Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers are peer-based recognitions that both say lawyers can't pay to be included; newer programs such as Elite Lawyer and Lawyers of Distinction publish less about how they select, so read their criteria and any fees before you advertise the award. Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers are peer-driven recognitions, and Martindale-Hubbell's AV rating comes from peer reviews. They can support credibility and referrals, but a badge isn't the same as published, attributable writing about your work. Before you advertise any award, check your state's advertising rules, which often require the awarding organization's name and a disclaimer.
| Key facts (United States, as of October 2026) | What the source says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Super Lawyers: who owns it | Internet Brands, which bought it from Thomson Reuters in December 2024 | Super Lawyers: history |
| Super Lawyers: how it selects | Peer nominations + staff research on 12 indicators + blue-ribbon peer panels; 5% of a state's lawyers selected each year (2.5% for Rising Stars); Rising Stars are 40 or younger or in practice 10 years or less | Super Lawyers: selection process |
| Best Lawyers: how it selects | Confidential peer-review surveys within the same practice area and market; Best Lawyers says recognition can't be bought | Best Lawyers: methodology explained |
| Martindale-Hubbell: AV rating | Peer review ratings, now part of Internet Brands' legal group with Nolo and Avvo | Martindale: ratings and reviews |
| Lawyer advertising baseline | No false or misleading communications, including unsubstantiated comparisons with other lawyers | ABA Model Rule 7.1 · Comment [3] |
| Example of a strict state rule | New Jersey lets lawyers advertise a comparative award only with the organization's name, its methodology, and the line "No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey" | N.J. RPC 7.1(a)(3); N.J. Committee on Attorney Advertising Opinion 42 |
How each one works
| Super Lawyers | Best Lawyers | Martindale-Hubbell AV | Elite Lawyer, Lawyers of Distinction | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner | Internet Brands (since Dec 2024) | Best Lawyers (independent publisher) | Internet Brands | Separate private companies |
| Selection | Nominations, research, peer panels; 5% of each state | Peer-review surveys by practice area and market | Peer review ratings | See each site; criteria are less fully published |
| Can you pay to be listed? | No, per Super Lawyers; paid profile upgrades and ads exist | No, per Best Lawyers; marketing products exist after recognition | Ratings are separate from paid directory products | Check each program's terms before buying anything |
| Where it shows up | SuperLawyers.com and magazine inserts | BestLawyers.com and publication partners | Martindale.com and Lawyers.com | Their own sites |
The difference that matters for buyers: Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers publish detailed, peer-based methodologies and say inclusion can't be purchased. For newer award programs, read the published criteria and any fees before you buy a plaque or a listing, because some state bars only allow an award in advertising if it was earned rather than bought.
What a badge does and doesn't do
A recognition is a credential. It tells a referring lawyer or a prospective client that peers rated you. It doesn't explain your work, your matters or how you approach clients. That takes published writing with your name on it: articles, interviews, profiles. Clients and search tools can read and quote that writing; a badge alone gives them very little to work with.
So the useful question isn't "badge or no badge." It's what you have published that a client, a journalist, or a search tool can find and attribute to you. Recognitions and published editorial work do different jobs. Many firms budget for both.
Before you advertise an award
- Use the exact award name, year and organization ("Selected to Super Lawyers, 2026"), not "a Super Lawyer."
- Link to or describe the selection methodology.
- Check your state's rules. Some, like New Jersey, require specific disclaimer language; others limit comparative claims.
- Don't imply the award predicts results.
Members who list these recognitions
Browse by practice area: Find a Lawyer · Family Law · Personal Injury · Appellate Law
Two current Haute Lawyer members list both Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers on their profiles:
- Kevin Rubin — Atlanta, family law, Rubin Family Law LLC
- Jonathan Hayes — Atlanta, personal injury, Goldstein Hayes Trial Lawyers
One member's profile cites a Super Lawyers Rising Stars recognition:
- Brian Hooper — Atlanta, appellate and commercial litigation; his profile says he was named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers magazine
Sources
- Super Lawyers: history (Internet Brands acquisition, Dec 2024)
- Super Lawyers: selection process
- Best Lawyers: methodology
- Best Lawyers: methodology explained
- Martindale-Hubbell: ratings and reviews
- Thomson Reuters: FindLaw sale to Internet Brands (Dec 2, 2024)
- ABA Model Rule 7.1
- ABA Model Rule 7.1, Comment
- N.J. Committee on Attorney Advertising, Opinion 42
Haute Lawyer does not guarantee rankings, leads, search placement or AI citations. This article is general information, not legal or ethics advice.