Jobs are like relationships. Everyone wonders about the choices other people make. If you’re feeling like the law firm you’ve chosen is too big, too small or too in-between, maybe it’s time to ask whether a different size practice would be a better fit.
This article maps out the pros and cons of large, midsize and small firms to help you zero in on the right environment for you.
If you want to work on the world stage and reach the salary range’s top percentile, big law firms — also known as Big Law — are where you want to be.
More than upmarket furniture and high-rise views, Big Law firms are known for having extensive resources, a deep bench of talent and name recognition. Other important perks include:
Look like the stuff of dream jobs? Maybe. But working at the high end of the profession has tradeoffs that include:
Some big firms may also have a confusing reporting structure, so support staff may find themselves working for multiple partners who rarely talk to each other.
High-end casework constitutes the bulk of what large firms handle. If you prefer to work on high-profile, complex litigation and transactional legal work — or if celebrity clients and behemoth merger and acquisition matters are your thing—a big firm should be a good fit.
Some of the most active firms hiring today are midsize law firms, with an average range of 16 to 350 attorneys on staff.
Midsize firms have the horsepower to take on larger clients that include large corporations from sectors such as real estate, litigation, finance, banking and labor. If matters in those areas appeal to you, a midsize firm is right up your alley.
While midsize law firms fall short of the robust compensation for which Big Law firms are known, they do tend to offer better salaries than small law firms.
“Those who fit best at midsize firms want to do a little bit of everything among a wide variety of specialties. A midsize firm can offer a good way to build those skills, which is particularly good during early-career years.”
It’s true that midsize firms may not grab a lot of headlines, but firms that occupy the middle ground may still be highly successful and a good place to stake your future. Midsize firms have also led market growth for several successive quarters. A recent report shows midsize firms grew 2.8% in 2023 compared to Am Law 100 firms, which saw their demand contract 0.6%.
Legal professionals who work at midsize firms are likely to encounter less red tape than big firms while having greater visibility to partners and colleagues.
The cultural advantages of working at midsize firms also include:
On the downside, midsize firms typically don’t have the resources of big firms and lack the focus of small firms.
Those who fit best at midsize firms want to do a little bit of everything among a wide variety of specialties. A midsize firm can offer a good way to build those skills, which is particularly good during early-career years.
There’s no shortage of benefits to working at a small law firm (15 or fewer attorneys). These firms often work in specialty areas or deal with complex subjects such as tax or immigration law.
Other contributors to the small firm allure include:
Smaller firms also tend to have less in-house competition than big firms, which opens a door for legal professionals to be involved with more of the cases they want.
Before you settle on the small firm dynamic, let’s examine its potential liabilities.
Small firms tend to have a short list of clients that generate the greatest amount of revenue. Losing only one or two of those clients could dramatically change the firm’s financial footing.
Job tasks for administrators at smaller practices may also become blurred. But if your career sweet spot is a client-centric role with a firm that is typically more agile and focused, a small law firm may be the place for you.
