Alston & Bird, Arnold & Porter, Biglaw, Rankings

Fortune Lists Top 100 Companies to Work For

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Fortune has released its annual list of the top 100 companies to work for. Despite the general feeling of malaise in the legal industry, a few law firms made the cut.

The highest ranked law firm (number 21 overall) is Arnold & Porter. Fortune reports:

Law firm offers world-class benefits to staff and attorneys: 18 weeks’ paid leave for maternity and adoption, $5,000 for adoption fees, $30,000 for fertility services, free onsite fitness center, on- and off-site child care.

I guess a salary freeze that their peer firms in the Vault 20 are largely avoiding doesn’t trump a free gym.

Fortune also released a list of the top 20 companies that are great places to work and still hiring. No law firms made that list.

So I guess we’ll focus on other law firms in the top 100 after the jump.


Coming in at number 30 overall, Bingham McCutchen is the next law firm on the list. The firm’s ability to attract former governors is what sets them apart.

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At number 36 overall, Alston & Bird is the next law firm on the list:

This 115-year-old law firm is heaven for parents: three months’ paid leave for new moms, adoption benefits up to $7,000, special parking for pregnant moms, onsite child care, and a “maternity closet” to recycle clothing.

Cue the Jim Mora guy, because the rumors are running rampant about other things that are in the A&B closet.

UPDATE: Perkins Coie comes in at number 82. (Thanks, commenters, for pointing the omission.)

Orrick makes an appearance at number 87. Shockingly, they are talking about the same “Orrick” that laid off 40 people in November and froze salaries between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. And why was Orrick singled out for honor and praise?

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Law firm whose roots go back to Civil War paid bonuses to hourly workers despite economic crunch that forced layoffs of 20 lawyers and 20 legal secretaries.

Two questions: if Orrick is the 87th best place to work in America, is the 88th best place the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory? And assuming that a positive work environment isn’t all about the money, how is firing people and then paying out huge bonuses a good thing? Wouldn’t not firing people and spreading the pain around to everybody in the form of no bonuses (and reduced profits) be the “better” place to work?

In any event, check out the rest of the top 100 and see what other companies you might want to move in-house with when the market turns.

100 Best Companies to Work For [CNN Money]

They’re hiring! [CNN Money]

Earlier: Everyone’s a Winner at These Five Law Firms

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