Voting is central to both Best Lawyers® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® awards. Eligible lawyers evaluate their peers based on professional skill, integrity and the likelihood they would be referred for a matter. Only about 5% of U.S. lawyers and 3% globally receive recognition, making the process highly selective.
Millions of confidential assessments are submitted each year, helping ensure that the awards reflect current excellence in the legal profession.
“The importance of lawyers actively participating in the selection of the best candidates through peer review cannot be overstated,” said Best Lawyers’ Senior Vice President of Research & Product Strategy, Elizabeth Petit.
“As legal professionals, lawyers possess a nuanced understanding of the complexities and demands of the legal field, making them uniquely qualified to assess the competence, integrity and overall excellence of their peers. Our process not only reinforces the credibility of the legal profession but also fosters a sense of trust among clients and the public.”
This article explains how voting works, who is eligible and how it fits into the broader Best Lawyers research and selection methodology.
- Eligible lawyers evaluate peers for Best Lawyers awards based on skill, integrity and referral likelihood, with only a small percentage gaining recognition.
- Confidential annual peer reviews ensure the awards reflect current legal excellence, while regional voting periods vary.
- Participation allows recognized lawyers to shape honoree selections, bolstering the credibility and trustworthiness of the awards.
- Learn more about voting methodology and eligibility criteria to potentially enhance your professional standing and credibility.
The Best Lawyers Methodology
Recognition through Best Lawyers awards is based on the Purely Peer Review® methodology. The process starts with nominations submitted by colleagues, clients, or law firm teams, excluding the nominee themselves. These nominations are followed by confidential voting from lawyers currently recognized in the same practice area and region.
Responses are reviewed to determine the top candidates, who are then verified as being in good standing with their local bar associations.
Once the results are finalized, both honorees and their firms are notified and the recognitions are published online and in print. In each practice and geographic area, one lawyer may also be named “Lawyer of the Year,” based on the highest overall peer evaluations.
Who Is Eligible to Vote?
For Best Lawyers distinctions, voting is open to lawyers recognized in the previous edition within the applicable practice area and region.
In new countries where Best Lawyers is introduced, only inaugural edition honorees are eligible to vote.
For Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch awards, voting is open to all eligible candidates in the practice area and region, including new nominees and previously recognized lawyers, regardless of prior recognition status.
Lawyers cannot vote for themselves and all lawyers, including voters, are re-evaluated for inclusion in the upcoming release. Voting follows the same peer review methodology in all countries where Best Lawyers recognizes lawyers, ensuring the process remains fair and confidential.
All honorees are listed on the Find a Lawyer page, making it easy for clients and peers to locate qualified counsel globally.
How Voting Works
Best Lawyers uses a proprietary, internally developed algorithm to support the peer review process. Our technology organizes ballots for eligible voters, selecting nominated and recognized lawyers in the same specialty and region. It ensures voters evaluate peers most relevant to their practice while maintaining integrity and confidentiality.
Voting lawyers assess peers with the same question: “If you were unable to take a case yourself, how likely would you be to refer it to this lawyer?” Voters rate responses on a scale of one to five. They can also provide comments or indicate if they do not know the nominee.
All voting is conducted by email for invited participants only. Voting is not publicly accessible and only invited voters can submit evaluations.
How to Access Your Ballot
Ballots are emailed directly to all eligible voters. After the initial email, follow-up reminders are sent only to lawyers who have not yet voted. They remain accessible for the duration of the voting period. Balloting periods vary by country.
For further details, please see the research timeline for your country.
Why Voting Matters
Participation in Best Lawyers voting allows recognized lawyers to directly shape which peers are honored. By providing evaluations based on professional skill, integrity and referral likelihood, voters help ensure the awards reflect current excellence across the legal profession.
Petit explains: “We stand alone as an unbiased third-party validation of a lawyer’s excellence in practice. Participation is vital every year. Our awards are not a guarantee, each candidate must be voted on each year. By reevaluating the landscape annually, we ensure our awards are a current reflection of the industry.”
The process depends on consistent engagement from the legal community, with confidential peer feedback forming the foundation of Best Lawyers research and selection worldwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are answers to common questions about voting in Best Lawyers:
How can I nominate lawyers for consideration in Best Lawyers?
Nominations can be submitted through our public website or by contacting nominations@bestlawyers.com.
Is there a limit to the number of lawyers I can nominate?
No, there is no limit.
When can you vote?
Voting is open during each region’s designated period. Eligible voters can submit evaluations at any time while the voting period is active. The length of the voting period varies by region.
How to Submit Your Vote
Eligible voters receive a customized ballot featuring nominees in similar practice areas and geographic regions. Ballots can be accessed in three ways:
- Email invitation: A link is sent directly from Best Lawyers CEO Phillip Greer at the start of the voting period. Follow-up emails are sent only to voters who have not yet participated. Once a vote is submitted, no further reminders are sent.
- Best Lawyers account: Voters can log in to their personal account at bestlawyers.com. Logging in provides several menu options, including access to your ballot. This section remains open throughout the voting period.
- Excel or phone: Voters may download an Excel version of their ballot or request a phone interview to submit evaluations.
For a full list of FAQs, visit the Best Lawyers Methodology FAQ page.
Need Help?
To learn more about the Best Lawyers methodology, find out your eligibility status or have your ballot resent, please reach out to us at info@bestlawyers.com.
