1. Providing an insufficient number of client referees
Client referee feedback rates highly as one of the primary factors for a firm to be ranked. Firms are advised to submit as many referees as they can. Remember, not all the client referees you provide will respond when contacted by the researchers. Therefore, the more client referees you have, the higher the response rate.
2. Not getting your clients involved
It has been proven that client referees are more likely to respond if you reach out to them personally and let them when they can expect to be contacted. If you have done a good job, and have a good relationship with your clients, they are likely to help you out by providing a glowing testimonial of your work.
3. Not commenting on your competitors or peers
Many firms may feel deterred from giving praise to fellow competitors in fear of its effect on their own rankings. However, providing peer feedback helps to provide more accurate ranking opportunities for key lawyers and firms, and projects your firm in a positive light to the legal researchers. When you show that you know who your competitors are, and who are the practitioners that are recognised in your field, it shows that you are IN the game and not just standing on the sidelines.
4. Providing too few publishable matters
Please be advised to include as many cases as you can (sometimes even the less significant ones) to show that your firm handles a fairly decent number of cases in that particular practice area. Where you cannot compete in terms of quality of the deals, you should try to make up for it by volume. Submitting more publishable matters will also provide a more comprehensive editorial if ranked. Often times, firms will either provide a brief overview or a lengthy detailed summary of the matter. Tip: Treat this like a resume – Keep it concise and highlight the matter’s strong points and unique features in bite-sized nuggets.
5. Outdated matter highlights
Do check on the completion date of each matter to ensure it falls within the past 12-month period. Outdated matters, no matter how significant, will be void if it is outside the time frame being reviewed
6. Lack of comparable work with firms that are ranked
To be ranked among the top tiered law firms, your matter submissions have to be comparable with these firms in terms of significance and value.
7. No track record
It is less likely, but not impossible, for a new firm to be ranked in their first round of submissions. This is especially so for senior partners who set up their own firm and participates in the legal rankings submission for the first time. Legal researchers need to see a proven track record of the firm’s significant work, including a sizeable amount of it in the new law firm.
8. Listing rankings and awards from other publications
It is worth noting that legal directories use different metrics systems and factors to judge a firm or individual. You may find differing results from the same matter submissions from each respective legal directory and as such, citing other directory rankings or awards will not reinforce your submissions. It is advisable to only list past awards and rankings achieved from the legal directory you are submitting for.
9. Late submissions
Your firm should always be mindful of the time taken to produce a submission, especially when input and approval is required from multiple partners and referees. Timely submissions are often a prerequisite to a successful outcome for legal rankings. This is especially so when the same client referee is listed by different law firms. Legal researchers will not request for multiple feedbacks from common client referees of different law firms and will only reach out to those from firms that submit first, before the deadline.
10. Not submitting at all!
The biggest mistake of course is, not making a submission at all. The size of your firm should not stop you from putting in a submission. There are small boutique law firms who are successful in getting ranked and recognised in the practice areas in which they specialise in. If you do not have the resources to manage the legal rankings submission process, you may engage professionals to do it for you!
Client referee feedback rates highly as one of the primary factors for a firm to be ranked. Firms are advised to submit as many referees as they can. Remember, not all the client referees you provide will respond when contacted by the researchers. Therefore, the more client referees you have, the higher the response rate.
2. Not getting your clients involved
It has been proven that client referees are more likely to respond if you reach out to them personally and let them when they can expect to be contacted. If you have done a good job, and have a good relationship with your clients, they are likely to help you out by providing a glowing testimonial of your work.
3. Not commenting on your competitors or peers
Many firms may feel deterred from giving praise to fellow competitors in fear of its effect on their own rankings. However, providing peer feedback helps to provide more accurate ranking opportunities for key lawyers and firms, and projects your firm in a positive light to the legal researchers. When you show that you know who your competitors are, and who are the practitioners that are recognised in your field, it shows that you are IN the game and not just standing on the sidelines.
4. Providing too few publishable matters
Please be advised to include as many cases as you can (sometimes even the less significant ones) to show that your firm handles a fairly decent number of cases in that particular practice area. Where you cannot compete in terms of quality of the deals, you should try to make up for it by volume. Submitting more publishable matters will also provide a more comprehensive editorial if ranked. Often times, firms will either provide a brief overview or a lengthy detailed summary of the matter. Tip: Treat this like a resume – Keep it concise and highlight the matter’s strong points and unique features in bite-sized nuggets.
5. Outdated matter highlights
Do check on the completion date of each matter to ensure it falls within the past 12-month period. Outdated matters, no matter how significant, will be void if it is outside the time frame being reviewed
6. Lack of comparable work with firms that are ranked
To be ranked among the top tiered law firms, your matter submissions have to be comparable with these firms in terms of significance and value.
7. No track record
It is less likely, but not impossible, for a new firm to be ranked in their first round of submissions. This is especially so for senior partners who set up their own firm and participates in the legal rankings submission for the first time. Legal researchers need to see a proven track record of the firm’s significant work, including a sizeable amount of it in the new law firm.
8. Listing rankings and awards from other publications
It is worth noting that legal directories use different metrics systems and factors to judge a firm or individual. You may find differing results from the same matter submissions from each respective legal directory and as such, citing other directory rankings or awards will not reinforce your submissions. It is advisable to only list past awards and rankings achieved from the legal directory you are submitting for.
9. Late submissions
Your firm should always be mindful of the time taken to produce a submission, especially when input and approval is required from multiple partners and referees. Timely submissions are often a prerequisite to a successful outcome for legal rankings. This is especially so when the same client referee is listed by different law firms. Legal researchers will not request for multiple feedbacks from common client referees of different law firms and will only reach out to those from firms that submit first, before the deadline.
10. Not submitting at all!
The biggest mistake of course is, not making a submission at all. The size of your firm should not stop you from putting in a submission. There are small boutique law firms who are successful in getting ranked and recognised in the practice areas in which they specialise in. If you do not have the resources to manage the legal rankings submission process, you may engage professionals to do it for you!
