
A steadily expanding technology industry, progressively growing banking sector, and the low cost of living have prompted Atlanta to become one of the most diverse and vibrant economic powerhouses in the United States. With so many companies and businesses spanning a wide array of industries, law firms have ample opportunities to serve clients in all facets of legal work from environmental, intellectual property, construction, regulatory, M&A, securities, litigation, and real estate. Perhaps this explains why being an attorney is currently considered the fastest-growing career that requires more than a bachelor’s degree in both metropolitan Atlanta and the entire state of Georgia. Fortunately, this implies there are countless opportunities for budding and seasoned attorneys to establish a fulfilling and exciting career in a cost-friendly environment, unlike in other cities such as New York and LA.
How Strong is the Legal Market in Atlanta, GA?
Atlanta has weathered economic storms and demonstrated an ability to attract and retain highly talented lawyers. Rising salaries further provides evidence of Atlanta’s skyrocketing legal market and also reflects its strength. For legal partners, the market has shown a consistent remuneration growth rising from $701,000 in 2018 to $850,000 in 2019.
Moreover, partners are not the only lawyers who have seen an increase in salaries. According to Bloomberg, some of the largest firms have significantly increased their starting salaries to between $155,000 and $180,000. These salary increases are proof that the legal market in Atlanta is one of the most lucrative and competitive in the country and is home to some of the top law firms in Georgia. Bottom of Form
What Are Atlanta’s Top Law Firms?
Although Atlanta is home to some of the best law firms in Georgia and the country as a whole, a few law firms have stood the test of time and immortalized themselves as the crème de la crème of the legal sector. These firms are some of the best in the country and offer the best remunerations in Atlanta. So, if you are looking for a firm where you can grow your career, here are 9 of the best law firms in Atlanta. You can look up other top law firms in Atlanta, GA, in this post.
Alston & Bird LLP

Alston & Bird is an international law firm with 12 offices throughout the US and over 800 lawyers. For the last 19 years, it has been ranked by Fortune Magazine as one of the 100 best companies to work for. The firm offers a full range of legal services to both international and domestic clients. Over the years, it has worked with Starbucks, Toyota, Coca-Cola, Microsoft, Bank of America, and Amazon, making it one of the top law firms in Atlanta. Their core practices include complex litigation, intellectual property, corporate and tax, health care, public policy, and financial services, among others.
Holland & Knight

Holland & Knight is yet another international law firm with headquarters in Atlanta. It has 28 offices all over the US and over 1140 employees, making it one of the largest. According to the National Law Journal’s 2019 report, it is the 22nd largest law firm in the US in terms of size. The firm specializes in several legal services, including, but not limited to, environmental, aviation, education, bankruptcy, health care, maritime, and securities law. Bottom of Form
Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP

With more than 1,000 attorneys and 20 offices in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, Hunton Andrews Kurth is not only one of the top law firms in Atlanta, but also the entire US. The firm serves a wide range of regulatory, litigation, and transactional matters in a full spectrum of industries such as real estate, financial services, intellectual property, privacy and cybersecurity, mergers, acquisitions, and environmental issues.
Jones Day

Jones Day is an international law firm that has been ranked number one in the US for three consecutive years since 2016 by Acritas U.S. Law Firm Brand Index, making it one of the best law firms in Georgia. From its offices on five continents, the firm serves both international and domestic clients specializing in high-stakes litigation, cybersecurity, intellectual property rights, capital markets, regulatory compliance, and tax issues, among others.
McGuireWoods LLP

McGuire Woods is a full-service law firm, one of the best law firms in Atlanta that provides public and legal affairs solutions to individual, nonprofit, and corporate clients worldwide. The firm boasts over 1000 attorneys and 22 offices in the US and Europe and provides legal services to a wide range of industries. Some of their practice areas include antitrust & trade regulation, financial services litigation, energy law, environmental, government contracts, healthcare, labor & employment, and intellectual property.
Paul Hastings

Formerly known as Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP, Paul Hastings is a top internal law firm in Georgia. An international law firm with 22 offices worldwide, it is also one of the leading firms in the US, providing a wide range of legal solutions to individual clients and fortune 500 companies. Some of the firm’s practice areas include Mergers and Acquisitions, Real Estate, Private Equity, Privacy and Cybersecurity, Real Estate Litigation, Securities Litigation, and Securities Enforcement, among several others.
Seyfarth Shaw LLP

With 16 offices and over 900 attorneys, Seyfarth Shaw LLP offers litigation, transactional, and legal advisory services to clients in the US, Asia Pacific, EMEA, and Latin America. In 2019, it was ranked among the top 100 largest law firms in the US by The National Law Journal’s “NLJ 250”. It specializes in a wide range of industries offering legal services such as corporate counseling & governance, government relations & policy, government contracts, employee benefits, and executive & equity compensation, among several others.
Bondurant Mixson & Elmore LLP

This firm is a small local law firm in Atlanta with a team of around 30 lawyers. Its primary focus is business litigation, and despite its size has gained a fierce reputation in its willingness to represent clients on either side of a dispute–defendant or plaintiff.
What’s the Bottom Line?
Though there are several law firms in Atlanta, these are some of the best to kick start or advance your career. However, if you have not found a firm that interests you in this list, you can always look up our comprehensive catalog of all the law firms in Atlanta in this post.
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.
Harrison Barnes does a weekly free webinar with live Q&A for attorneys and law students each Wednesday at 10:00 am PST. You can attend anonymously and ask questions about your career, this article, or any other legal career-related topics. You can sign up for the weekly webinar here: Register on Zoom
Harrison also does a weekly free webinar with live Q&A for law firms, companies, and others who hire attorneys each Wednesday at 10:00 am PST. You can sign up for the weekly webinar here: Register on Zoom
You can browse a list of past webinars here: Webinar Replays
You can also listen to Harrison Barnes Podcasts here: Attorney Career Advice Podcasts
You can also read Harrison Barnes' articles and books here: Harrison's Perspectives
Harrison Barnes is the legal profession's mentor and may be the only person in your legal career who will tell you why you are not reaching your full potential and what you really need to do to grow as an attorney--regardless of how much it hurts. If you prefer truth to stagnation, growth to comfort, and actionable ideas instead of fluffy concepts, you and Harrison will get along just fine. If, however, you want to stay where you are, talk about your past successes, and feel comfortable, Harrison is not for you.
Truly great mentors are like parents, doctors, therapists, spiritual figures, and others because in order to help you they need to expose you to pain and expose your weaknesses. But suppose you act on the advice and pain created by a mentor. In that case, you will become better: a better attorney, better employees, a better boss, know where you are going, and appreciate where you have been--you will hopefully also become a happier and better person. As you learn from Harrison, he hopes he will become your mentor.
To read more career and life advice articles visit Harrison's personal blog.