White-shoe? Prestige? Why do we rank law firms like we’re sitting in a country club during the Eisenhower Administration? The ATL Power 100 Firms are the ones that move the market. Today. These are the firms that set the pace on lawyer pay and compete for the wealthiest clients. These are the market leaders. In order.

Let’s be clear: in this market, the “best” law firm is the one that will employ you. If you have a job, congratulations, you’re number one. But the methods for evaluating the large law firms that are best at the business of practicing law are stuck in the past. The new normal means new challenges for firms. Is bigger always better? More revenue sounds nice, unless the firm is overly reliant on a few rainmakers who can jump ship and leave the rest of the firm scrambling for clients. Surely, the last client who cared about white-shoe status is somewhere trying to find a new ribbon for his typewriter.

With these rankings, Above the Law is trying to capture the strength and relevance of major law firms in today’s market. Who are the market leaders? Which firms are still making and retaining their partners? Where do you want to work? Power, post-recession, is about what you are, not what you used to be.

Click here for the full rankings.