Awards Selection Process Explained by Our Social Security Disability Lawyers
There are many ways to rank, vet, or consider the ability of a lawyer. Undoubtedly one of the most well-known ranking systems is through Super Lawyers. This organization goes through a selection process in every state for over 70 different practice areas each year, acknowledging the top lawyers in their field. The two most coveted awards are the Super Lawyers and Rising Stars awards given out annually.
In order to determine a Super Lawyers Award Recipient or Rising Star Award Recipient, the selection process begins with a nomination cycle that is open for a limited period of time. Candidates are formally nominated by a peer or identified by Super Lawyer’s research department. This part of the process seeks to build a candidate pool and look for the top lawyers in their field and in their geographic location. There are safeguards and other methods in place to prevent lawyers from self-nominating or doing referral nominations (I nominate you, you nominate me).
Once nominations close and there is a candidate pool, Super Lawyers researches each and every lawyer that has been nominated based on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Some of the important aspects that are reviewed include the following:
- Experience
- Verdicts or settlements
- Representative clients
- Transactions
- Honors and awards
- Position within the law firm
- Special licenses and certifications
- Bar and/or professional activity
- Pro bono and community service
- Publications and scholarly lectures
- Education and employment background, and
- Other outstanding achievements
The third step of the process is the peer review state. This stage begins by ranking lawyers and determining which lawyers have the most points based on the indicators listed above. These lawyers are turned into “blue ribbon panelists” and help rank other candidates.
The final step is reviewing candidates and their points against their firm size. The research on the lawyers is reviewed and candidates are separated by their law firm’s size to be judged against each other. The top 5% of lawyers in the state for each practice area are included in Super Lawyers. Before publications, each candidate is confirmed to be in good standing and without any disciplinary history before being formally awarded.
Here at Silver & Silver, we are proud to recognize Mike Silver as a Super Lawyer Award Recipient. He has been awarded the Super Lawyers award each year since 2004. This year in 2021, Mike Silver is the only disability lawyer to be recognized in the Eastern Half of Pennsylvania which is a true honor. This is also quite a feat considering only the top 5% of lawyers in his practice area and locality earn this award.
Joe Silver has also similarly been well-recognized as a Rising Star Award Recipient. He has been awarded this distinction each year since 2019 in the area of disability lawyer. The Rising Star award recognizes lawyers who have been in practice for 15 years or less and have made major contributions to disability law within the last two years of practice.
Were you Injured or Need a Disability Lawyer in Pennsylvania? Hire one of Our Super Lawyers to Protect Your Rights
Whether you have been injured in a car wreck or need to file a disability appeal, the skilled lawyers at Silver & Silver have over 40 years of experience helping residents of Pennsylvania protect their rights under the law. Learn how we can help you and your family during a FREE consultation with one of our compassionate team members by dialing 610-638-7255 or use our convenient “contact us” box available here.
