What to Do If Your Legal Rankings Drop?
If your position in a legal ranking has declined, it’s undoubtedly frustrating — but it’s far from the end. Here are a few steps you can take to understand the reasons behind the drop and improve your standing in the future.
1️⃣ Analyze the Reasons Behind the Decline:
Key partners or lawyers have left: This is often a major factor, as rankings frequently rely on individual track records and client portfolios.
Lack of development: If you're submitting the same projects year after year or not engaging with emerging sectors (e.g., cryptocurrency, art law), your competitiveness may decline.
Submission errors: Incomplete or inaccurate submissions — such as underreported deal values or poorly detailed project descriptions — can negatively impact your evaluation.
2️⃣ Benchmark Against Competitors:
Conduct some basic research: What types of projects, deal sizes, or services are your competitors submitting? They may be working in trending sectors or using innovative approaches worth considering.
3️⃣ Refresh Your Submission Strategy:
Include recent work, even if it's not the largest — relevance and professionalism matter.
Highlight unique services that set you apart (e.g., mediation, NFTs, tax advisory).
Reconsider how your submission is structured: adding visuals or presenting information more clearly can make a difference.
4️⃣ Improve Internal Processes:
Rankings agencies notice stagnation. If your firm isn’t growing — no new hires, no emerging teams, no tech adoption — this may reflect poorly.
Invest in talent and digital tools to remain competitive and dynamic.
5️⃣ Strengthen Your PR and Communication with Ranking Editors:
Remind editors of your achievements. For instance, if your work wasn't listed on the site, attach scans of previous publications.
Stay in touch with directories throughout the year — not just during submission season.
6️⃣ Build a Long-Term Strategy:
Identify new areas and trends that could be attractive to clients and ranking editors.
Plan ahead for next year’s submission — set aside cases and initiatives worth highlighting.
Consider working with professional consultants who specialize in legal rankings and submissions.
A drop in ranking is not the end — it's a signal that it’s time to rethink your strategy and seize new opportunities. The legal market evolves quickly, and to stay on top, adaptability is key.
Need help analyzing why your ranking changed or building a submission strategy? Get in touch — we’ll find the right solution together.