HOW WE SELECT ATTORNEYS FOR
INCLUSION IN SUPER LAWYERS
NOMINATION, RESEARCH
& SELECTION PROCESS
Super Lawyers selects attorneys using a
rigorous, multiphase process in which
peer nominations and evaluations are
combined with our independent research:
1 NOMINATIONS
Each year, we invite lawyers to
nominate the top attorneys they've
personally observed in action. Our
attorney-led research staff also
searches for lawyers who have
attained certain honors or results.
2 EVALUATION OF THE
CANDIDATE POOL
Our researchers evaluate candidates
by 12 indicators of peer recognition
and professional achievement.
3 PEER EVALUATION BY
PRACTICE AREA
Candidates are grouped according
to their primary practice areas.
Candidates in each practice area who
received the highest point totals in
the steps above are asked to serve on
a review panel.
4 FINAL SELECTION
Candidates are grouped into
categories based on firm size. The
attorneys with the highest totals
from each category are selected.
Thus, lawyers are grouped with other
lawyers of comparable firm size.
One of the persistent misperceptions about
Super Lawyers is that attorneys are simply
“voted” on to the list. While it’s true that we
invite lawyers to nominate their peers, as
you’ll see, this is just a part of what we do
in selecting lawyers for Super Lawyers (and
Rising Stars, our listing of top lawyers who
are 40 years old and younger, or who have
been in practice 10 or fewer years).
Our process has three distinct phases. We
start with the creation of the candidate
pool, which involves peer nominations and
our research. Our research department
then evaluates each candidate. The last
step is a review of the candidates by their
peers within their primary area of practice.
Together, these three steps create a system
of checks and balances that produces a
well-rounded list of attorneys. (A more
detailed description of our process is
available at superlawyers.com.)
We evaluate candidates based on
12 indicators of peer recognition and
professional achievement. These include:
verdicts, settlements and transactions;
representative clients; experience; honors and
awards; special licenses and certifications;
position within law firm; bar and other
professional activity; pro bono and community
service; scholarly lectures and writings;
education and employment background; and
other outstanding achievements.
Research evaluations are based on
information gathered from a variety
of sources. Our research department
searches biographies on law firm
websites, online and database sources,
legal periodicals, and any information and
evaluations supplied to us by lawyers at
my.superlawyers.com.
There are safeguards built into our system
to ensure that large firms don’t dominate
the list and to detect manipulation of the
process (e.g., reciprocal or orchestrated
nominations). We do not select attorneys
by practice area per se; rather, selected
lawyers report to us their primary area of
practice, and that’s how they are listed in
the magazine.
CINDY LARSON
DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH & EDI TORIAL
MY.SUPERLAWYERS.COM
GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK
Did we miss anyone?
Did we include anyone you think
shouldn’t be on the list?
NOMINATIONS ARE
NOW OPEN
Nominate your peers for next year
Evaluate/comment on lawyers
on this year’s list
Tell us about your practice
Note: The list was finalized as of
November 18, 2011. Any updates to the
list (for example, status changes or
disqualifying events) will be reflected
on superlawyers.com.
DISCLAIMER: THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IN SUPER LAWYERS MAGAZINE IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE, NOR IS SUPER LAWYERS A LEGAL
REFERRAL SERVICE. WE STRIVE TO MAINTAIN A HIGH DEGREE OF ACCURACY IN THE INFORMATION PROVIDED, BUT MAKE NO CLAIM,
PROMISE OR GUARAN TEE ABOUT THE ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS OR ADEQUACY OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS MAGAZINE OR
LINKED TO SUPERLAW YERS.COM AND I TS ASSOCIATED SITES. THE HIRING OF AN ATTORNEY IS AN IMPORTANT DECISION THAT SHOULD NOT
BE SOLELY BASED UPON ADVERTISING OR THE LIS TINGS IN THIS MAGAZINE. NO REPRESEN TATION IS MADE THAT THE QUALIT Y OF THE LEGAL
SERVICES PERFORMED BY THE ATTORNEYS LISTED IN THIS MAGAZINE WILL BE GREATER THAN THAT OF OTHER LICENSED ATTORNEYS.
SUPER LAWYERS IS AN INDEPENDEN T MAGAZINE PUBLISHER THAT HAS DEVELOPED I TS O WN SELECTION ME THODOLOG Y. SUPER LAW YERS
IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY STATE OR REGULATORY BODY, AND ITS LISTINGS DO NOT CERTIFY OR DESIGNATE AN ATTORNEY AS A
SPECIALIS T. S TATE REQUIRED DISCLAIMERS CAN BE FOUND ON THE RESPECTIVE STATE PAGES ON SUPERLAW YERS.COM.
ADVERTISING DISCLAIMER: SUPER LAWYERS IS THE NAME OF A PUBLICATION. I T IS NOT A TI TLE OR A MONIKER CONFERRED ON INDIVIDUAL
LAW YERS, AND IT IS NO T IN TENDED TO COMMUNICATE THAT LAW YERS SELECTED NECESSARILY ACHIEVE BE TTER RESULTS.
