Martindale-Hubbell

For over 80 years, Martindale-Hubbell has provided a Lawyer Rating System, which evaluates lawyers and law firms in the United States and Canada, based on peer review. The Rating System is based on the confidential opinions of members of the Bar and the Judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell representatives conduct personal interviews with members of the Bar to discuss those members under review. Additionally, confidential questionnaires are sent to lawyers and judges in the same geographic area and/or area of practice as the member being rated. All rating review materials are strictly confidential, to allow participants to provide candid assessments of their colleagues.

Each Martindale-Hubbell Rating has two components: legal ability; and general ethical standards. The Legal Ability Ratings range from "good" to "very high/preeminent. 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," and the best rating is "very high."

• A "CV" Rating is an excellent first Rating and a statement of a lawyer's above average ability and very high ethics.
  
• A "BV" Rating is an indication of an exemplary reputation and well-established practice. A typical lawyer is in mid-career, with a significant client base and high professional standard.
  
• An "AV Rating" shows that a lawyer has reached the height of professional excellence. He or she has usually practiced law for many years, and is recognized for the highest levels of skill and integrity.
  

In addition to individual attorney ratings, Martindale-Hubbell also publishes its Bar Registry of Preeminent Lawyers, which it describes as a unique guide to the legal community's most eminent professionals.  It includes only those select law practices that have earned the highest rating in the Martindale-Hubbell® Law Directory and have been designated by their colleagues as preeminent in their field.

Martindale-Hubbell "CV, BV and AV are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies."