When you have a legal matter, selecting a lawyer is one of the most important decisions you can make. But how do you know who the best lawyers are for your given case?
While there isn’t a universal “rating” system for lawyers that applies globally, various countries and jurisdictions may have their own methods for evaluating and ranking lawyers.
Best Law Firm Ratings
Often, the best attorneys may work for law firms that are highly rated themselves. We’ll get to individual attorney ratings below – but law firms that are widely respected and have achieved award status are often good places to start. Some of thew ways you can judge the quality of a law firm (and subsequent attorneys) include:
- Online Reviews:
- Look for reviews on websites such as Google, Yelp, or specialized legal review platforms.
- Pay attention to both positive and negative reviews to get a balanced perspective.
- Bar Association Ratings:
- Check if the law firm is listed with and rated by the local or state bar association. Some bar associations provide directories and may indicate if a firm has received any special recognition.
- Legal Directories:
- Some legal directories, such as Chambers and Partners, provide rankings and reviews for law firms based on research and client feedback.
- Specialized Industry Recognition:
- Law firms that specialize in certain areas may receive recognition or awards from industry-specific organizations. Look for any accolades or certifications related to their expertise
- Online Presence:
- How the firm presents itself through its website, social media channels, and more can give you a feel for how well the firm and attorneys may perform. Similar to clean office space, the online presence gives clues to how the firm may present itself.
- Client Testimonials:
- Check the law firm’s website for client testimonials or case results. While these should be taken with a grain of caution, they can provide insights into the firm’s past successes.
- Word of Mouth:
- Seek recommendations from friends, family, or colleagues who may have had experiences with the law firm.
Best Attorney Ratings
In the United States, one commonly used rating system is the Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings. Lawyers can receive an “AV Preeminent” rating, which is the highest rating in this system. This rating is based on evaluations by other lawyers and judges in the legal community.
One of the reasons that these particular ratings are considered to be trustworthy by so many is that the ratings are reviewed in stages throughout an attorney’s career. The variety of opinions and reviews that go into the rating allows a consensus to be reached. The attorneys being reviewed are often asked to provide professional references as well.
All that is to say, the process is not easily fooled due to the amount of work that is put into getting to the rating.
It’s important to note that these ratings are not standardized worldwide, and different regions may have different rating systems or none at all. Additionally, high ratings do not necessarily guarantee a lawyer’s effectiveness or success in a particular case.
What are the Three Attorney Peer Review Ratings?
The Martindale-Hubbel Peer Review Ratings system consists of three different ratings, which each rating being given after the extensive review process is completed, as outlined above. The ratings consist of:
AV Preeminent: This is the highest rating that an attorney can achieve. Achieving this rating means that the individual’s peers listed their knowledge, communication, and ethical standards as top-notch.
Distinguished: Attorneys achieving the Distinguished rating are respected by their peers and are considered to perform with high professional and ethical standards.
Notable: While the lowest on the chart, the Notable rating for an attorney is quite prestigious, as they have been rated by peers to have high professional and ethical standards.
Law firm and individual attorney ratings can help shape your decision on where to go for your legal matters. But ultimately you need to decide which factors are most important to you and make sure the firm and individual are a match for your case.
