Average age of BigLaw partner is about 52; which firms are outliers?
The average age of equity and nonequity partners at the nation’s top 200 law firms was about 52, according to data compiled by the American Lawyer.
Only about 2 percent of partners at these firms are millennials—those who are 18 to 35 years old, according to the article (sub. req.), which looks at the impact of millennials in BigLaw.
The percentage of partners aged 71 to 88 years old is higher; they account for about 3 percent of partners in the Am Law 200.
The age statistics may reflect the reluctance of some partners to retire, according to the article. In a separate chart (sub. req.), the Am Law Daily estimated the average age of partners at various BigLaw firms based on their year of graduation from law school. A few firms provided age data.
The five firms with the youngest estimated average age for partners were:
1) Kirkland & Ellis, with an average partner age of 42
2) Fish & Richardson, with an average partner age of 46.17
3) Mayer Brown, with an average partner age of 47.29
4) Nixon Peabody, with an average partner age of 47.63
5) Baker & McKenzie, with an average partner age of 48.03
The five firms with the oldest estimated average age for partners were:
1) Steptoe, with an average partner age of 57.01
2) Proskauer, with an average partner age of 57
3) Schiff Hardin, with an average partner age of 56.71
4) Pillsbury, with an average partner age of 56.44
5) Buchanan Ingersoll, with an average partner age of 55.83
