OUR
RATINGS
(and what they really mean)
OUR RATINGS
WHAT THESE RATINGS MEAN
AV Preeminent via Martindale-Hubbel:
An AV® Rating is the highest possible general rating a lawyer can receive, given only through Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review, and is established wholly on a peer-review basis. Unlike other lawyer directories (which allow lawyers to PAY to be featured in their "reviews"), Martindale-Hubbell's LexisNexis Peer Review is totally impartial and is compiled based on the reviews of other legal professionals around the country who have both the knowledge and experience to properly rate a lawyer's efficacy.
The AV® Preeminent™ designation is particularly esteemed and coveted, as it signifies that an attorney has been rated by judges and fellow attorneys as having the highest possible rating for legal abilities and ethical standards. It is awarded to less than five percent (5%) of all attorneys across the United States, and is the highest rating offered by the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory.
The Legal Ability Rating indicates professional ability in a specific area of practice and is based on five key areas:
(1) legal knowledge,
(2) analytical capabilities,
(3) judgment,
(4) communication ability, and
(5) legal experience.
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.
The AV® Preeminent™ Rating is a nationally-recognized acknowledgment of an attorney’s accomplishments and skills, and places him or her among the elite practitioners in the country.
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.
Why should a client care if an attorney has an AV® Preeminent™Rating?
Because this rating means that the attorney is someone that many other attorneys, judges, and legal professionals would hire if they needed representation.
BEST'S TOP Recommended
Insurance Attorneys, 25+ Years
A.M. BEST is the oldest and most widely recognized provider of ratings, financial data and news with an exclusive insurance industry focus.
Ratings are issued on over 3,000 companies in more than 80 countries worldwide. Best's ratings are recognized as a benchmark for assessing a rated organization's quality of service .
BEST's covers the top insurance companies globally through a wide range of analytical resources, references, directories and periodicals to provide insurance professionals and consumers with the critical information they need to make informed decisions with regard to the selection of legal representation.
An A+ Rating and Accreditation is the highest possible rating given by the Better Business Bureau. This rating is based on a 13-Factor system of evaluation, as outlined on their site (accessible via the link offered below).
It is notable that the Better Business Bureau is highly selective with regard to membership. Businesses must not only meet stringent criteria for consideration, but each business is then reviewed and voted upon for admittance by a board of local Better Business Bureau trustees.
We are told our A+ rating, of which we are very proud, was particularly influenced by our 61-year history of having no BBB complaints whatsoever, as well as receiving highest ratings with A.M. Best and Martindale-Hubbel.
For more information on accreditation and rating criteria, please visit: