Biglaw, Pro Bono, Rankings

Which Biglaw Firm Is Best For Pro Bono? (2017)

The pro bono all stars!

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On-campus recruiting season is upon us, and rising 2Ls across the country are trying to create some meaningful distinction between the firms they are hoping to score interviews with. May we suggest looking at the firm’s pro bono numbers?

Pro bono experience is great for young lawyer. Those matters are usually leanly staffed — since they’re a drain on the firm’s profits — so junior attorneys get actual experience (that’s how yours truly was able to argue before the Second Circuit). The matters also tend to to be a bit more exciting. For those of you thinking, “What? Litigation that revolves around the interpretation of an obscure finite reinsurance agreement doesn’t leave your knickers wet?” Well, you’ll be right at home at Biglaw.

Our friends over at Law.com have compiled a list of the top 10 Biglaw firms when it comes to pro bono hours. They’ve ranked them by total number of hours billed, so note that firms with a larger headcount may have a slight advantage:

1- Latham & Watkins
2- Gibson Dunn
3- Skadden
4- Ropes & Gray
5- Kirkland & Ellis
6- Jones Day
7- DLA Piper
8- Sidley Austin
9- WilmerHale
10- Morgan Lewis

It should also be noted that this ranking is based off of 2016 numbers, so any 2017 pro bono emergencies (ahem, travel ban, ahem) were not factored in.

Law.com also revealed that 50 percent of lawyers participated in at least 20 hours of pro bono work in 2016. The average per lawyer number of hours billed to pro bono matters was 56.7.

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headshotKathryn Rubino is an editor at Above the Law. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).

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