[Mick]

I make my living in the legal profession, and at my last count, there were 1,200+ directories, rankings, lists, and award programs that recognized lawyers and law firms for one thing or another. For all the reasons you cited, it is extremely difficult to rank and rate firms and lawyers. Too many moving parts, too many people who don't want to share opinions.

Just one example: the best known, most respected recognition program in our business renders their judgments based on a limited, cherry-picked submission of no more than 15 clients from any one firm. Fifteen. And from that, they extrapolate the a firm's quality, based upon the six of the fifteen (on average) respondents who choose to respond to this organization's interview request about that specific practice group / geography / industry group.

Take Life Sciences. This organization extends their top ranking, Band 1 recognition to five American law firms. One of the firms proudly advertises that it has "over 2,500" life sciences clients. It is a very high quality firm, no doubt. But their Band 1 ranking is based upon the in-depth interview with (likely) six clients out of their 2,500+ clients, at least that's what their North American Head of Research tells me..

That's the most respected program. The others? Let's just say they're not as academically rigorous.

[Mick]

I make my living in the legal profession, and at my last count, there were 1,200+ directories, rankings, lists, and award programs that recognized lawyers and law firms for one thing or another. For all the reasons you cited, it is extremely difficult to rank and rate firms and lawyers. Too many moving parts, too many people who don't want to share opinions.

Just one example: the best known, most respected recognition program in our business renders their judgments based on a limited, cherry-picked submission of no more than 15 clients from any one firm. Fifteen. And from that, they extrapolate the a firm's quality, based upon the six of the fifteen (on average) respondents who choose to respond to this organization's interview request about that specific practice group / geography / industry group.

Take Life Sciences. This organization extends their top ranking, Band 1 recognition to five American law firms. One of the firms proudly advertises that it has "over 2,500" life sciences clients. It is a very high quality firm, no doubt. But their Band 1 ranking is based upon the in-depth interview with (likely) six clients out of their 2,500+ clients, at least that's what their North American Head of Research tells me..

That's the most respected program. The others? Let's just say they're not as academically rigorous.