NLJ 500

ALM Intelligence gathers the data for The National Law Journals annual survey of the nations largest law firms. The NLJ sent surveys to over 600 law firms to determine the 500 largest. Eligibility is based on a firms total number of attorneys (average FTE), not including contract or temporary attorneys, covers the previous calendar year period. In order to qualify, a firm must have employed more lawyers based in the U.S. than in any other single country.

Firms are ranked by the total number of full-time equivalent (FTE) attorneys and  numbers are rounded to the nearest whole number. In case of a tie, firms are ranked by the number of FTE attorneys before rounding, and then on the total number of partners, and then the number of equity partners. In some cases, firms did not provide numbers for breakouts such as associates and other attorneys. As a result, the summation of individual breakouts may not equal the total number of attorneys reported.

The city listed under the firm name is the firms principal office. Number of attorneys reflects permanent, FTE attorneys at the firm. Other attorneys includes non-partner, non-associate lawyers at the firm, e.g., counsel, of counsel, senior counsel and staff attorneys. Starting salary lists the base salary for a first-year associate. In some firms, this varies by office.