Being the most important financial center in the US and arguably the world, it’s no surprise that New York is the most significant legal market In the United States. Much of the legal practice is driven by an abundance of multinational companies and firms that rely on financial institutions to conduct their business. However, there are several other sources of clientele in various sectors, such as retail companies and consumer product manufacturers. As a result of these limitless opportunities, several international and local law firms call New York home. Consequently, this creates a wide range of job opportunities for both budding and seasoned legal practitioners looking to establish and grow their careers in a competitive environment. If you are looking for a top law firm in New York where you can nurture and improve your skills, consider one of these nine best law firms in New York City. To see more of the best law firms in New York City, have a look at this list.

How Strong is the Legal Market in New York?

Thanks to its ever-expanding business economy, there is a lot of legal work in New York. The high demand for legal practitioners is primarily due to exponential economic growth and burgeoning businesses in various sectors. According to Bloomberg, available jobs are innumerable, ranging from paralegals, support staff, and attorneys. Besides the considerable demand, remuneration for lawyers in New York is 188% higher than the national average. Typically, a lawyer in New York earns about $167,110 annually. However, salary ranges from $65,000 for first-year associates up to $424,404 based on experience and the firm you are working for.

Which Are the Best Law Firms in New York City?


If you are looking for a chance to kickstart or advance your career in the most prestigious law market in the US, here are some of the best law firms in New York. If none of these resonate with you, check out our comprehensive list of the top law firms in New York.
 

Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP

 

Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP is perhaps one of the biggest and most prestigious law firms not only in New York but in the entire United States. With over 1,000 attorneys and 14 offices around the world, it serves clients in a broad spectrum of industries specializing in about 40 practice areas. These include but are not limited to real estate, tax, environmental, intellectual property, energy suppliers, labor, and employment. The firm has been in existence for over 100 years
 

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

 

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is a large, significant law firm in New York both in terms of practice areas and revenue. In the recent past, it has been a frequent recipient of several industry recognitions for its high stakes appellate works, strength in litigation, depth in public policy, and revolutionary leadership in business and organizational transactions. Its main areas of specialization are banking, corporate, international energy, antitrust, finance, litigation, labor, securities, environmental, and employment, among others.
 

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP

 

Popularly known as Gottlieb, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is a white shoe international law firm headquartered in New York City. The firm also serves global clients on five continents and boasts an impressive 1200 attorneys worldwide. Notably, it was the first American law firm to qualify for a practice license in Japan and has represented several big companies and governments throughout the world. Its main practice areas include, but are not limited to, real estate, tax, intellectual property rights, energy, antitrust and environmental law.
 

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP

 

With over 200 years in operation, Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP has risen to become one of the best law firms in New York and the United States as a whole. Under its belt, the firm boasts several leading practices spanning the corporate world, capital markets, tax, M&A, real estate, trusts, compensations and benefits, banking, and credit. Besides operating in the US, the firm also has a robust international market share, with 25 percent of its client base being outside the US.
 

Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP

 

Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP is a top law firm in New York, incorporated in 1919. Since then, it has built a strong reputation in handling corporate and financial law sectors. It has established this reputation by focusing their efforts on complex challenges that multinational corporations and financial services firms face. The firm offers a broad spectrum of law services in areas such as capital markets and lending, intellectual property, antitrust and trade regulation, mergers and acquisitions, insurance, and commercial litigation.
 

Clifford Chance LLP

 

Clifford Chance LLP is one of the largest and best law firms in New York and the world in terms of revenue and attorneys, and is also a member of the “Magic Circle.” Though headquartered in London, it has offices in New York with a significant number of lawyers across the United States. Benefiting from strong ties with private equity sponsors, banks, and corporations, it has established a unique perspective across the entire spectrum of the capital industry on both the borrower and lender side. With its vast resources from all over the world, it excels in several practice areas such as employment, tax, construction, capital market, insurance, and real estate.

What’s the Bottom Line?

If you are looking to launch or advance your career, New York is undoubtedly the place to be. For novices, there are ample openings to kick start a law career, and seasoned lawyers will also have several opportunities to advance their careers in various top law firms in New York.


About Harrison Barnes

No legal recruiter in the United States has placed more attorneys at top law firms across every practice area than Harrison Barnes. His unmatched expertise, industry connections, and proven placement strategies have made him the most influential legal career advisor for attorneys seeking success in Big Law, elite boutiques, mid-sized firms, small firms, firms in the largest and smallest markets, and in over 350 separate practice areas.

A Reach Unlike Any Other Legal Recruiter

Most legal recruiters focus only on placing attorneys in large markets or specific practice areas, but Harrison places attorneys at all levels, in all practice areas, and in all locations-from the most prestigious firms in New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., to small and mid-sized firms in rural markets. Every week, he successfully places attorneys not only in high-demand practice areas like corporate and litigation but also in niche and less commonly recruited areas such as:

• Immigration Law
• Workers Compensation
• Insurance
• Family Law
• Trust and Estate
• Municipal law
• And many more...

This breadth of placements is unheard of in the legal recruiting industry and is a testament to his extraordinary ability to connect attorneys with the right firms, regardless of market size or practice area.

Proven Success at All Levels

With over 25 years of experience, Harrison has successfully placed attorneys at over 1,000 law firms, including:

• Top Am Law 100 firms such including Sullivan and Cromwell, and almost every AmLaw 100 and AmLaw 200 law firm.
• Elite boutique firms with specialized practices
• Mid-sized firms looking to expand their practice areas
• Growing firms in small and rural markets

He has also placed hundreds of law firm partners and has worked on firm and practice area mergers, helping law firms strategically grow their teams.

Unmatched Commitment to Attorney Success - The Story of BCG Attorney Search

Harrison Barnes is not just the most effective legal recruiter in the country, he is also the founder of BCG Attorney Search, a recruiting powerhouse that has helped thousands of attorneys transform their careers. His vision for BCG goes beyond just job placement; it is built on a mission to provide attorneys with opportunities they would never have access to otherwise. Unlike traditional recruiting firms, BCG Attorney Search operates as a career partner, not just a placement service. The firm's unparalleled resources, including a team of over 150 employees, enable it to offer customized job searches, direct outreach to firms, and market intelligence that no other legal recruiting service provides. Attorneys working with Harrison and BCG gain access to hidden opportunities, real-time insights on firm hiring trends, and guidance from a team that truly understands the legal market. You can read more about how BCG Attorney Search revolutionizes legal recruiting here: The Story of BCG Attorney Search and What We Do for You.

The Most Trusted Career Advisor for Attorneys

Harrison's legal career insights are the most widely followed in the profession.

• His articles on BCG Search alone are read by over 150,000 attorneys per month, making his guidance the most sought-after in the legal field. Read his latest insights here.
• He has conducted hundreds of hours of career development webinars, available here: Harrison Barnes Webinar Replays.
• His placement success is unmatched-see examples here: Harrison Barnes' Attorney Placements.
• He has created numerous comprehensive career development courses, including BigLaw Breakthrough, designed to help attorneys land positions at elite law firms.

Submit Your Resume to Work with Harrison Barnes

If you are serious about advancing your legal career and want access to the most sought-after law firm opportunities, Harrison Barnes is the most powerful recruiter to have on your side.

Submit your resume today to start working with him: Submit Resume Here

With an unmatched track record of success, a vast team of over 150 dedicated employees, and a reach into every market and practice area, Harrison Barnes is the recruiter who makes career transformations happen and has the talent and resources behind him to make this happen.

A Relentless Commitment to Attorney Success

Unlike most recruiters who work with only a narrow subset of attorneys, Harrison Barnes works with lawyers at all stages of their careers, from junior associates to senior partners, in every practice area imaginable. His placements are not limited to only those with "elite" credentials-he has helped thousands of attorneys, including those who thought it was impossible to move firms, find their next great opportunity.

Harrison's work is backed by a team of over 150 professionals who work around the clock to uncover hidden job opportunities at law firms across the country. His team:

• Finds and creates job openings that aren't publicly listed, giving attorneys access to exclusive opportunities.
• Works closely with candidates to ensure their resumes and applications stand out.
• Provides ongoing guidance and career coaching to help attorneys navigate interviews, negotiations, and transitions successfully.

This level of dedicated support is unmatched in the legal recruiting industry.

A Legal Recruiter Who Changes Lives

Harrison believes that every attorney-no matter their background, law school, or previous experience-has the potential to find success in the right law firm environment. Many attorneys come to him feeling stuck in their careers, underpaid, or unsure of their next steps. Through his unique ability to identify the right opportunities, he helps attorneys transform their careers in ways they never thought possible.

He has worked with:

• Attorneys making below-market salaries who went on to double or triple their earnings at new firms.
• Senior attorneys who believed they were "too experienced" to make a move and found better roles with firms eager for their expertise.
• Attorneys in small or remote markets who assumed they had no options-only to be placed at strong firms they never knew existed.
• Partners looking for a better platform or more autonomy who successfully transitioned to firms where they could grow their practice.

For attorneys who think their options are limited, Harrison Barnes has proven time and time again that opportunities exist-often in places they never expected.

Submit Your Resume Today - Start Your Career Transformation

If you want to explore new career opportunities, Harrison Barnes and BCG Attorney Search are your best resources. Whether you are looking for a BigLaw position, a boutique firm, or a move to a better work environment, Harrison's expertise will help you take control of your future.

Submit Your Resume Here to get started with Harrison Barnes today.

Harrison's reach, experience, and proven results make him the best legal recruiter in the industry. Don't settle for an average recruiter-work with the one who has changed the careers of thousands of attorneys and can do the same for you.

About BCG Attorney Search

BCG Attorney Search matches attorneys and law firms with unparalleled expertise and drive, while achieving results. Known globally for its success in locating and placing attorneys in law firms of all sizes, BCG Attorney Search has placed thousands of attorneys in law firms in thousands of different law firms around the country. Unlike other legal placement firms, BCG Attorney Search brings massive resources of over 150 employees to its placement efforts locating positions and opportunities its competitors simply cannot. Every legal recruiter at BCG Attorney Search is a former successful attorney who attended a top law school, worked in top law firms and brought massive drive and commitment to their work. BCG Attorney Search legal recruiters take your legal career seriously and understand attorneys. For more information, please visit www.BCGSearch.com.