What you need to know about Legal 500 USA

Following an engaging and informative Q&A session last year with Director Daniel Kidd and Legal 500 US Editor Barnaby Merrill, we’ve gathered key insights to help you prepare for the upcoming Legal 500 US research cycle. With the autumn submission deadlines fast approaching, here’s what you should keep in mind:

Strategy Matters

A well-defined strategy is essential to achieving impactful rankings. Taking a strategic approach helps streamline time and resources, while setting clear expectations across partners and teams. If you're combining multiple state-level submissions into a single, nationwide entry, a structured plan is particularly valuable. Establish short-, mid-, and long-term goals to measure and track progress over time.

Taking a strategic approach helps streamline time and resources, while setting clear expectations with partners and teams.

Submissions

Submissions, especially the work highlights, carry the most weight in ranking decisions. Avoid repurposing content without tailoring it to meet Legal 500 Practice Area Definitions. Eliminate unnecessary marketing language. Instead, make your submission concise, clear, recent, and memorable. Focus on the value your team brought to the matter and your client, not an overly technical summary of events.  

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Referees

There is no limit to the number of referees your firm can submit. However, it is critical to submit on time to ensure referees are processed ahead of the research period. Referee outreach is handled by a dedicated feedback team, researchers will not contact referees directly. In addition, understanding what feedback questions entail will help in selecting the right individuals. Here’s a rough idea of what referees can expect to be asked.

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Stay Informed:

Legal 500 US Deadline: forecast for November

Download the latest Legal 500 US Submission Templates 

Review the Legal 500 US Practice Area Definitions

Familiarise yourself with the Legal 500 US Submissions Guidelines

Learn more about US City Elite and US Private Client rankings.

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