Badges
A badge says one measured thing about the listing that holds it. It is worked out from what the site already records, against a rule written here first.
Never for sale
No badge can be bought, and paying for anything on this site earns none of them.
Never about ability
None of them says anybody is a good lawyer. They measure conduct and openness, which can be counted.
Never permanent
Every badge is worked out again each day from the last 365 days, and lapses within 45 days if it stops being earned.
Badges a directory listing can earn
These measure how somebody listed answers the people who contact them, and what they have chosen to publish. Nothing here is about how good a lawyer anybody is.
Answers enquiries (0 holders)
A message here reaches somebody who writes back.
How it is earned. At least 9 in 10 people who wrote in the last year got a reply, over at least 5 conversations.
Replies within 2 days (0 holders)
Useful when the matter will not wait.
How it is earned. The middle enquiry of the last year was answered within 2 days, over at least 5 conversations.
Licence confirmed (0 holders)
Somebody checked, recently, against the body that grants the licence.
How it is earned. A reviewer matched the name, the number, and the entitlement to practise on the regulator's own register within the last year.
Publishes fees (0 holders)
You can see what things cost before you make contact.
How it is earned. At least 3 services carry a published price rather than being quoted on request.
Complete listing (0 holders)
Enough to tell whether this is the right person before writing.
How it is earned. A headline, an about section, practice areas, languages, an address, and at least one kind of work taken on.
Open to mentoring (0 holders)
Students and junior practitioners can ask.
How it is earned. Mentoring is switched on, and the listing is live.
Badges a firm can earn
These measure how a firm treats the people who apply to it and write to it. Nothing here is about the quality of the work.
Answers applicants (0 holders)
Applying here is unlikely to disappear into silence.
How it is earned. At least 9 in 10 applications received in the last year got a response, over at least 10 applications.
Replies within 3 days (0 holders)
You hear back quickly enough to plan around it.
How it is earned. The middle application of the last year waited no more than 3 days for its first response, over at least 10 applications.
Sees applications through (0 holders)
You are told where you stand, one way or the other.
How it is earned. At least 8 in 10 applications from the last year reached a decision rather than being left open, over at least 10 applications.
Decides within 3 weeks (0 holders)
You are not left holding other offers while you wait.
How it is earned. The middle decision of the last year came within 3 weeks of the application, over at least 5 decisions.
Answers messages (0 holders)
Writing to them before applying is worth doing.
How it is earned. At least 9 in 10 people who wrote to this firm in the last year got a reply, over at least 5 conversations.
Full firm profile (0 holders)
You can see who you would be working for before you apply.
How it is earned. Every part of the company profile is filled in: what the firm does, where it is, its size, its field, and how to look it up.
If you hold one and want to advertise it
You are welcome to. Every badge page carries a link and a snippet you can put on your own site, and both point back here so anybody can check what it means. One thing to know first: a lawyer advertising an award is held to their own law society's marketing rules, which generally ask that awards be genuine, not misleading, and not a claim of superiority. That is why no badge here is called best, top, or number one, and why none of them ranks anybody against anybody else. Your law society writes its own code, so check yours before you use a badge in your marketing.
Something here looks wrong? Write to us and we will look at the working.