Summer Associate Survey

ALM Intelligence, in association with The American Lawyer, conducts this annual survey measuring the satisfaction of summer associates employed by the nations law firms. Firms are scored based on associate ratings of the firms qualities, including interest and satisfaction with the work, benefits and compensation, interaction with partners, training, and acceptance of full time offers.

The survey is conducted between early June and mid-August, and survey invitations are distributed through the firms recruiting coordinators. Eligible summer associates are first- and second-year law students clerking at firms for at least three weeks during the summer. Respondents are guaranteed anonymity.

Firms included in the Main Rankings chart are those from which we received at least ten completed surveys. Individual offices listed on the Results by City chart are those from which we received at least five surveys. To determine scores for individual questions, we average respondents answers on a firm-wide basis for the National Rankings chart and on a citywide basis for the Results by City chart. All question averages are rounded to two decimal places. Scores for firms are calculated from those rounded question averages, and then rounded to three decimal places.

The average of nine job satisfaction questions is used to determine a firms overall score on both charts. Those questions asked how interesting the work was, how much real work was assigned, how the training and guidance measured up, how positive interactions with partners and with associates were, how well the firm communicated its goals and expectations, how accurately the firm portrayed itself in interviews, and the respondents inclination to accept a position if one were offered. The respondents were also asked to rate the firm overall as a place to work.