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A RESOURCE DESIGNED TO EMPOWER AND INFORM CONSUMERS OF LEGAL SERVICES
Finding and selecting an attorney can be disquieting to even the most sophisticated consumers, especially in today’s complex world of the Internet and its plethora of sometimes-unreliable information. This section was designed to provide relevant, research based information that will empower consumers to select a qualified attorney to address their unique legal needs.
Southern California Super Lawyers
is a good place to begin your search, but don’t base you decision solely on this or any other source. Many fine lawyers might not be included; therefore, you must do your homework. And most important, you need to feel comfortable with the person you choose to represent you.
SELECTION PROCESS
Law & Politics strictly adhered to a rigorous selection process directed at casting a wide a net as possible, evaluation quality in the most objective possible terms and verifying and validating all data. The only way a lawyer can be listed in
Super Lawyers magazine is through this selection process. The determination of whether a lawyer will be placed on the
Super Lawyers list is independent of advertising or any other payments.
No other legal publisher identifies qualified candidates by using a multi-step evaluation process that incorporates peer recognition and professional achievement. Law & Politics uses a system of balloting, peer evaluation and internal research, which acts as a system of checks and balances. The resulting product is a diverse and comprehensive listing of outstanding lawyers.
STEP ONE: CREATION OF THE CANDIDATE POOL
Survey of lawyers
* Law & Politics mailed more than 60,000ballots to Southern California lawyers who have been in practice for five years or more.
* Lawyers were asked to nominate the best attorneys they’ve personally observed in action.
* Nominees need not be in private practice. Lawyers were able to nominate legal aid attorneys, prosecutors and in-house counsel.
* Lawyers were able to nominate attorneys in their own firm, but those nominations counted only is each in-firm nomination was matched by at least on out-of-firm nomination.
* Each nomination carried a point value. An out-of-firm vote had substantially greater point value than an in-firm vote.
* Lawyers were not able to vote for themselves.
* Utilizing our database, researchers kept track of who voted for whom, a process that helped detect attempts to manipulate the balloting.
Independent candidate search
* Law & Politics’ research department also searched for outstand ion southern California lawyers by
- Reviewing national and local periodicals as well as legal trade journals
- Searching professional databases and online sources
- Conducting in-person and telephonic meetings with law firms
* This step was designed to identify practitioners who may have been missed in the balloting process, particularly highly talented lawyers in specialty areas or those with low-visibility, yet high quality, practices.
STEP TWO: EVALUATION OF CANDIDATES
* Law & Politics’ research department examined the back ground and experience of candidates, evaluating indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement.
* Factors considered in evaluating candidates were:
- Verdicts and settlements
- Transactions
- Representative clients
- Experience
- Honors and awards
- Special licenses and certifications
- Position within law firm
- Bar and/or other professional activity
- Pro bono and community service
- Scholarly lectures and writings
- Education and employment background
- Other outstanding achievements
STEP THREE: PEER
EVALUATION BY PRACTICE AREA
* Those candidates with high point totals from the balloting and qualitative and evaluation steps were asked to be on a blue ribbon panel for their practice area.
* Panelists reviewed and evaluated candidates from their practice area.
* Panelists added candidates who were then passed along to research for evaluation.
FINAL SELECTION
* Law & Politics divided candidates according to their firm size: large, medium and small (size categories vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction), and selected those with the highest point total from each category. Only 5 percent of the total lawyers in Southern /California are listed in
Super Lawyers.
BEFORE
PUBLISHING
* Law & Politics checked each candidate’s standing with the local licensing authority.
* Researchers asked each candidate to aver that they have never been subject to disciplinary or criminal proceedings, and to verify the accuracy of all published information.
* The research team then performed Internet searches on each candidate before publication to ensure there are no outstanding matters that reflected adversely on the lawyer.
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for the fourth year in a row, 
, a weekly television show which airs on Channel 16 in Santa Monica and Channel 36 in Los Angeles. As Los
Angeles's only weekly, live, legal-oriented TV talk show, Legal Help Live entertains, educates and highlights the latest in law, politics and current events.
