If you have ever searched for a lawyer, you’ve probably seen the Super Lawyer award on many law firms websites. But what does the term “Super Attorney” mean? What are Super Lawyers?
Read on to learn what Super Lawyers are and why they can benefit you.
What are Super Lawyers?
Super Lawyers is a rating service of lawyers from 70+ areas who have achieved a significant amount of peer recognition, as well as professional achievement. The selections are made using a rigorous multi-phased process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews by practice area.
The bottom line is that Super Lawyers are chosen based on their excellence in practice and their dedication to the legal profession. If you hire a Super Lawyer, you can be confident that they will provide the highest quality of representation possible and do everything they can to respect the attorney-client relationship.
Super Lawyers Magazine publishes the list of Super Lawyers in all 50 states, as well as Washington D.C., and is distributed to attorneys and judges throughout the country. The lists are also available online at SuperLawyers.com, as well as in print form.
How do you become a Super Lawyer?
In order to become a Super Lawyer, you first need to:
Be nominated by a legal professional
It’s important to note that as a lawyer, you cannot nominate yourself. You must be nominated by:
- Peers
- Third party feedback
- Managing partner survey
- The Super Lawyers research team
This independent nomination process ensures that only those lawyers who have achieved a certain level of peer recognition and professional achievement are selected. Unlike many legal awards, which can essentially be purchased, the Super Lawyers list is a true reflection of excellence in the legal profession.
Be evaluated by the independent research team
Once you have been nominated, the next step is to be evaluated by the Super Lawyers research team. This team looks at 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement, such as:
- Verdicts and settlements
- Transactions
- Experience
- Clients represented
- Published works
- Honors and awards
- Bar and event leadership positions
- Position within law firm
- Honors/awards
- Special licenses and certifications
- Community involvement/pro bono work
- Other items of merit
This extensive vetting process ensures that only the most outstanding attorneys are selected as Super Lawyers. It also prevents anyone from buying their way into the Super Lawyer group or getting in through friends or family. The Super Lawyer designation gives you peace of mind that you are getting an outstanding lawyer.
Be reviewed by Blue Ribbon Panel
After the research team has evaluated all of the candidates, they compile a list of the top lawyers in each state and practice area. The candidates on the list are the ones who have scored the highest on the previous two steps. This list is then sent to a Blue Ribbon Panel of attorneys for review.
The attorneys on this panel are those who have previously won the Super Lawyers award and are chosen based on their experience and expertise in specific legal practice areas. They are tasked with reviewing the candidates and selecting those who they believe truly deserve the Super Lawyers designation.
Final selection
Only 5% of lawyers in each state are selected as Super Lawyers, meaning that it truly is an honor to receive this designation. If you are looking for the best lawyer possible to represent you, hiring a Super Lawyer is a great place to start.
On top of this, only 2.5% of the nominees are selected as Rising Stars, which is a designation given to lawyers who are 40 years old or younger, or who have been practicing law for 10 years or less. This means that if you hire a Rising Star Super Lawyer, you are getting a relatively young attorney who is at the top of their game and is sure to provide excellent representation.
7 Tips for getting nominated for Super Lawyers in your state
As we’ve noted, the only way you can be considered for the Super Lawyers award is if someone else nominates you.
1. Expand your professional network
One of the best ways to increase your chances of being nominated for Super Lawyers is to expand your professional network. Get involved in bar associations and other legal organizations, attend industry events, and make an effort to get to know other lawyers in your field. The more people who know who you are and what you do, the more likely it is that you’ll be nominated.
2. Get published
Another great way to increase your visibility and get noticed by potential nominators is to get published. Write articles for legal publications, speak at industry events, and make sure that your name is out there. The more you can do to position yourself as an expert in your field, the better your chances of being nominated for Super Lawyers.
3. Win high-profile cases
Of course, one of the best ways to get nominated for Super Lawyers is to win high-profile cases. The more impressive your track record, the more likely it is that you’ll be noticed by potential nominators. If you can put together a string of impressive victories, you’ll be that much more likely to be selected as a Super Lawyer.
4. Get involved in your community
Another great way to increase your visibility and get noticed by potential nominators is to get involved in your community. Volunteer for local organizations, participate in community events, and make an effort to be seen as a leader in your community. The more you can do to position yourself as a pillar of your community, the better your chances of being selected as a Super Lawyer.
5. Earn important certifications
In addition to expanding your professional network and getting involved in your community, another great way to increase your chances of being nominated for Super Lawyers is to earn important certifications. These certifications demonstrate to potential nominators that you have the knowledge and skills necessary to be a Super Lawyer.
6. Look for informal nominations
While not quite as important, the Super Lawyers also accepts “informal nominations”. An informal nomination is a nomination that comes from someone who is not on the formal list of accepted nominators. While these nominations are not given as much weight as formal nominations, they can still be helpful in getting your name on the Super Lawyers list. If you receive multiple informal nominations from your peers, community members, or clients, it may help you to get on the list.
7. Work on improving your online presence
Today, your online presence is more important than ever before. Potential clients and nominators will often Google your name to learn more about you, and if they don’t find anything, it may hurt your chances of being selected as a Super Lawyers. Make sure that your website is up-to-date, that you have an active social media presence, and that your name comes up in search results.
Also, don’t forget to work on improving the overall SEO of your site. The better your Attorney SEO, the more you will rank for different keywords and the more visibility you will receive.
What makes Super Lawyers different from other awards?
There are other lawyer rating services, such as Avvo, that purport to rate lawyers based on a variety of factors. However, these services can be biased and unreliable. For instance, Avvo allows clients to leave reviews of their lawyers, which can be skewed if the lawyer only works with happy clients or if the client is unhappy for reasons that have nothing to do with the quality of the lawyer’s work.
In addition, Avvo does not have the same vetting process for their ratings, so anyone can leave a review, regardless of whether they actually worked with the lawyer or not.
Is Super Lawyers trustworthy?
Yes. Unlike some other rating services, Super Lawyers is a well-respected and well-known rating service that is trusted by many individuals, both inside and out of the legal community. This designation cannot be bought and it cannot be faked – it is truly an award that must be earned.
Even the Supreme Court ruled that Super Lawyers is not a scam in any way. In their ruling they said:
“[The Super Lawyers selection process] is a comprehensive, good-faith and detailed attempt to produce a list of lawyers that have attained high peer recognition, meet ethical standards, and have demonstrated some degree of achievement in their field.”
So no, the Super Lawyers designation is certainly not a scam.
What are the duties of Super Lawyers?
To state the somewhat obvious, lawyers that have been designated as Super Lawyers must adhere strictly to their state’s legal code of ethics. In addition, Super Lawyers must maintain a high degree of professionalism, both in and out of the courtroom.
Super Lawyers are also expected to be leaders in their field and to use their knowledge and experience to mentor other lawyers. Many Super Lawyers give back to their community by teaching at law schools or working with legal aid organizations.
Finally, Super Lawyers are expected to stay abreast of all changes in the law and to keep up with the latest legal news and developments. They do this by attending Continuing Legal Education (CLE) courses, reading legal publications, and networking with other lawyers.
The benefits of hiring a Super Lawyer
There are many benefits to hiring a Super Lawyer, but some of the most notable ones include:
- You can be confident that you are hiring a lawyer who is at the top of their field.
- You will have access to a wealth of knowledge and experience.
- You can be assured that your lawyer will work diligently on your case.
- You can feel confident that your lawyer has the respect of their peers.
- You can be certain that your lawyer is up-to-date on all changes in the law.
- You will have peace of mind knowing that you are being represented by an ethical and honest lawyer.
- You can be assured that your lawyer will give back to the community.
For good or bad, lawyers can be seen as dishonest or lacking integrity by the general public. Hiring a Super Lawyer is an excellent way to ensure that you are getting the best legal representation possible.
How to choose the right one for your needs
So how can you find a Super Lawyer near you who will be right for your needs?
Start on the Super Lawyers website. Find all the Super Lawyers in your state and region and compile a list. Once you have an initial list, you can begin to narrow it down by taking into account your specific legal needs.
For example, if you live in New York City and need a divorce lawyer, you will want to find a Super Lawyer who practices family law in NYC. Once you have a smaller list of lawyers, you can then begin to look at things like reviews, case results, and experience to help you make your final decision.
Once you have your short list, ask friends and family if they have had any experiences with any of the lawyers on your list. If they have, ask them about their experience and whether or not they would recommend the lawyer.
You can also check with your local bar association to see if any of the lawyers on your list have had any complaints filed against them. Finally, you can schedule consultations with each of the lawyers on your shortlist to get a feel for their personality and to see if you will be comfortable working with them.
Choosing the right Super Lawyer for your needs is an important decision, but it doesn’t have to be a difficult one. Finding the right Super Lawyer for your needs is all about doing your research and taking into account your specific legal situation. With a little time and effort, you will be able to find the perfect lawyer for your needs.
Should you include the Super Lawyer badge on your website?
If you are a Super Lawyer, you may be wondering whether you should promote that fact on your website. Short answer: yes. Long answer: it’s up to you.
Including the Super Lawyer badge on your website provides some immediate, tangible benefits. It lets potential clients know that you are a Super Lawyer, which will help you to stand out from the competition. It also adds an element of trust and credibility to your website.
Of course, there are some downsides to including the badge on your website. First, it can make your site look a bit cluttered. Second, it can be a turn-off to potential clients who don’t want to work with a Super Lawyer (perhaps because they think you’ll be too expensive).
So, should you include the Super Lawyer badge on your website? Ultimately, that decision is up to you. If you think it will help you to attract more clients, then go for it. If you’re worried about it turning potential clients away, then you may want to forego the badge.
Super Lawyers impact on your SEO and Google ads
One reason to consider pursuing the Super Lawyer designation is the positive effect it can have on your SEO and Google ads. Google is constantly pushing for websites to be credible, authoritative, and expert-driven. The more a site checks these boxes, the more likely they are to show it in the search results and in the prime ad placements.
Displaying the Super Lawyer badge and linking that back to the Super Lawyer website shows Google that you have a connection to Super Lawyers, which is a highly credible website. Additionally, if you are certified as a Super Lawyer, your profile will be displayed on the Super Lawyers website with a link back to your site. This backlink is powerful because it shows to Google that Super Lawyers believes you are an expert and should be trusted.
When you put all of these things together, it results in a very positive effect on your SEO and Google advertising efforts. It positions you as an expert, which in turn makes it more likely that your search rankings and advertising will rank higher.
