Final week, Vault launched the 2025 version of its intently watched regulation agency rankings, proving that cash — within the type of Cravath’s perennially aggressive pay scale — can purchase status.
However can that cash purchase happiness?
In a companion rating to the Vault 100, associates had been requested to rank their very own regulation companies primarily based on classes most related to their total high quality of life, together with satisfaction; agency tradition; hours; compensation; high quality of labor; enterprise outlook; profession outlook; affiliate/companion relations; transparency; formal and casual coaching; professional bono; and total inclusion.
Fifty companies had been ranked for Vault’s 2026 Finest Legislation Companies to Work For survey, which was performed from January 2025 by March 2025, so we’re getting a fowl’s eye view of life at many of those companies after the newest spherical of bonuses and particular bonuses had been first seen in paychecks (and simply earlier than Trump’s revenge tour towards Biglaw and legal professionals writ giant). This can be stunning for some, however not one of the companies that made the High 10 listing for being essentially the most prestigious made the High 10 listing for being a greatest agency to work for.
There was an enormous quantity of motion within the High 10 this yr. Which companies made the minimize? With none additional ado, listed below are the High 10 Finest Legislation Companies to Work For primarily based on Vault’s Annual Affiliate Survey for 2026:
1. O’Melveny & Myers (no change)
2. Morgan Lewis & Bockius (no change)
3. Clifford Likelihood US (no change)
4. McDermott Will & Emery (no change)
5. Eversheds Sutherland (up from #13)
6. Gunster (up from #12)
7. Sheppard Mullin (up from #11)
8. Mayer Brown (up from #37)
9. Fried Frank (down from #6)
10. Warner Norcross + Judd (down from #8)
In joyful information for affiliate high quality of life, O’Melveny and Morgan Lewis duked it out this yr, competing to actually impress their associates. As famous by Eric Stutzke, SVP and Basic Supervisor of Vault, “We noticed a detailed race for the Finest General Legislation Agency to Work For title between O’Melveny and Morgan Lewis, two companies that all the time carry out nicely on this rating.” O’Melveny took the No. 1 spot within the total rating for 2 main classes (General Finest Legislation Agency to Work For and General Finest Summer time Affiliate Program), whereas Morgan Lewis too the No. 1 spot within the closing main class (General Inclusion). Each of the companies positioned within the prime 10 for each high quality of life class, with every snagging the No. 1 or No. 2 spot in practically each different rating.
Congratulations to every of the Biglaw companies that made the most recent version of the Vault Finest Companies to Work For rankings, and an enormous congratulations to O’Melveny and Morgan Lewis for scoring extremely nicely. How did your agency do? Electronic mail us, textual content us at (646) 820-8477, or tweet us @atlblog to tell us how you are feeling.
Finest Legislation Companies to Work For (2026) [Vault]
Staci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Legislation, the place she’s labored since 2011. She’d love to listen to from you, so please be at liberty to e mail her with any ideas, questions, feedback, or critiques. You’ll be able to observe her on Bluesky, X/Twitter, and Threads, or join along with her on LinkedIn.
