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Lawyers Weekly, in collaboration with Agile Market Intelligence, is proud to reveal the BigLaw firms that are most appealing to legal professionals in the event they make a career move.
What is the Legal Firm of Choice Survey?
Now in its 10th edition, the Top 25 Attraction Firms ranking serves as a significant component of the Legal Firm of Choice Survey, which sets out to identify the most desirable private legal practices across Australia.
The latest survey was conducted from 30 January to 13 February 2025 and garnered a total of 434 responses from legal professionals currently engaged in private practice throughout the country. It recorded the attitudes, priorities, and perceptions of these practitioners, offering a valuable glimpse into the evolving landscape of the legal profession.
Each year brings a dynamic shift in rankings, with some firms soaring to new heights while others slip down the list. As with previous years, the 2024-25 results provide compelling insights into how legal professionals assess potential employers – particularly as the influence of artificial intelligence in the profession continues to grow and economic pressures persist. To see last year’s list, click here.
Speaking about the results from the annual ranking, Lawyers Weekly editor Jerome Doraisamy said: “It is an honour for us to publish this annual ranking of the BigLaw firms deemed most appealing as a vocational prospect for lawyers across the board.”
“This year’s data contains some fascinating insights into the perceptions of practitioners across all ages, as well as how gender influences one's thinking - not just about career moves, but also treatment by employers and the pay gap. Firm leaders everywhere should pay close attention to what the 2024-25 data says about the legal services market Down Under,” he advised.
Methodology
The annual Lawyers Weekly Top 25 Attraction Firms ranking is based on responses derived from one question within the recent Legal Firm of Choice Survey, which asked participants: “Which legal firms would you consider a move to if you ever decided to leave your current organisation?”
Respondents were able to choose up to five law firms they’d be interested in joining and then were asked, if they had the option, to identify their top choice among those five they selected.
From this, each answer is assigned a point. The ranking is determined by the total points, with the firm that receives the most points ranked the highest. In instances of a tie, a secondary question is used to differentiate between prospective employers.
Participants were not allowed to vote for their own firms, to mitigate the possibility of any firm influencing the results in its favour.
The Top Attraction Firms 2024-25
According to the Legal Firm of Choice Survey, the top 25 firms this year, with their rankings from the previous year’s results in brackets, are as follows:
25. Deloitte Legal (down from 24th in 2023-24);
24. Russell Kennedy Lawyers (up from 26th);
23. K&L Gates (down from 18th);
22. White & Case (up from 35th);
21. Clifford Chance (up from 25th);
20. Hamilton Locke (up from 45th);
19. Norton Rose Fulbright (up from 33rd);
18. Maurice Blackburn (down from 10th);
17. Barry Nilsson (down from 11th);
16. Sparke Helmore Lawyers (up from 32nd);
15. A&O Shearman (up from equal 21st);
14. Baker McKenzie (up from equal 15th);
13. HWL Ebsworth Lawyers (up from equal 15th);
12. Maddocks (up from equal 21st);
11. Gilbert + Tobin Lawyers (up from 12th);
10. Lander & Rogers (down from 7th);
9. Mills Oakley (same position);
8. Corrs Chambers Westgarth (up from 14th);
7. Hall & Wilcox (down from 4th);
6. King & Wood Mallesons (down from 3rd);
5. Herbert Smith Freehills (up from 8th);
4. Clayton Utz (up from 5th);
3. Ashurst (up from 6th);
2. MinterEllison (same position); and
1. Allens (same position).
If you or your firm have any questions about this year’s Top 25 Attraction Firms ranking and the annual Legal Firm of Choice Survey, please contact
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