In last week’s article we discussed how carrying out excellent-quality work is not enough in itself, you also need to know how to effectively showcase this to legal directories. There are three basic foundations that you should constantly be developing in order to maximise your chances of being ranked by Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500:
- A well-written submission – To have a submission that is well-written and thorough, I suggest you have a folder on your computer system where you save all information (articles, press-releases etc) regarding deals that could be interesting enough to be featured in a submission. Of course, there will be incomplete deals or confidential information – these will be further discussed with the partners, when the time to write the first submission draft comes. But remember: the more information you have about your firm, the more complete will be a picture you’ll be able to paint about it. This ongoing practice will save you much time at the finishing line, when you are about to send your submission.
- Good relationships with legal directories – The research team handles a massive volume of information every day and, believe me, receiving another email asking about something that could be easily found on their website isn’t the most fun part of their jobs! Pay attention to deadlines and meet them. Be punctual, respectful of the researchers and make their jobs easier. It is always good to be in touch and have a close, professional relationship with the team. Keep communication channels open and positive.
- Good relationships with clients – Providing excellent quality service is the obvious part here. However, when we talk about client relationships from a legal directories perspective, we must always remember that there are plenty of legal publications and that your clients could also be clients of other law firms. As a result, they probably receive many more emails asking for feedback on lawyers and firms than they would like to have to respond to. Therefore, be kind and try not to overwhelm your clients. Mention Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 throughout the year but do not be pushy, prepare them for when that email arrives. This way they will likely be more receptive to the interview request and more inclined to speak positively about you.
Bear in mind that many of your competitors also do high-quality work and what will differentiate between you and them are the details. Those might seem like obvious tips but many firms don’t develop these three basic best practice foundations, thinking that their reputation alone will be enough.
Next week, we will give you some tips about the referee spreadsheets. And coming soon, an interview with Rhodri Holtham, Chambers Latin America editor.
If you need help improving your rankings, get in touch with us. We can help you develop a strategic approach to each practice area of your firm, we can review your submissions and provide much more besides. All our services are tailored to your firm’s needs.