The publication of the UK legal directories for Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 is a mixed blessing for all those involved in putting together the submissions. On the one hand, there is (hopefully) cause to celebrate as the new rankings come out. On the other, it is a signal that it is time, yet again, to gird one’s loins and get to work on the next lot of submissions.
It is always difficult for those administering the submission process to know when to fire the starting pistol. If you do it too soon, the deadlines seem so far away that nobody takes any notice. Do it too late and everyone is scrabbling around to finalise things. In my experience, there is no ideal time.
What is important is to make it as easy as possible for those providing the actual material to do so and to set things up internally so as to do as much ahead of the submission deadlines as possible (eg the feedback sections).
Some of the things to consider doing at this stage are:
- Put together a timetable for the collation of the submissions. Although Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 have not yet provided the new deadlines for the UK directories, they are likely to be very similar to last year. You can update your timetable when the dates are published. Make sure this timetable provides sufficient time for moderation of the draft submissions by eg a practice head/CEO.
- Consider some training and online materials to encourage good material to be provided to you and in good time. For example, a document explaining how the submissions are presented and what individuals need to provide can be a useful aide memoire for those from whom you need information.
- Start collating information about what was submitted the previous year and which referees were used. A reminder of the work done over the last year also always helps. This is particularly important if you are working for a barristers’ chambers where individual barristers have to provide their own material for the practice area submissions.
- Review the practice areas in which your organisation submits. Are there any you should consider? Or should consider leaving out?
- Start collecting information for the overview sections about your organisation’s performance across all the practice areas in which you intend to submit. Preparing the submissions is an important exercise in PR.
- You can start preparing feedback for the Legal 500 submissions now as those results are already out. This will save you time next year!
- If you have not already done so, organise to meet the main editor/s to get as much feedback as possible from last year’s submission.
Good luck!