A public record that stands up to checking
A complete profile, well-prepared ranking submissions, and firm details that match wherever a client looks.
Photo: BehindTheTmuna / Unsplash
Clients and referring firms look for confirmation from somewhere other than your own website. They check profiles, rankings and reviews. Most firms deserve a better public record than they have, because nobody has had the time to prepare it. We do the preparation: the profile, the submission documents and the housekeeping. The decisions stay independent, as they must.
What the work includes
The scope is agreed in writing before any work starts, so the firm knows exactly what will be done.
- 01
Profile set-up
A complete profile on Global Law Lists: practice areas, offices, lawyers, languages and a description written for clients, with support through member verification.
- 02
Submission planning
Which rankings and awards suit the firm, which practice areas to enter, and a calendar of deadlines so that nothing is prepared in a rush.
- 03
Matter descriptions
Help turning the firm’s work into clear, specific matter descriptions: what the matter was, what the firm did, and why it was significant, within confidentiality.
- 04
Referee preparation
Guidance on choosing referees who know the work and will answer, and on telling them in advance what to expect.
- 05
Consistent firm details
A check that the firm’s name, address, phone, practice areas and lawyer names match across its website, profiles and business listings, with corrections where they do not.
- 06
Announcements
Wording and graphics for announcing a recognition on your own site and channels, accurate about what was awarded and by whom.
Help with a submission is not influence over a decision
Rankings on Global Law Lists are free to enter and cannot be bought. The same published criteria apply to every firm, and using this service has no effect on any ranking decision.
What we offer is help with preparation: explaining what a submission asks for, and helping the firm present accurate information clearly. The same help applies to submissions you make to other legal rankings.
The method and scoring are set out in our verification and rankings methodology.
Why recognition matters
A client cannot test a lawyer’s skill before instructing them. They rely on signals: who recommends the firm, where it is listed, how it is ranked, what past clients say. General counsel and foreign firms choosing local counsel rely on these signals most, because they are deciding from a distance.
Recognition also supports search. Mentions and links from reputable legal sources tell search engines and AI assistants that the firm is real and regarded.
What a strong profile contains
A profile is strong when a stranger can read it and know what to instruct the firm for. That needs specific practice areas, not a list of every area of law; named lawyers with their admissions; offices with working contact details; and a description that says who the firm acts for.
On Global Law Lists, 141,000+ law firms are listed across 240+ jurisdictions. Member profiles show their verification: licence, identity and standing, checked again every year. A verified profile is a form of recognition in its own right.
How ranking submissions are judged
Legal rankings differ in detail but ask for similar things: evidence of the work, and people who can confirm it. On Global Law Lists a submission needs at least three representative matters and two referees, and is scored against published criteria.
Researchers read many submissions. The ones that do well are specific and easy to follow. They state the firm’s role precisely, explain why each matter was difficult or important, and name referees who actually reply.
Where submissions go wrong
- Matters described in general terms, with no detail of the firm’s role.
- Too many matters, so the strongest are lost among the routine.
- Referees who were not told to expect a request and do not answer.
- Entering every practice area and not the ones where the firm is strongest.
- Leaving the submission to the final week before the deadline.
Reviews and client feedback
In practice areas that serve individuals, client reviews carry real weight. The rules on asking for them differ between jurisdictions, so check yours first.
Where reviews are permitted: ask at a natural moment, make it easy, never offer anything in return, and never write or edit a review for a client. Reply to every review calmly, and never disclose anything confidential in a reply.
Using recognition well
State a recognition exactly: the name of the ranking, the year, the category and the band or tier. Do not round it up. Remove it when it is no longer current.
Put it where a checking client will see it: on the relevant practice page and lawyer profile, and in your profile on the network.
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Common questions
01Can a ranking on Global Law Lists be bought?
No. Rankings are free to enter and cannot be bought, and the same published criteria apply to every firm.
02Does using this service improve our chance of being ranked?
It has no effect on any ranking decision. It helps the firm present accurate information clearly and on time, which is all a submission can do.
03Do you help with submissions to other rankings?
Yes. The preparation is similar across legal rankings: choosing practice areas, writing matter descriptions, and preparing referees.
04What does a submission to Global Law Lists require?
At least three representative matters and two referees. The criteria and their weights are published in our methodology.
05Can confidential matters be included?
Many rankings accept confidential matters and treat them as such. Whether and how to include one is the firm’s decision, made under its duty to the client.
06Do we have to be a member to be listed?
Firms in our records are listed at no cost. Managing the profile and verification come with membership.
Tell us about your firm
Send a short enquiry and we will reply with the questions we need answered first. The scope is agreed in writing before any work starts.