How we rank: Lawyers and law firms
The Score (0–100) is a weighted sum of the factors below. Each factor is the weighted average of its metrics; each metric is calculated from one published fact. Missing facts score zero, and a service is ranked only when enough of its Score is backed by facts.
A service is ranked only when at least 60% of its Score is backed by verified facts.
Status and entity 35%
Whether membership of a bar or chamber is shown for the firm or its partners, or a Ministry of Justice licence where that replaces it, and whether the legal entity is stated with a registration number.
| Metric | Rule |
|---|---|
| Bar, chamber or licence | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
| Legal entity with registration number | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
Client protection 25%
Whether professional liability insurance is declared, a chamber or other complaints route is named, client confidentiality is described and a privacy policy is published.
| Metric | Rule |
|---|---|
| Professional liability insurance | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
| Where to complain | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
| Client confidentiality | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
| Privacy policy | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
Transparency 20%
Whether fee schedules or fee principles are published, and how many of four general contact channels are named: phone, email, form or chat, office.
| Metric | Rule |
|---|---|
| Fee schedule or principles | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
| Contact channels (of 4) | Linear from 0 (0) to 4 (100) |
Experience and reach 20%
Year founded (scale to 30 years), number of lawyers (log scale to 500), practice areas (to 30) and working languages (to 6). Figures are the firms' own; some are counted by us from a list on the page, which the fact says.
| Metric | Rule |
|---|---|
| Year founded | Full score at 30+ years |
| Lawyers (stated) | Logarithmic, full score at 500 |
| Practice areas (stated or counted) | Linear from 0 (0) to 30 (100) |
| Working languages | Linear from 1 (0) to 6 (100) |