Methodology
Local Counsels is the first ranking dedicated to law firms that practice in the regions outside the main capital cities. Our methodology is built to give every firm a fair, like-for-like assessment and to make our recognitions credible across the legal industry.
We do not compare a firm in a small province against a firm in a capital city. Every firm is evaluated against the reality of its own region. An outstanding firm in a smaller market can earn the same recognition as a leading firm in a larger one. This is the core principle that makes Local Counsels different.
Our assessment is based on four pillars that, together, describe a firm’s standing in its market:
Track record how established the firm is and its trajectory over time.
Team strength the depth and composition of the firm’s legal team.
Market presence the firm’s visibility and professional footprint.
Client experience the firm’s body of work and the clients it has served.
Where available, we also take into account a firm’s standing in independent reputation indices.
Submission. Invited firms complete a structured form with factual information about the firm and its work. Participation is free and submitting does not guarantee a particular result.
Verification. Our team reviews the information and asks for supporting documentation of the firm’s matters and clients. We prioritize evidence over self-description.
References. We give weight to firms whose track record can be verified through references and independent sources.
Assessment. Each firm is measured against the benchmark of its own region across the four pillars above.
Objective scoring. Each firm’s verified information is processed through the same deterministic, statistical model. The model is applied identically to every firm, with no subjective ranking decision, so results are consistent, repeatable and impartial.
Firms are recognized in tiers that reflect their standing within their region:
Leader · Notable · Distinguished · Recommended · Rising Firms · Solo Practitioner (SP 200)
Being recognized at any level is a meaningful achievement and reflects a verified, evidence-backed standing in the local market.
We do not sell rankings. A firm’s position cannot be bought; recognition is earned on the merits.
Evidence-based and objective. Every recognition is backed by submitted documentation, verified references and a model that is applied identically to every firm.
Protecting the information firms share with us is a priority. Your data is never shared or sold, and it is safeguarded with enterprise-grade security.
Trusted infrastructure. Our platform is built on Amazon Web Services (AWS), the cloud infrastructure trusted by leading financial and professional organizations worldwide.
Encryption and controlled access. Information is stored with encryption and protected by managed, role-based access controls.
You stay in control. Public data is sufficient to be assessed; you never need to share confidential information.
If you would like to nominate your firm, or recommend another firm you have worked with, write to us at alliances@thelegalindustry.com.