Guide
How Super Lawyers nominations work
Super Lawyers selects lawyers state by state, once a year. Lawyers nominate peers they have seen in action, the research department scores each candidate, practice-area peers rate the leading candidates, and the highest scorers in each firm-size group are selected. Lawyers cannot nominate themselves, campaigning for nominations can lead to disqualification, and there is no submission for a firm to write.
The short answer
- Who nominates: lawyers, for peers in the same state they have personally observed. No self-nominations.
- How many: up to 21 per nominator: 7 in-firm, 7 out-firm and 7 Rising Stars. In-firm nominations count only when matched by out-firm ones.
- How selection works: nominations and research build a candidate pool, the research department scores candidates on 12 indicators, practice-area peers rate the top candidates, and the highest scorers in each of four firm-size groups are selected.
- How many are selected: 5% of a state's lawyers for Super Lawyers and the top 2.5% for Rising Stars, per Super Lawyers.
- Timing: set state by state. Check the official nominations page.
- Off limits: campaigning or soliciting nominations, which Super Lawyers says may be disregarded and can lead to disqualification.
Super Lawyers is a rating service that publishes lists of lawyers by US state and practice area. It works differently from Chambers or Legal 500. There is no firm submission, no list of matters and no referee spreadsheet. Selection runs on peer nominations, research and peer review that the firm does not control. This guide sets out the official process and where the firm fits. For how it compares with the other major directories, see our overview of law firm rankings.
How selection works: the four steps
Super Lawyers describes a multi-phase process run "on an annual, state-by-state basis".
Creation of the candidate pool
Once a year, lawyers in each state are invited to nominate the top attorneys they have personally observed in action, as opposing counsel, co-counsel or in court or a transaction. Lawyers also enter the pool if the research department identifies them during research. Super Lawyers says its researchers search for lawyers who have attained certain honors, results or credentials, to find those overlooked in the nomination process.
Independent research
The research department evaluates each candidate on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement, including verdicts and settlements, transactions, representative clients, experience, honors and awards, position within the firm, bar activity, pro bono work and scholarly writing. Super Lawyers says the indicators "are not treated equally".
Peer evaluation by practice area
The candidates with the highest point totals in each practice area are asked to serve on a "blue ribbon panel". Panelists review a list of candidates from their own practice area and rate them on a scale of one to five.
Final selection
Candidates are grouped into four firm-size categories, and those with the highest point totals in each category are selected. Solo and small-firm lawyers are compared with each other, and large-firm lawyers with each other. Five percent of a state's lawyers are selected for Super Lawyers, and the top 2.5 percent are named to Rising Stars.
Rising Stars is the list for newer lawyers. Super Lawyers says a candidate must be 40 years old or younger, or in practice for 10 years or less.
Nomination rules
The rules on the official nominations page are short and specific:
- No self-nominations. Nominators must also limit their nominations to lawyers who practice in the same state.
- Up to 21 nominations per lawyer: seven in-firm, seven out-firm and seven Rising Stars.
- Out-firm nominations weigh more. Each nomination carries a point value, and nominations from lawyers in other firms carry "a significantly higher point value" than those from the same firm.
- In-firm nominations need a match. They count only if an equal or greater number of lawyers outside the nominator's firm are nominated.
- First-hand knowledge, not reputation. Base nominations on lawyers you have seen at work.
- No campaigning. Soliciting nominations from other lawyers is not allowed. Super Lawyers says such nominations "may be disregarded and lead to disqualification".
Lawyers nominate online after logging in to Super Lawyers. Clients, marketing directors and others who are not eligible to formally nominate can still suggest a name. Super Lawyers says these suggestions earn no points, but it adds the lawyers to the candidate pool for further research and evaluation.
State-by-state timing
Each state has its own nomination period, and the dates are set by Super Lawyers. To find them, select the state on the Super Lawyers nominations page. If your firm has lawyers in several states, expect several separate cycles through the year. Our deadline calendar covers the directories that publish fixed submission deadlines, and our Super Lawyers directory guide summarises the official rules.
What a marketing team can sensibly do
Because there is no submission, the firm's role is mostly to keep the research inputs accurate and to make sure lawyers understand the rules.
- Keep lawyer information accurate and current. The research step scores what can be found: results, transactions, clients, honors, bar roles, pro bono and writing. Make sure each lawyer's firm bio and any Super Lawyers profile reflect their actual work and correct practice area.
- Explain the process to lawyers. Many partners do not know that out-firm nominations weigh more or that in-firm ones need a match. A short internal note before your state's period helps.
- Remind lawyers to nominate, without steering whom. Telling lawyers that the nomination period exists is reasonable. Nominations should reflect each lawyer's own first-hand view.
- Use the informal suggestion route where it fits. If a strong lawyer may be overlooked, a marketing director can suggest the name. It earns no points but puts the lawyer into the research pool.
What to avoid
- Asking lawyers at other firms to nominate your lawyers, or offering to nominate theirs in return. Super Lawyers' rules prohibit campaigning and soliciting nominations, and vote trading is the clearest example.
- Circulating a list of "who to nominate" around the firm, or nominating on reputation alone.
- Inflating results or credentials in bios. The research step relies on them.
Displaying the designation: check your advertising rules
Lawyer advertising rules differ by jurisdiction, and several regulate how lawyers may refer to ratings and awards. Before using the designation in bios, signatures, websites or badges, check your own jurisdiction's Rules of Professional Conduct. New Jersey is an example: Super Lawyers' New Jersey publication information says an advertised reference must name the organization that issued the award, describe or point to the selection methodology, and carry the disclaimer "No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey." A careful general practice is to state the exact list name and year, link to the methodology, and add any disclaimer your jurisdiction requires.
Where Super Lawyers fits in your directory plan
Super Lawyers needs accurate data and well-informed lawyers rather than a written document. Submission-led directories such as Chambers and Legal 500 are where drafting effort pays off. For those, talk to us about your next submission.
Frequently asked questions
Can I nominate myself for Super Lawyers?
No. Super Lawyers states that lawyers cannot nominate themselves. Nominations must come from other lawyers, and nominators must limit their nominations to lawyers who practice in the same state.
How many lawyers can one lawyer nominate?
Up to 21: seven in-firm, seven out-firm and seven Rising Stars nominations. In-firm nominations count only if they are matched by out-firm nominations, and nominations from other firms carry a significantly higher point value.
Can our marketing team nominate our lawyers?
Not formally. Super Lawyers lists marketing directors among the people who are not eligible to formally nominate. Their suggestions earn no points, but Super Lawyers says it adds those lawyers to the candidate pool for further research and evaluation.
Can a lawyer pay to be selected?
Super Lawyers says there is no requirement to purchase any product for inclusion in the lists, and its selection process page quotes a Special Master finding that it does not permit a lawyer to buy one's way onto the list.
Who is eligible for Rising Stars?
Super Lawyers says a Rising Stars candidate must be 40 years old or younger, or in practice for 10 years or less. Super Lawyers says the top 2.5 percent of lawyers in a state are named to the Rising Stars list.
When is the Super Lawyers nomination deadline?
There is no single deadline. Super Lawyers runs its selection state by state, and each state has its own nomination period. Select the state on the official Super Lawyers nominations page to see its dates.
Sources: Super Lawyers selection process, Super Lawyers nominations, Super Lawyers New Jersey publication information