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Am Law 100's New Metric: Value Per Lawyer

By Aric Press
July 28, 2005

[Editor's Note: For an extensive critique of "profits per equity partner" and other law firm performance metrics, see the roundtable discussion and related articles in A&FP's May and June 2004 editions. Jim Davidson's June 2004 article on the need for improved survey data standardization is also highly relevant to this month's companion article on spotting statistical problems in survey reports.]

For 20 years, The American Lawyer has measured the economics of law firms, first with The Am Law 50 and 75, more recently with The Am Law 200. Throughout, we've kept to the same metrics: gross, revenue per lawyer, profits per partner, and the Am Law Profitability Index (API). These lists helped inform and change the profession. (Note that we didn't say ruin.) We published them again this month with one significant addition that we think reflects the changed nature of the business of law: Value Per Lawyer (VPL).

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