Best Lawyers® continues to be the gold standard for identifying top legal talent because we've solved for what clients need the most. We combine the power of trusted referrals and peer review to deliver results through a robust, technology-driven platform designed to help connect clients with the right attorney.
Despite the rapid-fire rate at which the legal industry continues to change, one thing remains consistent: When it comes to finding the right lawyer, clients still primarily rely on recommendations. The American Bar Association advises consumers begin their search through a trusted friend, relative, or business associate.
Methods to Find a Lawyer
According to a legal industry study, clients most often rely on recommendations from friends or family, online search engines, and referrals from other lawyers when seeking legal representation. Each of these methods offers distinct advantages and challenges, and understanding them can help clients make informed decisions.
Personal Referrals: Many clients start by asking friends, family, or colleagues for recommendations. While personal referrals are based on direct experience and trust, they are limited to the referrer’s network and may not always align with your specific legal needs.
Online Searches: The internet provides a vast array of options, allowing clients to browse through numerous law firm websites and read client reviews. However, this method can be overwhelming due to the sheer volume of information and the varying reliability of online reviews.
Legal Directories: Legal directories like Best Lawyers® offer a curated selection of lawyers who have been peer-reviewed and recognized for their professional excellence. These directories provide a balanced approach, combining the breadth of online searches with the trustworthiness of personal referrals.
Why Best Lawyers Is the Solution
Best Lawyers incorporates all three of these elements to provide clients with one of the most reliable sources for top legal talent. Legal directories are an invaluable tool and Best Lawyers stands out due to its rigorous Purely Peer Review® process and the integration of state-of-the-art technology. This combination ensures that clients are connected with the most qualified and respected lawyers in their area.
What sets Best Lawyers apart from other directories is our commitment to maintaining the integrity of our recognition. We do not allow lawyers to pay for inclusion. Each lawyer featured in our directory has earned their place through merit, as determined by a rigorous peer-review process.
This ensures that clients are connected with top-tier legal professionals who have been recognized by their peers for their expertise and ethical standards. By focusing on peer evaluations, Best Lawyers offers a trustworthy and reliable resource for clients seeking the best legal representation.
As Benjamin Ness, Former Secret Service Detail to President Obama and current Security Provider to Celine Dion, aptly put it, "Best Lawyers and Best Law Firms® has done a commendable job at establishing themselves as the premier source for a credible, merit-based ranking system. Everything else is just advertising." This quote underscores the trust clients can place in Best Lawyers, knowing that our rankings are based purely on merit and peer reviews, not on paid advertising.
Best Lawyers Methodology
Best Lawyers’ methodology is built upon the foundation of peer review, capturing the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
We use a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluation of the quality of legal services. We believe that the quality of a peer-review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.
Step 1: Nomination Process
Lawyers can be nominated by everyone—peers or clients—except themselves. This ensures that the recognition comes from genuine, external endorsements rather than self-promotion.
Step 2: Peer Review
Nominated lawyers undergo a thorough review by current Best Lawyers honorees, who evaluate their performance and ethical standards. Best Lawyers reviews millions of evaluations to ensure accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Step 3: Analysis of Feedback
This feedback is carefully analyzed using both human expertise and advanced technology, ensuring comprehensive and unbiased results.
Step 4: Eligibility Check
Before being listed, lawyers are vetted for their qualifications and ethical standards, including a review of their licensing and disciplinary records.
Step 5: Publication
Once the process is complete, lawyers and their respective law firms are informed of their recognitions. Following this notification, the awards are officially published.
Find a Lawyer
After understanding the rigorous and merit-based process that distinguishes Best Lawyers, you can confidently start your search for top legal talent. Whether you are looking for a specialist in family law, corporate law, personal injury, or any other legal field, our search engine allows you to browse through thousands of highly qualified lawyers who are local to your region. Best Lawyers provides a streamlined and efficient way to connect with professionals who have been recognized for their excellence.
Start your search today and experience the difference that a peer-reviewed, merit-based directory can make in finding the right attorney for your needs.
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