What does it mean to be AV – PREEMINENT rated by Martindale Hubbell?

Martindale-Hubbell has maintained ratings for lawyers for more than a century and currently reviews or assigns ratings for more than 150,000 lawyers each year. Ratings reflect the confidential opinions of bar members and the judiciary and attest to the individual lawyer’s legal ability and adherence to accepted professional standards of ethics. Exclusively developed and assigned by the Martindale-Hubbell ® Law Directory, ratings are considered valuable benchmarks intended for use by members of the profession.

An AV certification mark is a significant rating accomplishment – a testament to the fact that a lawyer’s peers rank them at the highest level of professional excellence. They have usually practiced law for many years and are recognized for their highest skill and integrity.

What “Peer Review Rated” represents – When a lawyer achieves peer review rated status, they have earned an additional level of validation for the professional skills and high ethical standards displayed through actions and work products. The designation reflects the confidential opinions of both rated and non-rated peers from the lawyer’s Bar and area of legal practice.

How is a rating status achieved? Reviews occur in stages throughout a lawyer’s career, with the first review typically after a lawyer has been admitted to a state bar for ten years or more. Lexis/Nexis Martindale Hubbell representatives conduct personal interviews, confidential questionnaires are distributed, and, at times, lawyers under review may be asked to provide professional references to assist with the process. This data is compiled, and a result is determined.