank | Morrison & Foerster | Nelson Mullins | Norton Rose Fulbright | Paul, Weiss | Pillsbury | Polsinelli | Reed Smith | Richards, Layton & Finger | Schulte Roth & Zabel | Seward & Kissel | Shearman & Sterling | Simpson Thacher | Skadden | Stroock | Sullivan & Cromwell | Vedder Price | Venable | Vinson & Elkins | Weil | WilmerHale | Wilson Sonsini |
Benefits and quality of life survey