General Information
What is THE AMERICAN BAR?
THE AMERICAN BAR including The
Canadian Bar, The Mexican Bar and
The International Bar is a selective legal
directory that lists only the best firms in the
world and has done so since 1918.
How does this legal directory
differ from others?
Unlike general directories THE AMERICAN
BAR, the selective directory, lists only law
firms with outstanding reputations. By listing
only the finest law firms, users are provided
access to top firms without having to do
additional research or guesswork as they would
when searching through the large numbers of firms
in a general directory.
What countries are represented in
the directory?
As the name implies, THE AMERICAN BAR
including The Canadian Bar, The Mexican
Bar and The International Bar,
includes listings of top law firms throughout the
world. There are separate sections for the United
States, Canada and Mexico. The International
Bar section includes law firms located in
over 100 countries around the world and is
organized alphabetically by country.
When is the directory published?
The print edition of THE AMERICAN BAR is published annually
and ships in March of the edition year. The online directory is updated throughout the year.
Who uses the directory?
Businesses, corporate counsel and other professionals seeking access to
the most reputable law firms use THE AMERICAN
BAR as their number one point of reference or
as a “second opinion” to verify a
firm's reputation. Among those who use the
directory are large corporations, government
agencies, law firms, law libraries, other
libraries, law schools, law school career
placement departments, banks, insurance
companies, and others.
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Information for Firms Interested in Listing
How can my firm participate in
THE AMERICAN BAR?
Because the directory is selective, a firm must
be invited to participate. There is a three-part
selection process for inclusion in the directory.
- Nominations are requested of listed firms
to identify other firms they consider their
legal equals through the use of
confidential nominations and
questionnaires.
- Additional in-house research is conducted
about the nominated firms.
- Finally, the prescreened and approved firms
are invited to list in THE AMERICAN
BAR.
You are welcome to
inquire
about whether your firm is already
included on the invitation list.
What are the criteria used to
select listees?
Nominated firms are evaluated in four
categories: legal ability, character, diligence
and expediency. Firms demonstrating superior
ability in all areas are invited to list in
THE AMERICAN BAR.
How are the listings organized in THE AMERICAN BAR?
Firms are listed in an intuitive, easy to read
and understandable format. A particular firm can
be easily found in THE AMERICAN BAR by
knowing firm name, what city they are in, or even
just by knowing the name of a single partner in
the firm. Or, one can simply browse the firms in
a particular geographic location or area of practice.
The Classic Main Volume Set contains
comprehensive listings of each firm.
You will find information such as areas of practice,
biographies of attorneys, e-mail addresses,
office locations, hourly rates, contact
information, website address, and firm's
history among other things. This information is also included online.
To expedite the search for a firm or firms in the
publication, there are several helpful indexes in
which firms and attorneys are listed.
- The Individual Attorney Index lists all
attorney names alphabetically and indicates
the firm name and office location of each
attorney for easy reference.
- The Firm Name and Location Index
alphabetically lists the names of all firms in
THE AMERICAN BAR and their location by
city and state, province or country.
- The Practice Areas Index directs the
user to law firms practicing in a particular
field of law. The practice area categories are
listed alphabetically followed by entries for
the law firms practicing in that area. The law
firms are listed by state (province or country
name, as applicable) and city name under each
practice area category.
The Reference Handbook is an abridged
compilation of all law firms listed in the larger
main volumes. It provides a quick and ready
reference to basic, required information: firm
name, members, location and addresses, telephone
and facsimile numbers, as well as firm website
and firm e-mail addresses when provided.
What other resources does the
directory include?
Additional features in THE AMERICAN BAR
include Selected State Administrative
Offices in the United States,
International Legal Descriptions for over
100 of the listed countries and Patent and
Trademark Agents outside the United States and
Canada.
Why should our firm list in
THE AMERICAN BAR?
A listing among other top law firms presents a
great opportunity for referrals. Being listed
among other superior firms is like being referred
by a respected colleague, it speaks to the
quality of your firm. Law firms familiar with
THE AMERICAN BAR are aware of the
prescreening that goes on before firms may list
and, therefore, feel confident to refer important
clients to firms straight out of the directory.
Businesses who subscribe to the directory do so
because they want quick and ready access to the
high quality legal counsel represented in it. In
addition, THE AMERICAN BAR is a great
resource for your firm's own referral needs;
you can trust the exceptional quality of the
firms listed in it.
How much does it cost to be
listed in the directory?
The price of a listing in THE AMERICAN
BAR is determined by the amount of
information it contains. When compared to the
cost of listing in a large, general directory, it
is considerably less. A firm can list in the
directory with only the best firms for less of an
investment than listing among many other firms of
varying quality. THE AMERICAN BAR is quite
literally the best for less. Contact Us to receive a free, no obligation
estimate for your firm's listing.
What is the basic information
required in a listing?
The required information in a law firm listing
includes the firm name, areas of law practiced,
biographical data for firm partners (name, place
and year of birth, court admission and year, and
college and legal education with degrees and
dates), office address and telephone number.
Additional information is often included, but is
not required. Firm history, website addresses,
e-mail addresses, associate biographies, expanded
biographies (with honors, authorships,
professorships, important cases, etc.), range of
hourly rates and other facts that may be helpful
to someone who's looked up a firm are the
types of enhancements included by many firms.
What does my firm get with the
subscription for its listing in THE AMERICAN
BAR?
With your subscription, your firm will receive:
- A custom listing in all formats of the
directory, including the Classic Main
Volume Set, an abridged listing in the
Reference Handbook and an online
listing, like the ones on this site, with a
link to your firm website from
www.americanbar.com.
- A copy of the complete Classic Main Volume
Set, which includes two comprehensive main
volumes, and the companion handbook.
- Individual copies of the popular handbook for
every partner in your law firm in offices with
five or more partners (firms outside North
America must include partner biographies to
receive complimentary handbooks).
- Simple listing maintenance with membership in the Eagle Service program.
My firm is interested in possibly
placing a listing in THE AMERICAN BAR but
how much work do I have to do?
Listing in THE AMERICAN BAR does not mean
you, or anyone in your firm, has to do any
additional work. All you have to do is get your
information to us, in any format you have
available. You can provide your firm's
information via faxed or mailed hard copy, electronically via
diskette, e-mail or through this website using the
General Listing Information and
Attorney Biographical Information forms,
and for your convenience, we
even accept information prepared for other
directories! We will customize your listing,
as you desire, into our format. We do the work
for you, so very little time or effort is
required of your firm. You will be sent a proof
on an annual basis, but again, you can provide
any updated information to us in any format you
prefer, including something you may already have
on hand. Our goal is to offer the highest quality
product while providing unsurpassed service.
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Information for Listed Firms
How can I update my firm's
listing?
All listed firms are sent a proof of their
listing in the fall to update for the upcoming
edition. If you wish, additional proofs can be
requested at any time. Simply
Contact Us and a proof will be sent to you
via fax, mail or e-mail, whichever you prefer. Or, you can submit changes to your listing directly through this website using the forms found under
Update Your Listing
You are welcome to provide us with any updated
information you would like to submit in any
format that is most convenient for you.
Can THE AMERICAN BAR
website be linked to my firm's
website?
Yes! A link is automatically set up when you simply
include your firm's website address as part
of your published listing making it easier than ever
for potential clients to get in touch with your
firm. One click of the mouse will lead them
straight to your firm's website. To add your
firm's website address to its full listing
Contact Us
today or use the
Update Your Listing form!
We recognize the value of being
listed in the directory with only the best firms,
but it is so time consuming to maintain our
current directory listings. How can I simplify
the process for myself?
THE AMERICAN BAR accepts information
prepared for other directories, so you do
not need to do any additional work! You can
provide your firm information however you like,
by hard copy, fax, diskette, e-mail or even directly through this website using the forms found under Update Your Listing, and we do
the rest. Proofs are available year round, making
it convenient for you to make changes as needed.
Simply Contact Us
and a proof can be promptly sent to you.
Other time saving options are available to firms
receiving Eagle Service. Learn more about
Eagle Service
on this site or inquire for more information about this free service program.
How can I enhance my firm's entry?
THE AMERICAN BAR is dedicated to creating
the most thorough and beneficial listings for
participating firms. Listings can often be made
more informative and engaging by including a
history of the firm, the firm's website
address, e-mail addresses for attorneys, key
personnel who help the firm with the non-legal
matters, identifying management and directors and
listing important cases and clients (see the
General Listing Information form). The more
prominent your listing appears in the directory,
the better chance it has of being noticed by a
potential client or referring attorney.
Please contact us for specific recommendations
to enhance and customize your listing. Firms
receiving Eagle Service can contact their
personal editor directly for customized
suggestions.
Why do some firms have extensive biographies for partners in the firm and why should my firm consider them?
The reputation of a law firm is exemplified by
the stature of its partners. By including
accomplishments and areas of acclaim for
individuals within your firm, you draw attention
to the quality of the entire organization. Some
of the most valuable information you can have in
your listing is the information that is not required.
Users of americanbar.com can search for any of your listed attorneys and link directly to their biographies.
New biographical data for attorneys can be submitted using the
Attorney Biographical Information form.
What are some examples of appropriate additions to biographies?
There are many ways to enhance a biographical
entry. Some examples are to include an
attorney's notable cases, important clients,
published works, professorships, memberships in
professional organizations, honors, public
offices held, and notable clerkships. New biographical data for attorneys can be submitted using the
Attorney Biographical Information form.
Why do some firms have associate biographies while others do not?
Although biographies for associates are not
required, many firms choose to include them to
enhance their listing and to display the
education or other information about their
associates. Biographical data for associates can be submitted using the
Attorney Biographical Information form.
Why should a firm add associate biographies?
The more information you provide about your
firm, the more you differentiate it from other
firms. By including biographies of your
associates, you can establish a higher level of
credibility in the mind of the user. Associate
biographies show your firm is confident in their
qualifications and abilities.
If a user of americanbar.com searches for one of your associates, it will be helpful for them to find a biography.
Biographical data for associates can be submitted using the
Attorney Biographical Information form.
What is the Seal Program?
Law firms are becoming increasingly aware that
simply a website on its own is not enough, in
terms of marketing efforts. They are also aware
that a website cannot always fully communicate to
a user on its own the prestige and reputation of
your firm, because the nature of the internet
allows pretty much anyone to include anything on
a site. A user may have reservations of the
information they see. The Seal Program's
intent is to provide third-party verification of
your firm's reputation and quality on your
website. The idea is to make the user feel more
secure and trusting of your firm and the
information provided on your site. Subscribers of
THE AMERICAN BAR are eligible to
participate in the new THE AMERICAN BAR
Seal Program. The seal attests to the quality of
your firm to those who happen upon your website
by chance or to clients visiting your site for
any number of reasons. For more information about
the program or to apply for your firm's Seal, visit
THE AMERICAN BAR Seal Program page.
Are there any recent improvements to THE AMERICAN BAR that I should know about?
Yes, THE AMERICAN BAR is continuously
improving. A few of the most significant
improvements are listed below.
- THE AMERICAN BAR website includes
complete law firm listings online. The
listings contain valuable firm information
including attorney biographies, links allowing
you to send e-mail to firms and attorneys,
links to firm websites and many other
features. New to the website is the ability to search for individual attorneys and view their specific biographies. Firms with listings for multiple offices now have links to each office from within the listing.
- The Practice Areas Index now allows
users to reference firms that specialize in
specific areas of practice. One seeking a firm
that handles taxation law in San Francisco,
for example, can look up that area of
practice, and find firms listed under that
city and state (or country).
- The AMERICAN BAR Eagle Service makes it easier than ever for firms to get
the most out of their listing and keep their
information current. Eagle
Service offers customized assistance
at no additional cost. See the
Eagle Service
section of this site for more details.
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THE AMERICAN BENCH
What is THE AMERICAN BENCH?
An industry standard,
THE AMERICAN BENCH is the definitive
biographical reference on America's judges.
It lists over 18,000 judges in all levels of
federal, state and local courts with
jurisdictional, structural and geographical facts
on the courts they serve. Information is provided
by the judges themselves and their clerks,
federal sources and by the individual states.
When is the directory published?
THE AMERICAN BENCH is published annually
and ships in September. The edition year is from October to October.
Who uses THE AMERICAN BENCH?
THE AMERICAN BENCH is useful to lawyers,
researchers, librarians, journalists, court
administrators, political and social scientists,
public interest groups, the business community,
the general public and the judiciary itself.
Those appearing before a judge or those doing any
research on a judge or the judiciary find the
content of THE AMERICAN BENCH invaluable.
How and where do you get your
information about the judges?
Information about the judges is gathered
directly from the judges themselves or
representatives of their courts. Proofs of the
biographies are sent annually to them for
updating or revisions, so the information is
always as current as possible.
As a judge, what are some ways to
enhance my biography?
You can enhance your biography by contacting us
to add any of the following types of information:
current and past judgeships and term information,
education background including schools attended
and dates, bar admissions, legal positions,
memberships, political affiliations and
activities, legal authorships, important judicial
decisions, legal teaching positions and even a
personal or favorite quote, among others. You are
welcome to supply your resume and/or curriculum
vitae and we will extract the information to
create or enhance your biography. Also, you can fill
out the Judicial Biographical Information form to submit information via this website.
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