After having gone through different studies that have recently been published and based on reviews written by paralegals, here is the official Legaco Express Top List of top law-firms to work for as a paralegal:

Perkins Coie

Pro: This law firm has been listed in the top tier of the 100 best companies to work for by Fortune magazine. In addition to good health and educational benefits, as well as retirement plans, the law firm offers paralegals paid sabbaticals, a well-working mentorship program, service recognition, and much more.

Cons: Paralegals are often asked to work overtime and pressure from attorneys can be quite strong. In many cases, career advancement can be quite difficult to obtain for paralegals.

Alston & Bird LLP

Pro: This law firm is family-friendly and has also been listed in the top tier of the 100 best companies to work for by Fortune magazine. This firm offers job sharing and flexible hours opportunities, as well as telecommuting options. For families, there is a daycare center close to their main Atlanta office, paid parental leave and an adoption cost reimbursement program.

Cons: Salaries are usually less than what you would get in a NY law firm and career advancements not always easy to negotiate with the HR management.

Arnold & Porter LLP

Pro:In addition to good health coverage and 401(k) plans, this law firm prides itself in offering “healthy incentive” bonuses and paid long maternity or adoption leaves. It is also usually possible to get flexible hours and schedules. Lots of challenging and interesting work with great legal minds is being reported from the paralegal ranks of this firm.

Cons: You can expect to work long hours if you are not part of a flexible hours plan. Also, this is a big law firm with policies and management challenges that typically go with a larger organization.

Hunton & Williams LLP

Pro: This law firm offers good salaries, excellent benefits and opportunities for pro bono work, as well as very nice offices. This is also a great place if you like challenging projects that will help you quickly gain a rich and diverse work experience.

Cons: The economic crisis of these past years has brought with it salary freezes and some staff layoffs.

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

Pro: Orrick’s benefits package is one of the most comprehensive in the industry. For families, the law firm offers, among other benefits, college savings plans. They have great training and development courses, too. Community service is also encouraged. Additionally, paralegals may get their own personal office and it is reportedly relatively easy to increase the paycheck with overtime work.

Cons: As with most big law firms, there is often great pressure to work long hours and advancement based on merits can be challenging to materialize. Micromanagement can sometimes be a problem.

Reed Smith

Pro: Reed Smith provides a comprehensive compensation program, including merit increases and bonuses. Among other things, they offer a wide selection of benefits, and a 401(k) plan with a 7.5 percent firm contribution, plus an optional college saving plan and a tuition reimbursement program. Reed Smith is also committed to women’s initiatives.

Cons: The firm had to lay off staff at the beginning of the crisis and some paralegal positions were outplaced.

Fulbright & Jaworski LLP

Pro: This firm has received several awards for its efforts to promote women inside the law firm. The law firm offers a flexible work schedule program and several other options to balance family life with a professional career.

Cons: The London-based firm's Norton Rose merger with Fulbright & Jaworski has created one of the world's largest law firms. How paralegals will fare in this new global entity remains to be seen.

Latham & Watkins LLP

Pro: Latham & Watkins has been, for quite some time now, a leader in promoting policies that ensure that legal professionals are hired, trained and promoted fairly and with attention to the goals of equal opportunity and diversity. Additionally, its pro bono program is quite developed.

Cons: Recent layoffs have especially been tough for support staff, with some young professionals coming in to replace more experienced and expensive staff members.

—— For more information ——

ABA Journal, Top Family-Friendly Law Firms Named; Six Firms Get Bounced from List (2012).

Yale Law Women, Top Ten Family Friendly Firms List.

2012 Working Mother and Flex Time Lawyers, 50 Best Law Firms for Women.