Many of our attorney clients receive honors from publications that bestow recognition to legal professionals such as Best Lawyers in America, Chambers, South Florida Legal Guide or Florida Super Lawyers. The most common question we get regarding these listings is, once we are selected, how do we use them to our advantage?

Legal listings help establish credibility for an attorney and their practice. Since many of these listings are peer-chosen, when an attorney is selected it is because they are viewed to be skilled in their practice area. However, to fully maximize the value of these listings, you must do something with them—get the word out so people know you were recognized. Some suggestions include:

1. Draft a press release on being included in the listing. Post this press release to your firm’s web site newsroom, distribute it to local media and send the news to past and current clients and referral sources.
2. If the listing has logos you can utilize in your marketing materials, use them. Include the logos in your signature of your e-mail, on your bio page on your firm web site and any other marketing materials that might include your name.
3. Attend the networking events associated with these listings. Many times, Chambers, Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers, etc. host events for the honorees in different geographic regions. Attending these events are a great way to reestablish connections with old contacts, make new referral sources and start new professional relationships.
4. Have a plaque professionally made and hang it in your office. It will be a conversation starter and showcase your strength as an attorney.

All things considered, legal listings are a free and unbiased way to promote your skills. Utilizing them in as many ways as possible can only increase your exposure to your existing contact base, create a new avenue for potential referrals and clients and allow for the possibility of increased business.