Insights

Everything You Need To Know About Partner Pay

Want to know how your compensation compares with your peers'? How your practice area stacks up? Whether your level of satisfaction with your compensation matches other partners'? Explore the ins and outs of law firm partner compensation with our interactive graphic.
The 2022 Partner Compensation Survey

The 2022 Partner Compensation Survey finds that partner compensation has fully recovered from the pandemic, with average pay surpassing $1 million and big jumps in corporate practices as well as some of the smaller major cities.
The Law360 Pulse Web3 Survey

Law firms are warming very slowly to technology despite having moved large swaths of their workforce and offices online. This is especially true when it comes to Web3, a decentralized online ecosystem based on blockchain. Law360 Pulse's Web3 Survey takes a deep dive into firms' relationship with this cutting-edge technology and the potential uses it could have for them in their work with clients as well as in firm workflow and infrastructure.
These Firms Were The Top For Their Summer Associates

By Andrew Strickler

BigLaw summer programs got more high marks from lawyers-in-training this year, with many praising firms for copious in-person learning opportunities in the wake of the pandemic and the chance to dedicate their time to innovation projects.
The 2022 Summer Associates Survey: Part 2

By Law360 Pulse Staff

Many law firms were able to welcome their summer associates in person for the first time since before the pandemic began. Find out which firms were this year’s summer winners and what summers liked best about their experiences and training, in the latest survey from Law360 Pulse.
The 2022 Glass Ceiling Report: Women In Law

For nearly a decade, Law360 has been tracking gender equity at law firms as they continue working to close the gender gap. Our latest report shows where firms are succeeding and where they’re falling short on reaching gender parity.
The 2022 Diversity Snapshot

For the eighth year in a row, Law360 is taking an in-depth look at law firms’ diversity data to show how they stack up against each other, how far they’ve come, and how far they still have to go.
Law360's Diversity Snapshot: How Firms Stack Up

By Gerald Schifman

Law firms have made incremental progress toward diversifying their attorney ranks, yet many firms are behind on their diversity, equity and inclusion goals. In this year’s Diversity Snapshot, Law360 Pulse takes a look at how diversity in law firms’ headcounts compares with what it could be based on the potential marketplace of new hires.
The 2022 Law Firm Culture Survey

Law360 Pulse partnered with Major Lindsey & Africa to survey attorneys on what the idea of law firm culture means to them, what aspects of it they think their firms are good at and struggle with. Here, we take a look at our results.
The 2022 Law360 400

For the ninth year in a row, Law360 is pleased to announce our list of the 400 largest U.S. firms by headcount.
The 2022 Summer Associates Survey

Law firms began eyeing a return to normalcy with their summer programs in 2022, after two years of modified programming because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Find out what’s in store for this year’s summers, as well as which firms topped their wish lists, in the latest survey from Law360 Pulse.
Fat Salaries Are Nice But Don't Drive Summer Associates

By Andrew Strickler

For most law students, paychecks for summer programs are widely seen as at least adequate; for some, they're transformative. Law360 Pulse dives into how much firms are paying their summer associates and what a big paycheck can mean to the cohort.
These Firms Are Where Summers Want To Work

By Aebra Coe

Shifting sentiments around what law students value in summer associate programs are driving changes in which law firms win out in today’s competitive environment for talent, with a new Law360 Pulse survey highlighting the value of factors like remote work options, diversity and work-life balance.
The 2022 Lawyer Satisfaction Survey

Attorneys are generally satisfied with their jobs and the culture of their law firms, but stress levels continue to run high across the profession, according to the 2022 Law360 Pulse Lawyer Satisfaction Survey.
LawLife 2.0: How The Pandemic Redefined The Way We Work

As the global COVID-19 pandemic nears the start of its third year, attorneys all over the U.S. are divided on how much time they'd like to spend at the office going forward, but most agree that at least some time spent face-to-face with colleagues is what they'd prefer. Partners and associates also held differing views on how much law firm culture has shifted — and in what direction — since the onset of the pandemic.
The 2021 Law360 Pulse Leaderboard

Check out the inaugural Law360 Pulse Leaderboard, along with news analysis and interactive graphics, to see how firms stack up on social impact, reputation and practice footprint.
The 2021 Law360 Pulse Prestige Leaders

Check out our Law360 Pulse Prestige Leaders ranking, news analysis and interactive graphics to see how firms compare on everything from financials to reputation among the newest crop of attorneys.
The 2021 Law360 Pulse Social Impact Leaders

Check out our Social Impact Leaders ranking, news analysis and interactive graphics to see how firms compare as they engage with the idea of making a social impact and finding ways it can be measured.
The Law360 Pulse Merger Tracker

Law firm combinations experienced a slowdown last year amid the pandemic, but appear to be heading for a modest rebound in 2021. Explore this year's tie-ups with our interactive graphic.
The 2021 Summer Associates Survey: Part 2

Summer programs have undergone big changes in the past two years amid the pandemic, and expectations are shifting for what a successful summer associateship looks like. Find out which firms left their summers happy and what programs worked and didn’t work in Law360 Pulse’s post-program survey.
The 2021 Glass Ceiling Report

Law firms are facing more pressure than ever to ensure that women are equitably represented in their ranks, but progress remains slow and parity is a distant goal. Here's our annual ranking of firms based on their representation of female attorneys at the associate and partner levels, with a detailed look at what life and forging a career is like for women in the law.
The 2021 Diversity Snapshot

The 2021 Diversity Snapshot shows a legal industry that has stayed committed to increasing diversity among its ranks, but the pace of progress continues to grow incrementally. Here's our annual ranking of law firms on their representation of minority attorneys at the associate and partner levels, with a detailed look at their racial and ethnic composition.
The Law360 400: Tracking The Largest US Law Firms

By Jacqueline Bell

As much of the U.S. emerges from the worst of the coronavirus pandemic that upended the world last year, law firms are taking stock of how much their business and their bench strength were affected by the unprecedented pressures of a global health crisis.
5 Myths Attorneys Believed When They Started Out

By Jack Karp

Many people think being a lawyer is all about arguing in court and racking up billable hours. Here, Law360 Pulse speaks with attorneys about five popular myths they harbored when they started out — and why they like practicing anyway.
The 2021 Lawyer Satisfaction Survey

Law360 Pulse wanted to see how attorneys feel about their jobs as the pandemic continues into its second year. Are they satisfied with their work? Are they stressed? The results were mixed, but one thing is clear: firms are, by and large, helping. Here’s our latest deep dive into attorneys, firms, and satisfaction in a difficult year.

Can't find the article you're looking for? Click here to search the Insights archive.

Expert Analysis

Looking Under The Hood Of The $3,000 Billable Hour
In recent years, top-tier law firms have pushed hourly rates to unprecedented heights, with some partners commanding $3,000 per hour — but this eye-popping number doesn’t tell the full story, as there are numerous caveats and rigorous winnowing along the way, says Christopher Seck at Squire Patton.
How Law Firms Can Keep Nonequity Partners Happy
Law firms that successfully manage two-tiered partnership do so by creating a culture that treats everyone with respect and by establishing financial incentives outside their base compensation to reward performance, says Carol Morganstern at Major Lindsey.
Series
Biz Development Tip Of The Month: Leverage Your Atty Bio
If maintained properly, your firm bio can help attract potential clients and create authentic connections, so it's crucial to take steps to write an updated attorney profile that goes beyond a list of credentials, says Raychel Lean at Reputation Ink.
Making Legal Cents: Firm Culture Is The New Game Plan
Law firm culture is often dismissed as a soft factor — merely platitudes on a website that seem disconnected from the bottom line — but by intentionally embedding a strong culture into day-to-day operations, law firms can achieve sustainable success, says Shireen Hilal at Maior Strategic Consulting.
Rethinking 'No Comment' For Clients Facing Public Crises
“No comment” is no longer a cost-free or even a viable public communications strategy for companies in crisis, and counsel must tailor their guidance based on a variety of competing factors to help clients emerge successfully, says Robert Bowers at Moore & Van Allen.
How Firms Can Use LinkedIn To Aid Marketing Efforts In 2025
LinkedIn has several features law firms can use to showcase their capabilities and thought leadership to reach prospective and existing clients, including the Event and Live features, says Sofia Millar at Reputation Ink.
Strategies For Successful Law Firm Mergers In 2025
Law firms are expected to continue consolidating in the year to come, and because these mergers require a different kind of playbook, firm leaders must carefully consider office culture nuances, professional services economics and talent retention strategy before any merger, say directors at FTI Consulting.
Making Legal Cents: Winning More Work In A Crowded Market
In a market where clients have more options, tighter budgets and higher expectations, firms must figure out how to differentiate themselves without discounting their rates, and several practical strategies for pitching, pricing and early-engagement communication can help, says Shireen Hilal at Maior Strategic Consulting.
Best Practices For Implementing Firm Revenue Cycle Roles
Law firm revenue cycles are becoming more complex and time-consuming, but hiring dedicated revenue cycle personnel can help streamline the process and reduce the burden on attorneys, says Christine Indiano at Harbor Global.
Tips For Constructing Your Small-Law Exit Strategy
By initiating planning and processes to evaluate personal retirement goals and firm value early, longtime solo practitioners and small-firm owners can unlock a range of possibilities and potential buyers, setting up for a profitable exit and a rewarding transition, says Brent Daub at Gilson Daub.
3 Trends Reshaping Chief Marketing Officer Appointments
Recent approaches to hiring chief marketing officers demonstrate how firms are reimagining their marketing and business development frameworks to stay competitive and responsive to evolving client needs, says Murray Coffey at M Coffey.
6 Essential Skills For Summer Associates To Land An Offer
Excerpt from Practical Guidance

With full-time offer rates at the lowest point since 2012, summer associates must do all they can to distinguish themselves, starting with a few fundamentals — from the importance of asking clarifying questions to being honest about mistakes, says James Argionis at Cozen O'Connor.
Making Legal Cents: How Law Firms Can Innovate Faster
To meet the demands of an evolving legal market and changing client expectations, law firms must not only embrace innovation, but also find ways to accelerate adoption and mitigate risks in an industry historically resistant to change, says Shireen Hilal at Maior Strategic Consulting.
Making Legal Cents: Engaging A Remote, Evolving Workforce
In the face of a dispersed and changing workforce with Generation Z entering the scene, law firms should consider some practical strategies to revitalize their cultures, provide meaningful mentorship and safeguard their knowledge bases, says Shireen Hilal at Maior Strategic Consulting.
Former Minn. Chief Justice Instructs On Writing Better Briefs
Former Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Lorie Gildea, now at Greenberg Traurig, offers strategies on writing more effective appellate briefs from her time on the bench.