The 2025 edition of the NLJ 500 ranks the largest 500 law firms in the United States by headcount, according to the National Law Journal. This annual survey covers the previous calendar year, assembling data from firms alongside the Am Law financial numbers. The importance of this ranking lies in offering insights into the scale and staffing of major U.S.-centric law firms.
The survey methodology considers the average number of full-time equivalent attorneys employed by each firm during Fiscal Year 2024. For those not participating in the survey, ALM research would estimate necessary figures using resources like firm websites and its Legal Compass database. Data is then adjusted to reflect approximations, enhancing the accuracy of the headcounts represented in the list.
By centering the focus on headcount, the NLJ 500 provides a distinct perspective on the organizational size of prominent law firms in the U.S., showcasing the industry’s dynamics and workforce distribution.