Lawyer Ratings Text Size:

Martindale-Hubbell^® Client Review and Peer Review Ratings

People don't go to lawyers for frivolous needs. It's to draw up an important document or to help them through a crisis or other potentially life-altering situation. Choosing the right lawyer is an important decision and the right one can make all the difference. It's a substantial investment of time, money and other resources and can seem intimidating. How do you choose the right lawyer from the seemingly endless number available?

Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings^TM and Client Review Ratings programs provide you with reliable and credible information to help select the right lawyer for your needs. Both of these key decision-making tools are now available on Lawyers.com.

Consumer Choices and Web-based Ratings and Reviews

Reliance on Web-based ratings and lawyer reviews for product-buying decisions has increased over the years for a variety of purchases. Now, you can find Web-based lawyer ratings and ratings for other professionals such as doctors, financial advisers and contractors. This list grows every year and consumers get smarter and smarter, which contributes to better completed reviews.

Turning to Web-based information makes sense. If you buy a product or service online, no matter how insignificant, you'll likely have a chance to review and rate the purchase and the provider somewhere. It's also likely that you'll use such information before you buy something online or head out to the store. Think about how important ratings and reviews are to the independent business people on your favorite Internet auction or e-commerce sites. Providing feedback as a consumer often leads to better products, services and experiences.

Using Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings and Client Review Ratings

Once you've narrowed your search through the Find a Lawyer feature, you may see two types of lawyer ratings and reviews: Peer Review Ratings and Client Review Ratings. They're both important when selecting the best person to represent you or work on your case.

Peer Review Ratings: This rating system provides an independent and objective rating based on input from other lawyers and attorneys. Martindale-Hubbell founded its professional rating system over 100 years ago and is still trusted by legal professionals for information about a lawyer's legal ability and adherence to professional ethical standards.

Client Review Ratings: This new rating and review tool draws on client feedback and complements the information available through Peer Review Ratings. You're encouraged to use the information found here when considering a lawyer, and to provide reviews on lawyers you've used even if you haven't found them here. Direct client input on a lawyer's qualities provides you with another perspective and key information as you make your choice for legal services.

Client Review provides ratings on a lawyer's service and relationship skills in the following categories

• Communication ability
• Responsiveness
• Quality of service
• Value for money

Client reviews also show the type of services were used by the reviewer. If a firm is active in many areas of law, knowing that your particular issue was worked on and reviewed can make you feel more reassured. You can also see general demographics of all reviewers, giving you an idea of the types of clients the lawyer works with. Free-form recommendations, feedback and commentary are available, too.

Making the Best Decision

Personal experience with a lawyer, or a first-hand referral from a friend or family member, is often the best starting resource. Sometimes, you won't have that starting point and you may also want to gain more detail that your friend couldn't provide. Plus, your personal resources might not be a good match for your current needs. Maybe you still need extra convincing. Peer Review Ratings and Client Review Ratings help you get to that final short list of possible lawyers quicker, and are an effective way to add to and confirm personal referrals and word-of-mouth recommendations.

Related Resources on Lawyers.com^sm