There are two components to the Martindale-Hubbell Rating. Without that endorsement, no Legal Ability Rating, which is the second component, will be assigned or published. The Legal Ability Ratings take into consideration the standard of professional ability in the area where the lawyer practices, the attorney's expertise, nature of practice and qualifications relevant to the practice of law. Where a lawyer's practice is limited or specialized, rating opinions are made on the basis of performance in those specific fields of law. The typical recipient has a reputation for hard work and high ethical standards.
Rating is an indication of an exemplary reputation and well-established practice habits.
A typical lawyer is in mid career, with a significant client base and high professional standing. Rating signifies that the lawyer has reached the heights of professional excellence. He or she has usually practiced law for a number of years, and is recognized for the highest levels of skill and integrity. The General-Ethical Standards Rating covers adherence to professional standards of conduct and ethics, reliability, diligence and other criteria relevant to the discharge of professional responsibilities. Martindale-Hubbell is a service mark and a registered trademark and CV, BV and AV are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties, Inc., used under license.