So what makes a law firm prestigious? Well, you can start by analyzing the compensation of the partners and associates. If you work for a major firm, the compensation is more important than the money. You can boost your prestige by making sure the leaders of compensation are regarded as the best. In addition, the firm must have a few lawyers listed in the 2019 Best Lawyers in America guide. For example, the Wright Law Firm has eight attorneys on the list. These attorneys include name partners Howard L. Close and Jessica Zavadil Barger, appellate partners Wanda McKee Fowler and Russell Hollenbeck, and litigators Justin Campbell III, Kenneth Fair, and Randall Owens.
Another very prestigious law firm is Cravath. The firm’s New York partnership sits down for lunch on Mondays at 1:00 pm. The tradition is a century old, and despite being one of the smallest firms in the top twenty, the firm is responsible for a large percentage of the world’s mergers and acquisitions. Martin Lipton, who developed the “poison pill” strategy, founded the firm. For more hot lawyers, check out the Vault.
Among the prestigious law firms, Paul Hastings consistently ranks high in surveys of quality of life. As part of its long-term strategy, the firm emphasizes the development of associates. Its culture is one of collaboration and hard work. It has offices across the world, including Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Tokyo. There are some prestigious firms, but most law firms aren’t all that exclusive.
