US News & World Report gave an update yesterday about its plans to rate law firms in the United States. It is partnering with Best Lawyers to rank 5,000+ law firms in 125 legal practice areas across national, state, and metropolitan groups.
They claim over 50,000 references have been gathered from a large swath of the industry:
Lawyers, clients, marketing officers, recruiting officers, associates, and summer associates are being surveyed. In firms without marketing or recruiting officers, lawyers will be asked to provide the information asked of marketing and recruiting officers. The overall national rankings, including the highest ranking firms by practice area nationwide and the highest ranking firms in each state, will appear in U.S. News’s October edition.
Two thoughts:
1. I know US News heard a lot from deans about their law school rankings. I wonder how managing partners will react to this new legal yardstick?
2. With yet another ranking thrown into the mix, does it make it any easier for clients to find the right lawyer at a good firm for a fair price in a timely manner?
