Summer associates surveyed by American Lawyer expressed positive feedback on their work experiences in the 2022 Summer Associates Satisfaction Survey. Over 5,400 associates responded to the survey, which asked questions on a range of topics including partner access and mentorship, associate interactions, interest in the work, and firms’ alignment with their own goals and self-image. Based on average scores across the categories, American Lawyer ranked the 2022 best firms for summer associates:
1. Blank Rome, 5.0 (tie)
1. Duane Morris, 5.0 (tie)
3. Kramer Levin, 4.993
4. Paul Hastings, 4.980
5. O’Melveny & Myers, 4.997
6. Stroock, 4.956
7. Allen & Overy, 4.944
8. Day Pitney, 4.935
9. Proskauer Rose, 4.929
10. Akin Gump, 4.915
The majority of the law firms received high ratings and nearly 90 percent of third year respondents said that they would accept an offer from their summer firm for full-time employment. Just under three-quarters of respondents said that they expected to have a career at their law firm. The survey also asked summer associates to rank their concerns. Alongside work-life balance, mental health and emotional well-being emerged as key priorities for respondents. Many summer associates felt that their firms adequately addressed those concerns and almost three-quarters said that they felt that their firm genuinely cared about their mental health.