The 2025 edition of Best Law Firms® marks the 15th anniversary of these prestigious rankings, a milestone in the United States legal industry’s pursuit of excellence.
Since its inception, the Best Law Firms rankings have served as a comprehensive guide for individuals and businesses seeking reputable legal representation across the country.
This annual evaluation highlights the top U.S. law firms across a vast range of practice areas and regions, recognizing those distinguished by quality, dedication and expertise.
Through meticulous research, Best Law Firms has become a vital resource for clients and legal professionals alike.
The Rigorous and Unbiased Research Process Behind the Rankings
Best Law Firms relies on an intensive research process designed to provide an objective and reliable measure of legal merit within the United States.
This methodology gathers multiple data points, capturing perspectives from clients, peers and law firm leaders to ensure each ranking is comprehensive.
Eligibility Criteria
A firm becomes eligible for Best Law Firms rankings by having at least one lawyer recognized in the latest published edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for a specific practice area.
This requirement ensures that each ranked firm has demonstrated outstanding performance through individual accomplishments within the firm, adding credibility to the firm’s distinction.
The Law Firm Survey
All eligible firms are invited to complete a detailed survey, gathering essential demographic and operational information.
This survey allows firms to showcase practice areas, achievements and unique offerings over the past year.
Tailored for firm size, the survey helps both small and large practices provide relevant responses, contributing to each firm’s score and enhancing the research data.
Client and Professional References
Client and professional references are core to the rankings. Firms submit references from past clients, industry professionals and associates who evaluate service quality and expertise.
References may include judges, lawyers, opposing counsel, or other professionals who collaborated with the firm.
They rate firms on a one to five scale across six categories, assessing responsiveness, competence and client satisfaction. This feedback is then incorporated into the firm’s overall score, making it a critical component of the ranking process.
Peer Voting and Ballots
In addition to references, attorneys from recognized firms participate in confidential voting. They assess a firm's expertise, responsiveness, competitive reputation and referral suitability. These peer votes contribute to each firm’s evaluation, reflecting its standing within the legal community.
Scoring and Tier System
All data from surveys, references and peer voting is compiled into an overall score for each firm. Given that differences in scores between firms can be minimal, Best Law Firms uses a tiered ranking system rather than sequential rankings, clearly distinguishing high-performing firms without overemphasizing small differences.
This approach ensures fairness and allows clients to identify consistently top-performing firms within each practice area.
"Thanks, Best Lawyers, for your selectivity!" – William Shapiro
By combining diverse inputs from clients, peers and firm leaders, Best Law Firms provides an impartial, data-driven resource that clients and professionals across the United States can trust.
Record-Breaking Participation: A Testament to Industry Trust
The 2025 edition of Best Law Firms reached remarkable new levels of engagement, marking an unparalleled year for participation. Law firms, attorneys, industry leaders and clients from across the United States contributed, reflecting a deep trust in the Best Law Firms rankings.
This year, 4,739 law firms completed detailed surveys, providing valuable data on their operations. 2,375 firms contributed 101,528 client and professional references, adding perspectives from within and beyond the legal industry. 27,744 lawyers cast votes and 27,033 clients shared direct feedback, while 786 law firm leaders offered their viewpoints through in-depth interviews.
Best Lawyers’ Best Law Firms research team carefully analyzed this extensive data, ensuring impartial, data-driven rankings that highlight only top firms nationwide. This thorough process makes Best Law Firms a trusted, essential resource across the industry.
Recognizing Excellence Across Multiple Levels
Best Law Firms rankings are divided into three major categories, each designed to distinguish greatness at various levels within the legal field:
Regional Tiers
Representing 127 practice areas across 17,161 firms, this category spotlights the top 2% of firms in the country in various metro areas and states. Regional awards provide clients with localized insights into leading firms in their areas.
National Tiers
Encompassing 75 practice areas, national awards were recognized to 2,264 firms that demonstrate exceptional expertise across broader markets. These rankings reflect the selectivity of national recognition, with only 0.5% of firms in the U.S. belonging to this select group.
Law Firm of the Year
The most distinguished honor, awarded to 64 firms across 74 practice areas, showcases firms that set the highest standards within specific practice areas. Achieving a “Law Firm of the Year” distinction signals outstanding service and dedication to clients, establishing these firms as leaders in their fields.
"Best Lawyers and Best Law Firms awards are a valuable resource for individuals and companies seeking superior lawyers and law firms to represent them during disputes or litigation." – Fred Semke, Semke Forensic
The tiered structure of the rankings illustrates the precision and thoroughness of Best Law Firms’ evaluation process, making this list an invaluable resource for clients and professionals alike.
The Value of Best Law Firms Rankings
Best Law Firms rankings offer substantial value to multiple audiences, from clients to legal professionals:
For Clients
These rankings serve as a trusted law firm guide for those seeking high-quality legal representation. Whether facing personal legal issues or complex business litigation, Best Law Firms provides essential guidance for selecting top advocates.
For Law Firms
Our rankings offer a benchmark for industry standing, helping firms identify strengths and areas for growth. Recognized firms can proudly celebrate their awards as a testament to their dedication and expertise.
For Lawyers
Legal professionals can use the rankings to find reputable referrals, fostering collaboration and ensuring clients receive the best representation.
Through rigorous research and high standards, Best Law Firms remains a trusted authority relied upon by clients, firms and industry insiders alike.
Explore the 2025 Best Law Firms Rankings
Explore the complete 2025 Best Law Firms rankings to see which firms across the United States have earned recognition for their excellence. From regional standouts to nationally distinguished firms, we proudly celebrate the industry’s top talent. Visit Best Law Firms to find out who made the list and gain insights into the nation’s leading law firms.
For a deeper understanding of legal marketing trends and insights gathered from our U.S. research, download our comprehensive Legal Market Report—an essential resource for firms looking to enhance their visibility and client engagement.
