Norton Rose and Allen & Overy (A&O) have been identified as the firms UK lawyers would most like to work for, according to a flagship research project from Legal Week.

The finding, contained within Legal Week Intelligence's 2011 Employee Satisfaction Report, is based on the responses of more than 4,000 lawyers.

Participants were asked to specify which firms they would most like to work for outside of their own, with Norton Rose rising from third place in last year's rankings to knock A&O off the top spot.

Norton Rose head of recruitment Sarah Kelly said: "The feedback we receive is that people are attracted to the firm because of our international investment and clear strategy. The fact that we have openly discussed our strategy and acted on it gives a clear indication to people of where we are going."

A&O senior partner David Morley commented: "People above all else attract people, and our lawyers like who they work with, which I think translates in the market. Environment also really matters, and the quality and location of our offices is great."

An in-house role was ranked ahead of all other law firms as the third most desirable, while Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer was the biggest climber, rising from 16th place last year to fifth in this year's rankings, just behind Slaughter and May in fourth.

Everything Everywhere GC James Blendis commented: "I'm not surprised that in-house ranks highly. Most of our in-house lawyers are from City practices and the change is generally provoked by the desire for a better work/life balance.

"Although people here also work long hours, there is greater flexibility and less demand to be present in the office, with more flexible and remote working. People also like being close to a commercial business operation, which provides different 
career opportunities."

• For more detail on the research, contact Paul Birk on 0207 316 9864 or email [email protected].