FROM THE DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH & EDITORIAL
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
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).
with our independent research:
Our process has three distinct phases. We
Research evaluations are based on
NOMINATIONS 1
Each year, we invite lawyers to
nominate the top attorneys they've
personally observed in action. Our
start with the creation of the candidate pool,
which involves peer nominations and our
research. Our research department then
information gathered from a variety
of sources. Our research department
searches biographies on law firm
attorney-led research staff also
searches for lawyers who have
attained certain honors or results.
evaluates each candidate. The last step is a
review of the candidates by their peers within
their primary area of practice. Together, these
websites, online and database sources,
legal periodicals, and any information and
evaluations supplied to us by lawyers at
EVALUATION OF THE 2
CANDIDATE POOL
Our researchers evaluate candidates
by 12 indicators of peer recognition
and professional achievement.
PEER EVALUATION BY 3
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.
FINAL SELECTION 4
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.
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.
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 June 1, 2011.
Any updates to the list (for example, status
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MADE THAT THE QUALI TY OF THE LEGAL SERVICES PERFORMED BY THE ATTORNE YS LIS TED IN THIS MAGAZINE WILL BE GREATER THAN
THAT OF OTHER LICENSED ATTORNEYS. SUPER LAW YERS IS AN INDEPENDENT MAGAZINE PUBLISHER THAT HAS DEVELOPED ITS OWN
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PAGES ON SUPERLAWYERS.COM.
changes or disqualifying events) will be reflected
on superlawyers.com.
