Did Clients Just Go Sour on Rankings and Directories?

What a difference three years makes.

Just three years ago, directories were on the upswing with clients – 28% of corporate counsel valued attorney rankings. But our latest survey of over 350 corporate counsel reveals a sharp decline in enthusiasm:

• Only 4% still find rankings valuable
• 18% like them but aren’t strongly influenced
• 33% are ambivalent
• 45% express outright disinterest

Why the Shift?

Clients’ comments highlight key reasons why rankings are losing their appeal:

“I never hear about it again after I give a reference. I thought it mattered, but it doesn’t.”

“I get asked to do this all the time – it’s more important to them (outside attorneys) than to me.”

“It’s just another checkbox when I hire new attorneys.”

“I assume all my attorneys are ranked somewhere.”

The Bigger Picture: A Shift in Hiring Behavior

This trend signals a broader change in how clients evaluate attorneys:

• Thought leadership now outweighs rankings – especially when forming new relationships.
• Rankings have become a rite of passage, not an honor – when everyone is ranked, prestige diminishes.
• Failure to inform clients devalues rankings – when attorneys don’t update their references, the entire process feels transactional.

Rankings Still Matter – But Only If You Leverage Them

Being ranked is still better than not. But in a world where rankings are ubiquitous, omission becomes more noticeable than inclusion.

The key is engagement and respect. Clients providing references expect to be informed when their attorney is ranked. A simple acknowledgment can shift perception from indifference to appreciation – and a behavior proven to drive rankings higher.