Biglaw, Fabulosity, Perks / Fringe Benefits, Rankings, Sheppard Mullin

Crain’s 2013 ‘Best Places To Work In NYC’ List Includes Seven Law Firms

Which law firms are considered tops in the city that never sleeps? Let's find out...

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Since 2008, Crain’s New York Business has produced a list of the Best Places to Work in New York City. Each year, a few law firms sneak onto the list, much like the situation with Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For list.

This year, seven law firms made Crain’s list, while only four made Fortune’s list, as of January 2012. Just two firms overlap between Crain’s and Fortune’s lists.

Which ones are considered tops in the city that never sleeps? Let’s find out…

Please note the UPDATE to this post below.

Before we get to New York City’s top law firms to work for, let’s check out Crain’s rankings methodology:

To find the firms that were the best places to work, Crain’s partnered with Best Companies Group, an independent research firm that conducted more than 16,000 surveys of employees in New York City.

To be eligible, businesses had to employ 25 or more workers within the five boroughs. Scores from employees, who answered a confidential 81-question survey, were combined with scores from a 94-question survey of employers. Questions focused on everything from benefits to opportunities for advancement.

Results from the employee surveys made up 75% of the total score; results from the employer surveys made up 25%.

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By the way, Crain’s changes the number of workplaces that make the list each year. In 2012, 50 businesses made it, but in 2013, 75 businesses made it. If your law firm got left behind last year, maybe you don’t need to be so concerned, but if you didn’t make it onto 2013’s inclusive list, you might want to consider making some changes. (e.g., Adam Leitman Bailey — No. 25 last year, absent this year.)

UPDATE (12/13/13): A spokesperson for Adam Leitman Bailey reached out to us to let us know that the firm opted out from consideration this year due to the sheer amount of time it takes for employees to fill out all of the surveys and questionnaires involved. We hope to see you on the list next year!

It should be noted that Crain’s doesn’t include “layoff and voluntary turnover rates” as part of its evaluation. We can’t fault them for that — they say it’s because some industries are more “prone to turnover” than others — but it’d be helpful for lawyers and staff when deciding which firm is truly “best” to work for.

That being said, the seven law firms on Crain’s 2013 Best Places to Work in NYC list are:

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Alston & Bird and Bingham McCutchen are the only firms to appear on both Crain’s list and Fortune’s list. Congratulations to both firms for such an achievement. Getting people to fill out questionnaires is tough!

Here are the best perks we saw offered at each of the big-name firms: Sheppard Mullin (employees get beer kegs and Xbox playtime); Hunton & Williams (lots of tuition assistance and reimbursement); Cooley (generous bonuses, but where are they?!); Bingham McCutchen (presents from the firm for major life events); and Alston & Bird (the firm’s concierge service will research vacation spots for you).

So, readers, have these rankings actually been earned? Can you think of a law firm that deserves to be recognized, but hasn’t been? Please give us your thoughts, in the comments or via email. Thanks!

Best Places to Work 2013 [Crain’s New York Business]

Earlier: Crain’s 2011 ‘Best Places to Work in NYC’ List Includes Seven Law Firms

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