In the 2025 survey, we identified the best-performing law firms for associate career development
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 career progression scores are a combination of all topics that can affect career progression, such as work acquisition and practice-building, partner mentoring and client contact, support on menial tasks, quality of case experiences, D&I policy affecting upward progress, pro bono work that develops skills.
The top law firms for Career Development 2025
The Elite
Bracewell | Brown Rudnick | Duane Morris | Finnegan | Fish & Richardson | Irell & Manella | Jackson Walker | K&L Gates | McDermott | Wiley |
Excellent performer
Akin | Alston & Bird | Clifford Chance | Cooley | Gibson Dunn | Haynes and Boone | Katten | Morgan Lewis | Munger, Tolles & Olson | Norton Rose Fulbright | Polsinelli | Proskauer Rose | Reed Smith | Sheppard Mullin | Vedder Price |
Strong performer
Arnold & Porter | Axinn | Baker Botts | Cahill | Cleary Gottlieb | Cozen O'Connor | Debevoise & Plimpton | Dechert | Faegre Drinker | Foley Hoag | Freshfields | Fried Frank | Goulston & Storrs | Greenberg Traurig | Holland & Knight | Hunton Andrews Kurth | Jenner & Block | Jones Day | Linklaters | Mayer Brown | Morrison & Foerster | Paul Hastings | Simpson Thacher | Skadden | Willkie Farr |
Endorsed
A&O Shearman | Cadwalader | Covington & Burling | Cravath | Davis Polk & Wardwell | DLA Piper | Foley & Lardner | Fox Rothschild | Goodwin | Greenberg Glusker | Gunderson | Hogan Lovells | Holwell Shuster | King & Spalding | Kramer Levin | Latham & Watkins | Milbank | Mintz Levin | Orrick | Paul, Weiss | Perkins Coie | Pillsbury | Richards, Layton & Finger | Ropes & Gray | Schulte Roth & Zabel | Seward & Kissel | Sterne Kessler | Sullivan & Cromwell | Vinson & Elkins | Weil | White & Case | WilmerHale | Wilson Sonsini |
