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Summer Associate Class Sizes of Top Law Firms

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published February 19, 2015

By CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search left

Summary: Here is a breakdown of the summer associate class sizes of the top law firms from 2009 to 2014.

Interested in becoming a summer associate with a top law firm? Have you ever wondered how many summer associates law firms are taking on each year? We have compiled a list of the summer associate class sizes of the top law firms for the past 6 years, from 2009 to 2014. We hope you will find that this is a useful resource in preparing for your career and choosing a law firm.
 
Firm 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Akin Gump 73 34 62 61 52 54 (40 2L, 1 1L, 4 SEO, 9 Pro Bono Scholars)
Allen & Overy 35 27 27 24 20 23 (All 2L)
Allen Matkins New to the survey in 2014         6 (All 2L)
Alston & Bird 71 32 63 60 50 43 (6 1L, 36 2L, 1 3L)
Axinn Veltrop & Harkrider New to the survey in 2014         3 (All 2L)
Baker Botts 106 67 91 99 86-90 88 (64 2L. 24 1L)
Baker & McKenzie 49 25 26 31 28 34 (3 1L.31 2L)
Bingham McCutchen 80 43 31 41 39 25 (24 2L, 1 1L)
Bracewell & Giuliani 54 52 40 46 61 49 (35 2L. 14 1L)
Brown Rudnick 19 20 22 22 20 16 (All 2L)
Cadwalader 48 32 35 40 38 44 (38 2L.3 1L.3SEO)
Cahill 39 16 37 41 51 40 (All 2L)
Chadbourne & Parke 30 20 19 22 18 11 (11 2L.TBD 1L)
Choate 24 0 11 15 11 15 (12 2L, 3 1L)
Cleary 123 89 112 145 126 99 (95 2L, 1 1L.3SEO)
Clifford Chance 30 9 25 23 24 24 (23 2L, 1 SEO)
Cooley 53 24 41 47 48 55 (51 2L, 3 1L, 1 SEO)
Cravath 122 23 53 87 97 99 (95 2L.4 1L)
Crowell & Moring 42 21 22 22 24 18 (15 2L, 3 1L)
Curtis Mallet 16 10 15 13 10 9(7 2L,2 1L)
Davis Polk 119 82 96 132 125 123(121 2L, 2 1L)
Debevoise 113 51 55 62 65 78 (All 2L-NY: 74. DC: 4)
Dechert New to the survey in 2014         49 (48 2L, 1 1L)
width:89pt" width="118">DLA Piper		 68 35 64 62 30 34 (All 2L)
Duane Morris 14 10 13 16 16 14-15 (12 2L, 2-3 1L)
Dykema 16 11 11 18 18 24 (21 2L.3 1L)
Epstein Becker Green 10 10 11 12 11 10 (All 2L)
Finnegan 33 20 23 24 20 16 (12 2L,4 1L)
Fish & Richardson 48 16 31 29 28 39 (32 2L, 7 1L)
Fitzpatrick, Celia 23 22 15 19 11 16 (All 2L)
Foley & Lardner New to the survey in 2014         42-43 (35 2L, 7-8 1L)
Fox Rothschild 11 12 15 14 11 15 (All 2L)
Freshfields 13 19 12 14 20 22 (20 2L. 2 1L)
Fried Frank 36 45 49 43 31 42 (39 2L.3 1L)
Gibbons No summers         No summer program
Gibson Dunn 150 110 117 171 149 131 (1 3L, 123 2L, 7 1L)
Goodwin Procter LLP 69 40 42 55 50 48 (All 2L)
Greenberg Traurig 45 25 28 31 33 42 (37 2L's and 5 1L's)
Hangley Aronchick No summers         No summer program
Haynes and Boone 61 42 46 50 52 59 (48 2L, 11 1L)
Hogan Lovells 91 65 55 76 86 67-69 (59 2L, 8-10 1L)
Holland & Knight 46 26 39 40 27 23 (19 2L, 4 1L)
Hunton & Williams 28 10 24 35 29 29 (25 2L.4 1L)
Irell & Manella LLP 39 37 29 38 37 30 (27 2L, 3 1L)
Jackson Walker 24 18 21 21 23 17 (13 2L, 4 1L'
Jenner & Block 69 30 35 35 45 33 (1 3L.31 1 1L)
Jones Day 211 124 166 156 181 165 (6 3L, 139 2L, 14 1L, 5 SEOs, 1 Bar Fellow)
K&L Gates 63 34 75 77 83 122 (113 2L, 9 1L)
Kasowitz 15 21 24 21 25 14 (All 2L)
United States
width:89pt" width="118">Katten		 38 9 35 34 35 32 (28 2L, 4 1L)
Kaye Scholar 26 13 18 20 24 16 (13 2L.3 1L)
King & Spalding 62 23 24 31 41 35 (1 3L, 30 2L. 4 1L)
Kirkland & Ellis 146 72 140 166 132 109 (13L, 104 2L.4 1L)
Kramer Levin 28 19 15 18 20 16(14 2L, 1 1L, 1 other)
Latham & Watkins 156 110 168 122 148 162 (157 2L, 4 1L, 1 3L)
Linklaters 38 23 25 32 23 24 (22 2L, 1 1L, 1 other)
Mayer Brown 106 36 35 58 71 84 (4 3L, 76 2L.4 1L)
McGuireWoods New to the survey in 2014         16 (14 2L, 2 1L)
McKenna Long & Aldridge 25 22 20 20 16 18 (15 2L, 3 1L)
Milbank 79 20 39 45 86 47 (All 2L)
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius 106 0 63 69 57 59 (56 2L, 3 1L)
MoFo New to the survey in 2014         81 (54 2L.21 1L, 6 other)
Munger, Tolles & Olson 26 19 27 25 29 30(1 3L, 25 2L, 4 1L)
Nixon Peabody New to the survey in 2014         27 (22 2L, 5 1L)
Nutter New to the survey in 2014         6 (5 2L, 1L)
O'Melveny & Myers New to the survey in 2014         69 (54 2L, 10 1L, 5 SEOs)
Orrick 68 28 56 45 34 40 (33 2L, 5 1L, 2 other)
Patterson Belknap 15 9 11 9 9 7 (All 2L)
Patton Boggs 29 21 25 19 16 16 (15 2L, 1 1L)
Paul Weiss 114 80 101 120 118 18 (15 2L, 3 1L)
Pepper Hamilton New to the survey in 2014         110 (3 3L. 94 2L, 13 1L)
Perkins Coie 47 31 38 44 49 42 (31 2L. 11 1L)
Pillsbury 52 17 25 29 31 35 (All 2L)
Proskauer Rose LLP 120 42 47 53 42 74 (65 2L, 7 1L, 2 other)
Quinn Emanuel 44 28 45 57 58 58 (55 2L.3 1L)
Reed Smith 44 21 42 34 47 41 (38 2L.3 1L)
Ropes & Gray 200 82 124 125 80 100 (All 2L)
Schiff Hardin 24 13 12 13 25 32 (All 2L)
Sedgwick 10 2 10 6 7 4 (All 2L)
Seward & Kissel LLP 8 9 11 12 11 14 (All 2L)
Shearman & Sterling 63 28 41 33 44 52 (48 2L, 1 1L.3SEO)
Sheppard Mullin 36 27 31 30 33 33 (All 2L)
Sidley Austin 137 50 118 111 113 111 (1 3L, 106 2L.4 1L)
Simpson Thacher 77 72 100 107 79 105 (2 3L. 100 2L.3 SEO)
Skadden 225 78 94 156 174 207(1 3L, 183 2L, 1 1L, 22 1L Scholars Program)
Snell & Wilmer 31 20 20 22 25 18 (17 2L, 1 1L)
Squire Sanders 28 8 2 32 12 16 (8 2L, 8 1L)
Strasburger & Price New in 2014         11 (All 2L)
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan 30 19 25 21 27 16 (All 2L)
Sullivan & Cromwell 107 77 137 122 150 126 (19 pre-clerk 3L, 103 2L, 1 1L.3SEO)
Venable 30 17 29 30 29 31 (All 2L)
Vinson & Elkins 140 98 104 103 89 78 (52 2L.25 1L, 1 SEO)
Waller 7 6 8 7 7 8 (All 2L)
Weil Gotshal 164 42 71 110 101 76 (61 2L, 15 1L)
White & Case 91 47 60 56 56 57 (All 2L)
Wiley Rein 20 13 15 13 19 17 (16 2L, 1 1L)
Willkie Farr & Gallagher 56 18 20 43 45 54 (All 2L)
WilmerHale 101 66 89 91 128 93 (89 2L, 4 SEO )
Wiltshire & Grannis New in 2014         2 (All 2L)
Winston & Strawn 120 43 52 61 36 59 (55 2L, 4 1L)
 

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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.

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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.

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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

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Alternative Summary

Harrison is the founder of BCG Attorney Search and several companies in the legal employment space that collectively gets thousands of attorneys jobs each year. Harrison’s writings about attorney careers and placement attract millions of reads each year. Harrison is widely considered the most successful recruiter in the United States and personally places multiple attorneys most weeks. His articles on legal search and placement are read by attorneys, law students and others millions of times per year.

More about Harrison

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