Lawyers' websites and office walls often mention that they have been named "Super Lawyers" or "Rising Stars". Families of lawyers sometimes appear on the lists together. What does the label actually mean?
Who runs it
Super Lawyers is a rating service owned by Thomson Reuters. It publishes lists of lawyers by state and region, in print supplements and online, across dozens of practice areas.
How selection works
According to the publisher, selection has several stages:
- Nominations. Lawyers nominate peers they have observed in practice. The publisher also conducts its own searches.
- Independent research. Research staff score candidates on indicators such as verdicts and settlements, experience, honours, publications, and pro bono and community work.
- Peer evaluation. Lawyers in the same practice area review the highest-scoring candidates.
- Final selection. The publisher says no more than 5% of lawyers in a state are named to the Super Lawyers list, and no more than 2.5% to the Rising Stars list for younger lawyers.
Lawyers cannot pay to be selected, though they can buy advertising in the publications.
What the rules say about advertising it
Because ratings can influence clients, professional conduct rules apply. Under the American Bar Association's Model Rule 7.1, adopted in some form by most states, lawyers must not make false or misleading communications about their services. The comments warn that comparisons with other lawyers can mislead if they cannot be substantiated. Several states have issued guidance allowing lawyers to cite ratings only if the rating organisation uses a fair method and the lawyer accurately describes the award and who gave it.
How to use it
A rating like this suggests that a lawyer has a good reputation among peers in their area. It does not mean they are the right lawyer for every case, and plenty of excellent lawyers never appear on such lists. Clients should still ask about relevant experience, fees and who will actually do the work. Our article on legal directory rankings covers similar questions for firm rankings.