Associates Catch the Rankings Bug – Should You Be Thanking Chambers?

It’s Chambers’ season. Congratulations to all the attorneys ranked.

Everyone’s noticing as firms broaden their celebrations – louder LinkedIn posts, firmwide shout-outs, retreat callouts. You’d be hard-pressed to find a firm leader who doesn’t tout their growing list of Chambers-ranked partners.

But one group is taking especially keen interest: associates.

According to the new BTI Survey of Associates, a sizable portion are now eyeing Chambers rankings as part of their own career roadmap. The results look like this:

• 31% believe a Chambers ranking drives their success inside the firm
• 18% aspire to achieve a ranking and believe it will boost their career
• 12% think it’s helpful
• 21% are indifferent
• 18% don’t think it helps at all

61% of associates view Chambers as a career booster. The Chambers messaging is landing.

A Big Marketing/BD Opportunity for Law Firms

Firms have done more than elevate the value of a Chambers ranking – they’ve made it aspirational. Ambitious associates are now asking marketing and BD teams how to get ranked. They want a roadmap. They want visibility. And this is the big opportunity for law firm BD and associates:

Explain how Chambers’ rankings are based on delivering excellent client skills. This includes:

• Legal prowess
• Client service
• Anticipating needs
• Making every client interaction better than anyone else

Ask every Chambers-ranked attorney to send the same message to these associates. Then offer up the training and tools to excel.

This is a chance to make client-centric behaviors part of their associates’ career ambitions.

The Takeaway:

Rankings and recognition are now a career asset – and firms have an opportunity to harness this ambition.

Helping associates understand the ranking process, build reputations, and develop a personal brand isn’t just good development – it’s good retention.