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Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™The Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings help buyers of legal services identify, evaluate and select the most appropriate lawyer for a specific task at hand. Lawyer Ratings serve as an objective indicator that a lawyer has the highest ethical standards and professional ability and are used by buyers of legal services to justify their hiring decisions. Combined with the The benefits of Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review RatingsMartindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings benefit the entire legal community, from buyers and referrers of legal services to the lawyers and law firms whose ratings we promote.
Benefits for Smaller Law FirmsLexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell delivers a comprehensive and reliable view of lawyers and law firms, giving you an opportunity to distinguish yourself to the legal profession as well as giving you the confidence to know that they're referring their trusted clients to other distinguished legal professionals.
Benefits for Larger Law FirmsLexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell delivers influential assessments of a larger firm's expertise to potential clients, and lawyers benefit from real-world input from other legal professionals when evaluating and selecting counsel.
Benefits for Corporate CounselLexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell delivers a comprehensive and reliable view of lawyers and law firms--providing complete, easy-to-understand reviews by both lawyers and clients--which helps corporate counsel make smarter hiring decisions and choose the right lawyer or law firm for your matter.
Understanding the Changed Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review RatingsBased on extensive research and feedback from the legal community, LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell has changed the methodology by which Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings are determined as of September 2009. Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings will continue to reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the Bar and the judiciary and attest to a lawyer's legal ability and professional ethics. To be rated, lawyers must meet the "very high" General Ethical Standards Rating and must also be rated on their Legal Ability.
Changes to the Ratings DesignationsThe General Ethical Standards Rating denotes adherence to professional standards of conduct and ethics, reliability, diligence and other criteria relevant to the discharge of professional responsibilities. A lawyer must meet the "Very High" criteria of General Ethical Standards to achieve a Peer Review Rating.
From September 2009, for lawyers rated with the changed methodology, Legal Ability Ratings will now also indicate professional ability within a specific Area of Practice. Legal Ability Ratings will be based on performance in five key areas, rated on a scale of 1 to 5 (with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest). These key areas are Legal Knowledge, Analytical Capabilities, Judgment, Communication Ability and Legal Experience.
A combination of the Very High General Ethical Standards Rating and a Legal Ability Rating determines the Peer Review Rating, which includes a numeric rating, rating term and may include a Certification Mark:
AV® Preeminent™ (4.5-5.0)
BV® Distinguished™ (3.0-4.4)
Rated (1.0-2.9)
Additional Feedback and DemographicsThe changed Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings allow reviewers to provide Additional Feedback on the lawyer under review which provides qualitative depth and personality to the review. In an effort to showcase a lawyer's sphere of influence with his peers through the Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings, LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell will also now aggregate and display reviewers' basic demographics, including general position and general geographic location. For more information on Additional Feedback and demographics, click here to Ratings Explained.
For a complete explanation of the changed ratings methodology, click here.
Transformation TimelineLexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell began to conduct reviews of lawyers in the changed system in mid-2008. Several thousand lawyers will now display components of the changes program. Over the next ten years all existing rated lawyers will be re-reviewed so they can benefit from the detailed findings that the ratings enhancements afford. Lawyers not yet reviewed by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell will be reviewed in the changed system as they become eligible. To learn more about the methodology, click here.
LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell subscribing lawyers wishing to expedite the re-review process may go to the Client Service Center to request a review. All other rated lawyers may request a re-review by emailing ratings@martindale.com.
Transition to the Changed ProgramDuring the transformation to the changed system, those currently rated under the existing Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings program will be converted to the highest numeric rating, as close to an equivalent to their current rating until LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell has completed a re-review of the lawyer in the changed methodology. For example:
If you are currently rated an AV or BV rated lawyer, your rating remains the same but will now include a numeric rating and rating term. AV and BV rated lawyers will receive the highest numeric, but this may not be the case for those reviewed under the changed methodology. Your rating will reflect the existing General Ethical Standards rating and Legal Ability rating only, and will not reflect any of the changed methodology's new components such a the 5 new key areas of Legal Ability, demographics, additional feedback or with Area Practice specificity (see Ratings Explained for further details). The AV and BV certification mark will remain in the 2010 print edition of the Martindale-Hubbell® Law Directory; thereafter it will appear in the directory as either AV Preeminent or BV Distinguished. If you are an AV or BV Peer Review Rated lawyer, there will be a period of transition for your continued use of your Icon Marks and certification marks in online and printed formats. For further information about use of certification marks/Icon Marks, visit the Use Guidelines or contact LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell Ratings Support team for further details: ratings@martindale.com. All rated lawyers are encouraged to be re-reviewed in the changed program to benefit from the additional details that it affords.
LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell will no longer support the CV® Peer Review Rating as explained herein as of September 2009. From September 2009, CV rated lawyers will be not be listed as CV rated on martindale.com® and Lawyers.comSM sites, but instead the rated lawyers will receive a "Rated 2.9". The CV certification mark will remain in the 2010 print edition of the
Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory; thereafter it will no longer appear in the directory. If you are a CV Peer Review Rated lawyer, there will be a period of transition for your continued use of CV Icon Marks and certification marks in online and printed formats. For further information about use of certification marks/Icon Marks in print and online, visit the Use Guidelines or contact LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell Ratings Support team for further details: ratings@martindale.com. CV rated lawyers are encouraged to be re-reviewed in the changed program to benefit from the additional details that it affords. The Use Guidelines have been updated to reflect the changed methodology. You should continue to reference them for approved use of your Icon Marks/certification marks. Early in 2010, LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell will be introducing updated Icon Marks to reflect the enhancements. Please see Promote Ratings for further details.
Transition Communications about the changed methodologyAll lawyers that are listed with LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell should receive communications with specific details about the changed methodology and the transition to this changed methodology over the next three months, starting from week of 31 August 2009.
For answers to frequently asked questions on the changed Peer Review Ratings, click here.
The Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™The Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings evaluates lawyers in the United States and Canada based on the anonymous opinions of members of the Bar and the Judiciary, including both those who are rated and those who are not. The first review to establish a lawyer's rating usually occurs three years after his/her first admission to the Bar.
LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell conducts secure online Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings surveys of lawyers across multiple jurisdictions and geographic locations, in similar areas of practice as the lawyer being rated. Reviewers are instructed to assess their colleagues' general ethical standards and legal ability in a specific area of practice. They appear in all formats of the Martindale-Hubbell® Law Directory, in the online listings on martindale.com®, on the LexisNexis® services, on CD-ROM, and in print.
Reviews initiated by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell
The majority of Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating reviews are initiated by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell through random selection of lawyers listed on martindale.com® and Lawyers.comSM, for instance on a geographic basis and in a specific area of practice. To be randomly selected by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell for a review, a lawyer must meet the eligibility requirements. If LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell receives information indicating that a lawyer's ethics or abilities are under question, LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell reserves the right to initiate a review. Lawyer requested reviews: nominating peer references
Alternately, a lawyer may request a review by nominating his/her own peer references who have personal knowledge of his/her general ethics and legal ability in a specific area of practice. LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell then contacts the prospective reviewers and requests that he/she complete the secure online Peer Review evaluation. These references will be incorporated into the process along with other reviewers that are randomly selected by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell. Peer reference nominees must be: lawyers or judges; from outside the lawyer's organization; and listed on martindale.com®. References must not consist of more than two lawyers from any one organization. A lawyer may submit peer references only once annually and there must be a minimum of 18 references. In order to ensure a credible process, LexisNexis
Martindale-Hubbell will include several randomly chosen reviewers in a similar area of practice and/or geographical location along with the submitted peer references. LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell subscribing lawyers may go to the Client Service Center to request a review and submit Peer References. All other rated lawyers may request a review by emailing ratings@martindale.com.
Every lawyer actively practicing law (registered bar lawyers) who are currently listed on martindale.com® and Lawyers.comSM, including subscribers and non-subscribers to LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell, who have been admitted to the Bar in the U.S. and Canada, for at least three years, who are in good standing, are eligible to be Peer Review Rated. For LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell to facilitate the review, a lawyer must provide their area of practice and admission year. To take advantage of the online review process, a lawyer must provide a valid email address. To be reviewed themselves, lawyers must also participate in the reviewing process of other members of the Bar.
Tenure and Admission Requirements for Participating in Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings
To participate in Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings, either as a reviewer or to be rated, all lawyers must be admitted for at least three years. As part of the changes to the methodology, the tenure restriction has been changed: lawyers with at least three years admission are now eligible for the highest rating available.
The reviewers are members of the Bar and Judiciary (lawyers and judges) across multiple jurisdictions and geographic locations and are listed on martindale.com® and Lawyers.comSM. They are from similar areas of practice and/or industry as the lawyer being rated, who know or have worked with the lawyer under review and are able to rate them on their professional ethical standards and legal ability.
Anonymity
All Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings review materials are treated as anonymous. LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell takes steps to protect anonymity (e.g., not associating reviewer names with their responses and aggregating their responses with responses from other reviewers before sharing or publishing them). But it is possible that their responses may contain sufficient information to allow the rated lawyer to ascertain their identity. LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell facilitates the peer review process by gathering responses, validating them and aggregating results for display online. The content of the responses are entirely from reviewers, the peers of the lawyer. Peer reviewers must affirm that they are a peer of the lawyer identified for review. A peer can submit only one review for a specific lawyer within a 12-month period.
A lawyer's rating will generally improve over time. But LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review ratings can be revised downward, or even removed if a decline is noted in ability or ethical standards. While LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell makes available the option of regular rating reviews for the lawyers, the most recent results are relied upon when determining the final rating.
It is important to note that because LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell does not undertake to develop Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings for all lawyers, the fact that a lawyer is not rated should not be construed unfavorably. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome and LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell accepts no responsibility for the content or accuracy of any review responses displayed in whole or in part by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell. LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell may use your responses in whole or in part in accordance with the Terms and Conditions, but it is not required to do so. LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell reserves the right, in its sole, unrestricted discretion, not to publish or otherwise use all or any portion of any responses or submissions it may receive.
No subscription or listing on martindale.com or lawyers.com is ever solicited or accepted on the promise of publication of a particular Peer Review Rating. No preferential consideration is ever given to any lawyer or law firm. There is never any payment made to lawyers and judges who participate in rating reviews. The process is a cooperative service with the Bar and the Judiciary.
It is LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell policy to conduct regular random periodic reviews of all Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings to insure their accuracy. Where supporting opinions dictate, appropriate action (such as deleting, raising or lowering a rating) is taken.
Disbarred or suspended lawyers automatically have their LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings removed as soon as notified by a state Bar. Other types of lawyer disciplinary actions administered by the appropriate Bar or judicial authorities may also be grounds to remove a rating. While Bar admitting authorities supply LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell with disciplinary information, LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell also reserves the right to investigate information developed from the Bar or the judiciary regarding rated lawyers that have occurred that may impact the ethical standards of a rated lawyer.
Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings reflect a combination of achieving a Very High General Ethical Standards rating and a Legal Ability numerical rating. For lawyers rated with the changed methodology the Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings will reflect the following:
General Ethical Standards Rating
The General Ethical Standards rating denotes adherence to professional standards of conduct and ethics, reliability, diligence and other criteria relevant to the discharge of professional responsibilities. Those lawyers who meet the "Very High" criteria of General Ethical Standards can proceed to the next step in the ratings process.
Legal Ability Ratings
For lawyers rated with the changed methodology, Legal Ability ratings will now indicate professional ability within a specific area of practice. Legal Ability ratings are based on performance in five key areas, rated on a scale of 1 to 5 (with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest). These areas are:
Additional Feedback
The changed Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings allow reviewers to provide optional Additional Feedback on the lawyer under review. Additional Feedback is displayed anonymously in conjunction with the review results to the lawyer under review, as explained in more detail in the Methodology section under Anonymity. LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell reserves the right, in its sole, unrestricted discretion, not to display or otherwise use any feedback, in whole or in part. Reviewer Demographics
Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings are anonymous and reviewers' identities are not published, but in an effort to provide more details to the users of Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings, LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell will aggregate reviewers' basic demographics, including general position and general geographic location, which may be published with the ratings display on martindale.com® and Lawyers.comSM. Examples of basic demographics are "private practice lawyer, senior partner, New York, USA." LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell uses a specific practice area list in the review process to ensure that all lawyers are rated upon equivalent practice areas, regardless of how individual lawyers choose to articulate their area of expertise. This allows users of rating to compare and contrast lawyers with a specific area of practice. The LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell area of practice list is based on user behavior, research on emerging areas of law, and other forms of legal research. LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell updates the list regularly to reflect the changing needs of the legal industry.
Example online survey of the Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings questions
 After a lawyer's General Ethical Standards and Legal Ability Ratings are confirmed, his/her ratings are aggregated to create an overall numeric rating for each rated Area of Practice. The numeric rating determines the Peer Review Rating, which includes a rating term and may include a Certification Mark:
AV® Preeminent™ (4.5-5.0) - An AV® certification mark is a significant rating accomplishment - a testament to the fact that a lawyer's peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence.
BV® Distinguished™ (3.0-4.4) - The BV® certification mark is an excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. A widely respected mark of achievement, it differentiates a lawyer from his or her competition.
Rated (1.0-2.9) - The Peer Review Rated designation demonstrates that the lawyer has met the very high criteria of General Ethical Standing.
Sample display of a Peer Review Rating for lawyers newly rated in the changed methodology: For lawyers rated in the existing program, the display will appear differently than those reviewed in the changed methodology. Because the lawyers converted to the new display have yet to be re-reviewed in the changed system, there will not be the depth of detail available on their Legal Ability Rating, Area of Practice specificity, Additional Feedback or Reviewer's Demographic data. Their display will be as follows:
Sample Display of a Peer Review Rating for existing rated lawyers converted to the changed methodology Certification mark users and Icon Mark users ("Authorized Users") are to follow the Permitted Uses/Non-Permitted Uses Guidelines ("Use Guidelines"). As such, Authorized Users shall use the certification marks and Icon Marks only in the approved formats reflected in the Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings Toolkit. See Promotion of Ratings for further details on the Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Toolkit.
Martindale-Hubbell, by designation from its licensor Reed Elsevier Properties Inc, is responsible for exercising reasonable control over the use of the certification marks and Icon Marks and therefore will look for consistent observance of the Use Guidelines by the Authorized Users and will be vigilant in (1) watching for, identifying and correcting incorrect uses and/or abuses of any of the certification marks and Icon Marks and (2) dealing with abuses. Therefore, Authorized User shall use the:
Authorized Users agree that for their right to use any of the certification marks or Icon Marks, they shall abide by the Use Guidelines and recognize that LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell can terminate or suspend the use rights of an Authorized User according to these Policing Guidelines. Any Authorized Users, who fail to remedy improper uses after notice from
Martindale-Hubbell, shall be subject to being denied the right to use the marks and to have their Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings cancelled. LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell shall have the right to terminate or suspend an Authorized User's right to use any of the certification marks or Icon Marks if repeated abuse of the Use Guidelines is found or for any abuse that may threaten the validity or protection of those marks without having to give prior written notice to the Authorized User.
Authorized Users agree they will immediately cease use of any certification mark or Icon Mark if LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell shall terminate or suspend the authorization of the Authorized Users, and further agree that if a new review of an Authorized User results in a lower rating, the Authorized User will immediately take all reasonable steps to change appropriately the uses of a certification mark or Icon Mark being made by the Authorized User.
Authorized Users do not have the authority to sublicense or approve third party uses of the certification marks and Icon Marks. However, this does not prohibit an Authorized User from engaging printers or publishers to use the certification marks and Icons in materials prepared for the Authorized User as long as such uses are consistent with the Use Guidelines.
Persons with information or questions about correct/incorrect uses, or about abuses of the certification marks and Icon Marks can contact LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell at: ratings@martindale.com.
Permitted and Non-Permitted Uses of the LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell Lawyer Rating Icon Marks ("Icon Marks") and the AV®, BV®,CV®, AV® Preeminent™ and BV® Distinguished™ certification marks
("Martindale-Hubbell Ratings Marks" or "Ratings Marks").  The Icon Marks and Ratings Marks are marks owned by Reed Elsevier Properties Inc. and used under license by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell to identify the lawyer ratings services conducted and administered by Martindale-Hubbell. Peer evaluations establish ratings on a lawyer's legal ability and ethical standards - the Icon Marks, AV®, BV®, CV®, AV® Preeminent ™ and BV® Distinguished™ Ratings Marks are owned by Reed Elsevier Properties Inc.
Martindale-Hubbell Ratings Marks and Icon Marks: Permitted Uses
Peer Review Rated lawyers and law firms may use the Ratings Marks and Icon Marks in a manner that is consistent and compliant with the then current rules and regulations governing lawyer advertising in the state/commonwealth/jurisdiction in which the marks are to be used, subject to the guidelines set forth below. It is the obligation of the rated lawyer or law firm to ensure compliance with the most current rules and regulations regulating such usage. It is expected that, wherever possible, when the Ratings Marks are used, the Icon Marks will also appear. If the Icon Marks will not also appear, the phrase "Peer Review Rated" should follow the display of the Ratings Mark. When both the Ratings Marks and Icon Marks are displayed, the guidelines for use of both the Ratings Marks and the Icon Marks must be observed.
Peer review rated lawyers and law firms may use the Martindale-Hubbell certification marks AV®, BV® and CV® during the transition period (from September 2009 to January 2011) and AV® Preeminent ™ and BV® Distinguished™, from as soon as September 2009, under the following circumstances, and with the appropriate approved certification mark Reference or Rating Explanation as noted below:
Printed communications (e.g., law firm brochures, lawyer resumes, directories, newspapers, outdoor advertisements, etc.), printed professional announcements and Internet applications must include the following certification mark Reference:
For AV®, BV® and CV® (during the transition period from September 2009 to January 2011):
"AV®, BV® and CV® are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies." For AV® Preeminent ™ and BV® Distinguished TM: (from September 2009 onward if not using existing certification marks above):
"AV® Preeminent ™ and BV® Distinguished™ are certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies." Printed professional announcements, and all print and CD-ROM based legal directories must include the certification mark Reference AND the following Rating Explanation:
Martindale-Hubbell is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the Bar and the Judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings fall into two categories - legal ability and general ethical standards. Internet applications must include the certification mark Reference AND either the Rating Explanation identified above OR a link to a web page maintained by Martindale-Hubbell which contains the approved explanation. This page URL is www.martindale.com/ratings. For those rated lawyers using the AV®, BV® and CV® during the transition period from September 2009 to January 2011, it must also include a link back to Transformation section herein which describes the transition period from the existing program to the changed program.
Web-based legal directories targeted to lawyers and law firms will be required to have a link to a Web page maintained by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell which contains the approved certification mark Reference and Rating Explanation. For those rated lawyers using the AV®, BV® and CV® during the transition period from September 2009 to January 2011, it must also include a link back to Transformation section herein which describes the transition period from the existing program to the changed program.
Radio commercials must state, in the commercial, that: (1) "AV®, BV® and CV® are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies" or "AV® Preeminent ™ and BV® Distinguished™ are certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies" and (2) "Martindale-Hubbell is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the Bar and the Judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell Ratings fall into two categories - legal ability and general ethical standards."
Television and other visual and audio media must state or have clear text, in the media, indicating that: (1) "AV®, BV® and CV® are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies" or "AV® Preeminent ™ and BV® Distinguished™ are certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies" and (2) "Martindale-Hubbell is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the Bar and the Judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell Ratings fall into two categories - legal ability and general ethical standards."
*Please note, business cards are not required to include the certification mark Reference or Rating Explanation; however, the cards must include the appropriate trademark symbol for AV®, BV® and CV® during the transition period from September 2009 to January 2011, the appropriate trademark symbol for AV® Preeminent ™ and BV® Distinguished™ and that information must be posted on other Printed Communications or Internet applications offered by the Rated Lawyer.
Continued use of AV®, BV® and CV® Certification Marks During the Transition Period (September 2009 to January 2011)AV and BV Peer Review Rated lawyers in the existing program, who have not yet been re-reviewed using the changed process but have been transitioned to the new ratings designations of AV® Preeminent™ and BV® Distinguished™ can continue to use just the AV® and BV® Certification Marks (employing the appropriate Use Guidelines as set forth herein during the period of September 2009 to January 2011). The AV® and BV® certification marks will remain in the 2010 print edition of the
Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory; thereafter they will no longer appear in the directory. After January 2011, those lawyers, rated in the existing program, should use the appropriate AV® Preeminent ™ and BV® Distinguished™ in compliance with the appropriate Use Guidelines set forth herein. AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated BV® Distinguished™ Peer Review Rated With respect to CV rated lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell will no longer support a CV Peer Review Rating, as explained herein as of September 2009. From September 2009, CV rated lawyers will be not be listed as CV on martindale.com® and Lawyers.comSM, but instead the rated lawyer will receive a "Rated 2.9". The CV Certification Mark will remain in the 2010 print edition of the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory; thereafter they will no longer appear in the directory. If you are a CV Peer Review Rated lawyer, there will be a period of transition for your continued use of CV Icon Mark and certification marks in online and printed formats. CV Peer Review Rated lawyers may continue to use their CV Ratings Mark in online and print formats per the Use Guidelines found in this section until January 2011. During this time, they will be encouraged to proactively be re-reviewed in the changed program through submission of Peer References.
LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell subscribing lawyers may go to the Client Service Center to request a review and submit Peer References. All other rated lawyers may request a re-review by emailing ratings@martindale.com.
To see more details about the changed program click here.
Non-permitted usesUse or mention of the Martindale-Hubbell Ratings is not allowed in:
When to Contact Martindale-HubbellIf the Martindale-Hubbell Ratings Marks are to be used in a format that is not identified above as a permitted usage, then the user must contact Martindale-Hubbell Rating Services to obtain written permission prior to use. Permission will be predicated upon the specific guidelines/format set forth by Martindale-Hubbell being met. Permission may be revoked at any time for failure to comply with said specific guidelines/format or for any reason within the discretion of LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell as the entity responsible for the protection of the certification marks.
InquiriesQuestions about the Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings service, use of the Icon Marks and the certification marks can be sent by email to ratings@martindale.com or by mail to:
Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings Services
LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell 121 Chanlon Road New Providence, NJ 07974 Ways to Promote your RatingLexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings ToolkitLeverage the Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings Difference.
The Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings Toolkit is a package of opportunities for rated lawyers and law firms to achieve premium promotion through the Martindale-Hubbell® Legal Network and beyond. It is designed to increase visibility of Peer Review Rated lawyers and their law firms, combined with tools and services for law firms to promote ratings in their own marketing initiatives.
The Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings Toolkit offers key benefits to showcase your ratings:
For more information about this new product, please complete the form below.
About the LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell Legal FellowshipThe Martindale-Hubbell Legal Fellowship was created to support the continued development of individuals and associations that embrace the advancement of education, the practice of public interest, and diversity in the legal profession. Organizations and individuals who are recipients of the Martindale-Hubbell Legal Fellowship have showcased in the application process how they are actively contributing to these areas.
The Fellowship is funded by revenues received from the sale of the Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings Acknowledgements, which offer Peer Review Rated lawyers the opportunity to display their Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating while contributing to the future of the legal profession. Martindale-Hubbell Legal Fellowships are granted annually, with an award of $15,000.
Eligibility RequirementsTo be eligible for the annual Martindale-Hubbell Legal Fellowship your organization must hold non-profit [501(c)(3)] status or must be defined as a national, state, local or provincial bar association or professional association. Individuals also may apply. You must submit a full description of the organization, accompanied by a proposal of how the award funds will be applied to meet the mission of the Legal Fellowship.
Recent Recipients of the LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell Legal Fellowship
December 2008 - Leaders for Justice Institute
December 2007 - New Jersey Law & Education Empowerment Project
June 2007 - The Future of the Law Institute, an affiliate of the King County Bar Association
December 2006 - Indigenous Law and Policy Center at Michigan State University College of Law
June 2006 - Washington State Bar Foundation
December 2005 - New Mexico Hispanic Bar Association
June 2005 - Laurie Parisi, Legal Action Center
How to applyWhen should AV® and BV® rated lawyers migrate their existing ratings to the changed ratings?
AV® and BV® Peer Review Rated lawyers in the existing program, who have not yet been re-reviewed using the changed process but have been transitioned to the new ratings designations of AV® Preeminent™ and BV® Distinguished™ can continue to use just the AV® and BV® Certification Marks (employing the appropriate Use Guidelines as set forth herein during the period of September 2009 to January 2011). The AV® and BV® certification marks will remain in the 2010 print edition of the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory; thereafter they will no longer appear in the directory. After January 2011, those lawyers, rated in the existing program, should use the appropriate AV® Preeminent™ and BV® Distinguished™ in compliance with the appropriate Use Guidelines set forth herein.
AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated
BV® Distinguished™ Peer Review Rated
I am currently a CV Peer Review Rated lawyer. What will happen to my rating in the changed methodology?
LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell will no longer support a CV Peer Review Rating. From September 2009, CV rated lawyers will be not be listed as CV rated on martindale.com® and Lawyers.comSM sites, but instead the rated lawyers will receive a "Rated 2.9". The CV certification mark will remain in the 2010 print edition of the Martindale-Hubbell® Law Directory; thereafter it will no longer appear in the directory. If you are a CV Peer Review Rated lawyer, there will be a period of transition for your continued use of CV Icon Marks and certification marks in online and printed formats. For further information about use of Certification marks/Icon Marks in print and online, visit the Use Guidelines or contact LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell Ratings Support team for further details: ratings@martindale.com. CV rated lawyers are encouraged to be re-reviewed in the changed program to benefit from the additional details that it affords.
When will all lawyers, currently rated in the existing program, be rated using the changed methodology (e.g., timeline for re-ratings)?
Reaching all lawyers to be re-reviewed will take time. It is expected that all lawyers who are currently rated in the existing program will be re-reviewed over the next 10 years, as long as they still meet the eligibility requirements.
How does a lawyer obtain a Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings review?
Most rating reviews are initiated by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell after a lawyer is admitted to the Bar for three years or more. Additionally, a lawyer can nominate their own peer references. All reviews conducted will be area of practice specific, objective and anonymous. LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell subscribing lawyers may go to the Client Service Center to request a review and submit Peer References. All other rated lawyers may request a review by emailing ratings@martindale.com.
Is an individual required to have a paid listing on martindale.com® or Lawyers.comSM to be rated?
No. The goal of the Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings service is to develop accurate and objective ratings for as many lawyers as possible. However, for the benefit of buyers of legal services, those lawyers who are also Martindale-Hubbell subscribers may benefit from increased exposure of their rating throughout martindale.com®.
Why display Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ on Lawyers.com?
Adding Peer Review Ratings to Lawyers.com bring ratings to the consumer and small business markets for the first time and gives rated lawyers and law firms an opportunity to differentiate themselves from their competition in new ways.
How do Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings take place?
Lawyers and members of the judiciary receive an invitation from LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell in an online format, to provide their opinions on a lawyer or lawyers about whom they have personal knowledge of a lawyer's general ethics and legal ability in a specific area of practice.
What are Average Peer Review Ratings on Lawyers.com?
Average ratings-which averages the published ratings of all lawyers across the firm into a single metric-enhance ratings at the firm level and help firms with rated lawyers differentiate themselves from their competitors. Average Peer Review Ratings appear in search results and on law firm profiles on Lawyers.com.
Why are only published ratings part of average ratings?
A firm can elect to not publish the rating of any given lawyer within the firm. To honor such agreements Martindale-Hubbell cannot include unpublished ratings in Average Peer Review Ratings.
What is the role of the Martindale-Hubbell Field Representative in the Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings process?
Martindale-Hubbell Field Representatives play an important role in making initial, anonymous inquiries during their visits with lawyers. However, no ratings are established, advanced or lowered without further written investigation.
If lawyers practice in a large metropolitan area where there are thousands of lawyers, how do you identify those who know them well enough to gauge their professionalism?
We use various data points to increase the likelihood of the random sample knowing the lawyer in question, such as area of practice, past reviewers, geographical location, etc. This makes it easier to gather the data necessary to determine a rating.
Lawyers are often asked to provide names of lawyers and judges who can evaluate them. How does this fit into the Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings process?
These additional Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings sources are requested when there is insufficient response to our initial surveys. However, no rating is ever established solely on the basis of references supplied by the individual under review. Lawyers also receive the opportunity to submit additional ratings sources to augment those solicited by LexisNexis
Martindale-Hubbell. What does it mean if a lawyer is not rated?
Some lawyers request not to have any rating published, while others may not be rated due to the length of time in practice, the size of the Bar, or other reasons unrelated to their legal abilities or ethical standards, such as a legal practice that involves few peers and more clients. Lawyers also undergo periodic rating reviews during their career. The absence of a rating should not be construed as unfavorable.
Can a lawyer or law firm promote their Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating in general press releases or marketing materials?
Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings are the result of a peer review system, created by lawyers for lawyers, and can be published in various materials. Permitted uses by lawyers and law firms include professional ads and communications, including resumes, law firm brochures, websites, and public relations announcements when a rating is established. For additional information, see the Use Guidelines.
Are there new requirements for Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings eligibility in the changed program?
Every lawyer actively practicing law (registered bar lawyers) who are currently listed on martindale.com®, including subscribers and non-subscribers to LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell, who have been admitted to the Bar for at least three years who are in good standing are eligible to be Peer Review Rated. For LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell to facilitate the review, a lawyer must provide their area of practice and admission year. To take advantage of the online review process, a lawyer must provide a valid email address. To be reviewed themselves, lawyers must also participate in the reviewing process of other members of the Bar.
To participate in the Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings, either as a reviewer or to be rated, all lawyers must be admitted for at least three years.
As part of the changes to the methodology, the tenure restriction has been changed: lawyers with at least three years admission are now eligible for the highest rating available.
Contact the Ratings Support TeamQuestions about Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings can be sent by e-mail to ratings@martindale.com.
Or by mail to:
Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings Services
LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell 121 Chanlon Road New Providence, NJ 07974 LexisNexis, the Knowledge Burst logo, Martindale-Hubbell and martindale.com are registered trademarks, Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings is a trademark and Lawyers.com is a service mark of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used under license. AV, BV and CV are registered certification marks and AV Preeminent and BV Distinguished are certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc. Copyright 2009 LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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