Excellence in law extends beyond individual achievement, requiring firms to demonstrate their collective influence and global reach. The Best Law Firms® network provides a platform that strengthens firm-level authority and opens doors to new opportunities. Beyond recognition, it serves as a pathway for legal leadership.
Firm-Level Distinction That Sets You Apart
While Best Lawyers® recognizes individual lawyer achievements through peer-reviewed awards, the Best Law Firms network evaluates a firm's overall performance, emphasizing collective strength and reputation. This exclusive platform awards law firms for their excellence on national and metropolitan levels.
The Best Law Firms methodology is comprehensive, incorporating client and lawyer evaluations, peer reviews and analyses of professional achievements. This approach has remained consistent since Best Law Firms began honoring firms in 2010.
The Process Behind Best Law Firms Recognition
The following stages outline how law firms are evaluated:
Eligibility Requirements
To ensure credibility, only firms with at least one lawyer recognized in the most recent edition of Best Lawyers are considered for Best Law Firms. This guarantees that all law firm rankings meet a high standard of professional excellence, determined by peer evaluations.
Submission Overview
Once verified, eligible firms complete the Law Firm Survey by providing details about their practice areas, representative work, professional achievements and client and professional references. Highlighting key strengths helps inform the evaluation process.
Research and Evaluation
The process includes insights from the Best Lawyers research, combining peer reviews with input from industry leaders. Along with client and professional references, this approach offers a thorough assessment of each firm's capabilities.
Ranking and Awards
Best Law Firms evaluates firms using quantitative and qualitative data to determine tiered rankings. Firms receive their rankings privately by email, categorized into Regional Tiers 1-3, National Tiers 1-3 and a single "Law Firm of the Year" award per practice area. Rankings are later published on bestlawfirms.com.
Strategic Benefits for Best Law Firms Honorees
Firms receiving this prestigious recognition gain several advantages that strengthen their legal industry position:
Elevated Authority and Industry Impact
Achieving distinction reinforces your firm’s leadership in the legal community. Over 75% of leading firms rely on Best Law Firm Rankings and Best Lawyers Awards for better client connections. This highlights your firm’s dedication to delivering quality service and excelling within your practice areas.
Broadened Visibility and Thought Leadership
A Best Law Firms honor elevates your standing and expands your influence. Sharing this achievement through website content, media coverage or speaking engagements at networking events and legal conferences can connect your firm with new audiences.
Stronger Talent Acquisition
Demonstrating your firm’s commitment to high standards helps attract top legal professionals. Featuring this achievement in recruitment efforts can showcase your firm’s value to aspiring lawyers.
Access to Tools and Networking Opportunities
Honorees have the exclusive opportunity to access the Best Lawyers Digital Marketing Platform and collaboration possibilities. Leveraging these resources can strengthen law firm referrals and provide insights to guide strategic decisions.
Amplifying Your Firm’s International Presence
The Best Law Firms network also helps firms strengthen their presence in international legal markets. As a global law firm network, it enhances credibility in complex legal matters that require trust and proven expertise across jurisdictions.
For international firms, it fosters high-value referrals and opens new global business development opportunities. Using digital platforms, industry events and strategic marketing efforts can further expand a firm’s reach. Beyond immediate benefits, inclusion strengthens long-term leadership and establishes a legacy in the legal profession.
Make the Most of Your Best Law Firms Standing
These strategies outline how to maximize the value of your Best Law Firms achievement:
Integrating Recognition into Your Branding & Marketing
Featuring your Best Law Firms Badge throughout your marketing assets, website, proposals and external communications, showcases your firm’s excellence and reinforces its value to prospective clients.
As part of your law firm marketing strategy, thoughtful placement of this distinction helps distinguish your practice from competitors and enhance credibility.
Leveraging Client Feedback for Strategic Growth
Understanding what matters most to your clients is key to refining your strategy, enhancing services and staying ahead of industry demands. By analyzing their priorities, firms can tailor legal offerings, craft more compelling pitches and respond effectively to market challenges.
Applying these insights to business development strengthens relationships, improves retention and drives smarter, better informed decision-making.
Actively Building Your Network & Referral Opportunities
Earning a Best Law Firms recognition strengthens referral opportunities and expands your professional network. Engage with other honorees by attending legal industry events, participating in online forums and initiating direct outreach. Consistently building these connections ensures that recognized firms turn to you for collaborations and cross-jurisdictional matters.
The Path Forward
The Best Law Firms network empowers firms to establish authority, expand their visibility and foster growth through referrals. Firms that proactively leverage this recognition gain market-leading advantages in client acquisition and retention.
To amplify these benefits, The Best Law Firms Digital Marketing Platform offers specialized tools and resources designed to help recognized firms strengthen their brand, enhance credibility and turn recognition into measurable business success.
