Vault's 2009 Law Firms Rankings: Prestige, Quality of Life and Diversity

Vault surveyed more than 18,800 associates at more than 167 major law firms across the country and asked them to rank firms in terms of how prestigious it would be to work for them. For Vault's quality of life rankings, Vault asked associates to rate their own firms on issues such as treatment by partners, formal training, informal training and mentoring, hours and compensation and then scored the firms against each other. Vault has devoted a special section to associates' rankings on diversity issues and also surveyed law firm partners from the nation's most prestigious firms for its Partner Prestige Rankings.

Top 100 Law Prestige Rankings. Which firms are considered the crème de la crème when it comes to law firm prestige? How do associates across the nation rank the firms they work with or against?

Regional Rankings: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Miami, Midwest, New York, Northern California, Pacific Northwest, Pennsylvania, Southern California, Texas, and Washington DC

Practice Area Rankings: Antitrust, Bankruptcy/Creditors' Rights, Corporate, Intellectual Property, International, Labor and Employment, Litigation, Mergers & Acquisitions, Real Estate, and Securities

The Best 20 Law Firms to Work For. Associate/ Partner Relations, Compensation, Formal Training, Hours, Informal Training, Offices, Overall Satisfaction, Pro Bono, Selectivity

The Best 20 Law Firms for Diversity. Categories: Diversity for Women, Minorities and Gays and Lesbians

Partner Prestige Rankings: Practice areas: Antitrust, Bankruptcy, Corporate, Intellectual Property, International, Labor Employment, Litigation, Mergers & Acquisitions, Real Estate, and Securities.

Details at web publication of 2009 Rankings and Vault Guide to the Top 100 Law Firms (2009 Edition) ($39.95)

See also: Best Law Firms for Women by Working Mother magazine and Flex-Time Lawyers. [JH]