Awesome Attorneys works because readers can trust what they see here. These are the rules we hold ourselves to — in full, in public.
Independence
There is a wall between sponsorship and editorial, and it is absolute. No advertiser, sponsor, or prospective sponsor has input on our profiles, guides, rankings, or recognition lists. Editorial recognition cannot be purchased, at any price, by anyone. If that ever changes, this page will say so — it won’t.
How profiles are researched
Editorial profiles are built from primary sources: the firm’s own published materials, court and public records, state bar records, and named, verifiable recognition. Every result, award, or superlative is attributed to its source. We do not fabricate testimonials, invent quotes, or state review aggregates we cannot verify. Where an attorney holds a formal certification — for example, from a state bar’s board of legal specialization — we say so with attribution; otherwise we describe what a practice focuses on, not what it is “certified” in.
Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different, and we say so wherever results are discussed.
What sponsorship buys — and what it can’t
One attorney per practice area, per city may sponsor their market and carry the Awesome Attorney title for it. Sponsorship buys two things: priority placement and exclusivity. Every sponsored placement is labeled Sponsored, everywhere it appears. Sponsored placements are paid attorney advertising. Sponsorship never buys editorial opinion, a spot on a recognition list, softer coverage, or the removal of accurate information.
Recognition lists
Our recognition lists — Top Attorneys, Rising Stars, Client Choice, Practice Area Leaders, and Industry Excellence — are selected by editors against published, practice-relevant criteria. Selection cannot be bought, and being a sponsor neither helps nor hurts a candidate. Attorneys do not pay to appear on, remain on, or be considered for any list.
Guides
Our guides are general legal information written in plain English. They are not legal advice, they are not a substitute for talking to an attorney about your specific situation, and reading them does not create an attorney-client relationship with anyone.
Corrections
Independent means accountable. If anything we publish is wrong, email hello@awesomeattorneys.com. We verify, fix, and note material corrections on the page. Attorneys profiled here may request corrections to factual errors the same way — corrections are always free and never conditioned on sponsorship.