Every year Super Lawyers selects attorneys from all firm sizes and over 70 practice areas throughout the United States. Lawyers enter the candidate pool by being formally nominated by a peer or if identified by the research department during the research process. Attorney-led research staff searches for lawyers who have attained certain honors, results or credentials, which indicate a high degree of peer recognition or professional competence. For example, certification as a specialist in a particular area of practice, or admission to prestigious colleges or academies, e.g., The American College of Trial Lawyers.
The staff identifies these credentials by reviewing a proprietary list of database and online sources, including national and local legal trade publications. The next step is peer evaluation by practice area, also known as the “blue ribbon review.” The candidates in each practice area with the highest point totals from steps one and two above are asked to serve on a blue ribbon panel. The panelists are then provided a list of candidates from their practice areas to review, rating them on a scale of one to five.
Only five percent of the total lawyers in the state are selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers.
