Vault Guide to the Top Mid-Atlantic Law Firms

In New Jersey, for example, attorneys value the abundant, premium legal opportunities available, minus the "'sweatshop mentality' of many New York firms." We're told that "there is a better quality of life at large firms in New Jersey," and "being near NYC, we work with a lot of New York businesses and individuals." A Newark associate notes the "high quality of professionals" and better hours, while a married Garden Stater says he "would rather be in Princeton than in a large city." And, well, one Newark inhabitant just "did not want to be bothered with the commute to New York and the New York law firm attitude. Life is too short." Indeed it is.

Among the city's many accolades, associates claim that "Philadelphia is a very easy city to live and work in" because of its "great restaurants, art and culture, and you can walk to almost anywhere you'd want to go." As for the job, one source prizes the "sophisticated commercial litigation practices with more manageable billable hour requirements leading to better work/life balance." Well, that's definitely specific. We're told that "the lifestyle of a lawyer in this town is excellent," mostly due to its "large-city resources, and complex and interesting work," but also because "the legal community is a small and tight-knit one." Whether it's the quality of life, the Liberty Bell or cheesesteaks, Philly gets nothing but support from its inhabitants--but hey, what else would you expect from The City That Loves You Back?