Honor & Award Methodologies

2022

“The NJBIZ Forty Under 40 program recognizes 40 business men and women under the age of 40 for their notable successes and demonstrations of strong leadership in the state. Chosen by an independent panel of judges following an open nomination process, the individuals recognized on this year’s list contribute to their own industries – spanning health care, finance, sports, law, education and more – as well as to the New Jersey community at large.” (Source)

2021

“Chosen by an independent panel of judges following an open nomination process, the individuals recognized on this year’s list contribute to their own industries – spanning health care, finance, sports, law, education and more – as leaders and founders, partners, executives and above all trailblazers. And, their achievements and continuing efforts are also felt throughout the Garden State community at large.” (Source)

2020

“Each year, NJBIZ recognizes the best and the brightest of the Garden State’s next generation of business leaders with its 40 Under 40 Awards. This year’s class of honorees, representing a diverse range of industries – from health care to the commercial real estate and nonprofit worlds, and even to sports – were chosen by an independent panel of judges following an open nomination process.” (Source)

2019

“The annual 40 Under 40 Awards honor the movers and shakers making their mark in New Jersey business. Representing a wide range of industries, these young notables prove age is nothing but a number through their determination, passion and a drive to achieve. Following a nomination process, entries were evaluated by an independent panel of judges to determine 2019 honorees.” (Source)

2018

“The NJBIZ 40 Under 40 awards honor young professionals, as you may have guessed, under the age of 40 making moves in the Garden State. Some names you may know, others you may be seeing for the first time – but we’re betting it won’t be the last. Following a nomination process, entries were evaluated by an independent panel of judges to recognize five honorees in each of eight categories.” (Source)

“The Lawdragon selection process has been created over 30 years of researching and reporting on the legal profession and creating lists and guides to the most effective legal professionals. Our team brings more than 100 years in the lawyer reporting and information business.

The foundation of our selection is in journalism. We research each guide extensively, studying which lawyers and law practices have had significant impact, including an emphasis on recent cases handled and victories and settlements won. We review cutting-edge litigation, as well as trends in plaintiff consumer law and review the lawyers consistently turned to for guidance in those matters. Also, winning matters. Every true trial lawyer loses a case, that’s understood. But we are looking for lawyers who won’t rest until they have done all in their power to help a client receive justice.

We accept submissions and review them alongside thousands of candidates we independently identify and consider for each guide. We also work with editorial advisors from both the plaintiff and defense side who specialize in the various disciplines that comprise plaintiff consumer litigation to identify and vet candidates.

While the disciplines we focus on for plaintiff consumer are ever evolving with the law, in 2023 they chiefly encompass:

• Wrongful Death and Catastrophic Injury
• Pharmaceutical and Drug Injury
• Childhood and Other Sexual Abuse
• Aviation Liability
• Product Liability
• Toxic Environmental Liability

In almost every instance, a lawyer featured in this guide is recognized because they bring justice to individuals (or groups of them) for a physical harm they have suffered, as opposed to one that is chiefly financial.

Among the emerging practices reflected in this year’s guide is privacy, and in particular, the harms caused by its digital theft or invasion. In years past, we have seen this more as a Plaintiff Financial action, but the evolving nature of these claims has us parsing its proper home. As a result, there are practitioners in this area in Plaintiff Consumer, as there will be in Plaintiff Financial on May 26. We’d love your input.

Included among our research are reports of jury verdicts and settlements, whether self-published, reported in various publications or compiled in annual summations. We do not rely on any particular service as none provide comprehensive information and analysis.

To make a Lawdragon guide, a lawyer will have been in practice 10 years, with extremely rare exceptions, and in most cases significantly more. Similarly, virtually all will be partners in their law practice or hold a designation that indicates the regard of those with whom they practice. Those selected in their more junior years in practice generally bring prior careers, or other hallmarks and achievements that indicate future success at an early stage in law practice.

Leadership within their practice in a firm and or in relevant bar organizations is considered. We are avid fans of a small handful of elite bar organizations with selective membership criteria and vetting. To us, those are quite easy to distinguish from more sprawling commercial enterprises with little discernable acuity in their assessments.

The regard in which one is held by peers is noted, and strong personal qualities are valued. We aim to include those others aspire to be and who are admired for their intellect and wisdom as well as conduct and leadership. We have long tangled with our “no jerks” philosophy, as unfortunately there are some lawyers with outstanding legal skills and accomplishments who fall short as employers or people. We can all do better, and it’s important to the Lawdragon team to underscore that this is a factor we debate and that can be disqualifying.

Lawdragon is an advocate for inclusion in the legal profession and searches extensively for female and inclusive candidates who represent diversity.” (Source)

“The individuals recognized in NJBIZ Best 50 Women in Business program aren’t just operating in the Garden State’s enterprise environment—they’re leading it, as decision-makers, trendsetters and forward thinkers. Following an open nomination process, a panel of independent judges selected the 2020 Best 50 Women in Business winners using a points system to rate submissions in five categories: Career accomplishments, leadership, vision, community service and mentoring.” (Source)

“Following a submission and review process, the Law Journal is pleased to announce the 2021 Diverse Attorneys of the Year. These honors are presented biannually—in years alternating with the Top Women in Law awards.” (Source)

“The Legal Intelligencer asked the Pennsylvania legal community to submit nominations for our annual Lawyers on the Fast Track honors. The nomination forms and any letters of recommendation accompanying them were then sent to a six-member judging panel composed of evaluators from all corners of the legal profession and the state. After reviewing their results, 32 attorneys have been selected as the 2017 Lawyers on the Fast Track” (Source)

“Historically the Martindale-Hubbell^® Peer Review Ratings™ system utilized an “A – B – C” scale to estimate the legal ability and ethical standards of an attorney. To qualify for an “A” rating an attorney had to be reported as “Very High” in their legal ability and had been practicing for at least 10 years, a “B” rating meant an attorney was rated “High” and had to be practicing for at least 5 years, and a “C” rating meant that the attorney was rated “fair” with no limitations on how long they were practicing. A second rating was also given to go along with the “A – B – C” rating and that was a “V,” meaning that the attorney’s peers stated they had “Very High” ethical standards. Over the years this transitioned to “AV”, “BV”, and “CV” ratings – with an “AV” rating meaning that the attorney had reached the highest of professional excellence and is recognized for the highest levels of skill and integrity.

Today, Martindale-Hubbell conducts a thorough review of attorneys who wish to receive a Martindale-Hubbell^® Peer Review Ratings™, through a secure online peer review survey where a lawyer’s ethical standards and legal ability in a specific area of practice is assessed by their peers. Once the review process is completed an attorney may receive 1 of the following Martindale-Hubbell^® Peer Review Ratings™:

• AV Preeminent^®: The highest peer rating standard. This is given to attorneys who are ranked at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal expertise, communication skills, and ethical standards by their peers.
• Distinguished: An excellent rating for an attorney who has some experience and is widely respected by their peers for their professional achievement and ethical standards.
• Notable: A rating given to a lawyer who has been recognized by a large number of their peers for their strong ethical standards.” (Source)

An independent panel of judges selects the individuals who receive the NJBIZ Leaders in Law Award. The criteria for selection consider:

• the individual’s level of achievement within their company, industry, and economic region; and
• ways the nominee has helped the New Jersey business community grow and continues to champion their industry through professional creativity, innovation, and leadership.

(Source: NJBIZ)

2020

“Arguably the Law Journal’s most important recognition, New Leaders of the Bar endeavors to identify attorneys representing the future of the legal profession in New Jersey.

With the indispensable help of a distinguished panel of outside professionals, the Law Journal has chosen the below individuals as ascending leaders. Their practices and backgrounds are varied, but each shows an impressive combination of accomplishment and promise.” (Source)

2017

“Arguably the Law Journal’s most important recognition, New Leaders of the Bar endeavors to identify attorneys representing the future of the legal profession in New Jersey. With the indispensable help of a distinguished panel of outside professionals, the Law Journal has chosen 50 individuals as ascending leaders. Their practices and backgrounds are varied, but each shows an impressive combination of accomplishment and promise.” (Source)

2016

“The Law Journal sought nominations for its annual New Leaders of the Bar honors. As has been the case each year, the response was fantastic and we received dozens upon dozens of nominations, all of which demonstrated the depth of legal talent in New Jersey and seemed to indicate that the future of the state’s legal community is very bright. The nomination forms were sent to a seven-member judging panel composed of evaluators from all corners of the legal profession and around the state. After reviewing their results, the following 47 attorneys have been selected as the 2016 New Leaders of the Bar.” (Source)

2015

“The Law Journal asked the New Jersey legal community to submit nominations for our annual New Leaders of the Bar. The nominations came pouring in, dozens upon dozens of them, all demonstrating the impressive work being done by young lawyers across the state. The nomination forms were sent to a seven-member judging panel composed of evaluators from all corners of the legal profession and around the state. After reviewing their results, the 50 attorneys have been selected as the 2015 New Leaders of the Bar.” (Source)

ROI-NJ, “ROI Influencers: Power List,” ROI-NJ
The editorial department of ROI-NJ uses personal knowledge, news events throughout the year, and dozens of conversations with business leaders in all sectors throughout New Jersey to compile this list. For additional information, click here (methodology).

“Earlier this year, we sent out correspondence to the leading attorneys and law firms in South Jersey in search of nominations for our annual attorneys list. In addition, we also tasked our readers with going online and recommending the legal professionals they’ve had positive experiences with. The results were tallied and after applying a minimum number of votes to be considered for the list, the leading vote-getters in each specialty were then vetted using public sources of information to verify peer recognition, professional achievements, experience, honorable accolades and more.”

“We go to great lengths and take time and energy to ensure a fair voting process, but we acknowledge these surveys and Internet research are not an entirely objective metric. We are aware that this is just a mere sample of the good attorneys in the region and thus there are many professionals who do not appear on the list. Furthermore, South Jersey Magazine does not solely endorse the services of any particular attorney who was selected. Lastly, any paid advertisements in this publication were not exchanged for inclusion on the list” (Source).

Membership is extended solely to a select few of the most qualified attorneys from each state who demonstrate superior qualifications of leadership, reputation, influence, stature, and public profile measured by objective and uniformly applied standards in compliance with state bar and national Rule 4-7. Invitees must exemplify superior qualifications, trial results, and leadership as a young lawyer under the age of 40. Selection is based on a thorough multi-phase objective process which includes peer nominations combined with third-party research.

Each of our distinguished Top 40 under 40 members strives to encompass the knowledge, skill, experience, and success held by only the best lawyers in America. It is our mission to promote a unique and professional networking opportunity for young lawyers, while developing progressive ideas to pursue justice for those injured by the negligence of others, to educate the public about the importance of access to courts that are free of bias and undue influence, and to protect the right of trial by jury. (Source)

Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The patented selection process is multi-phased and includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations.” “The selection process for the Rising Stars list is the same as the Super Lawyers selection process, with one exception: to be eligible for inclusion in Rising Stars, a candidate must be either 40 years old or younger or in practice for 10 years or less.” (SuperLawyers.com).

Every year, Super Lawyers evaluates lawyers across the country for its annual list of top attorneys. Each candidate is measured against 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Nominees from more than 70 practice areas are considered. The patented multiphase selection process is rigorous and methodical. The Top Lists below take exclusivity one step further by featuring selected Super Lawyers attorneys with the most total points earned. (Source)

1. Length of practice (suggested minimum – 10 years)
2. Nature of Trial Practice: Broad consideration of demonstrated trial skills should be considered. It is appropriate to consider nominees with established skills in various areas and/or various types of cases. Emphasis in the past seems to have been concentrated in personal injury matters. Equal or greater skills are frequently required in trying difficult chancery matters, tax cases, family law problems, condemnation, criminal law matters, and appearances before certain administrative agencies such as the Public Utilities Commission, etc.
3. Service to the Trial Attorneys of New Jersey
4. Service to the Profession: Meaningful and active participation on committees, sections, assignments, panels, etc., under the aegis of the ABA, NJSBA, County and Local Bar Associations, Trial Organizations, etc.
5. Geographic Location: Should not be binding but might be a factor to be considered for a wider distribution of awards throughout the state. If for example, there are 2 or 3 candidates of equal stature, background, geographic location could logically be used in part as a determining factor.
6. Teaching: Lecturing at Law Schools, Practicing Law Institute, the Institute of Continuing Education, etc.
7. Participation in making law through landmark decisions where it is obvious that highly developed or unusual skills were applicable.
8. Writings: Briefs, law review articles, articles for Law Journals, etc.
9. Service to Communities: while not an indication of one’s trial ability, it is impressive and important for the public to know of a lawyer’s contributions to the community.
10. Professional Discipline.
11. Reputation and relations with other lawyers.
12. Reputation and relations with judges.
13. Personal qualities and character, including, but not limited to, originality, courage, participation in the prosecution or defense of unpopular causes, a sense of fairness, etc.

Source: Trial Attorneys of New Jersey