Across the country, law firms have crossed a major milestone: they’ve completed their Chambers submissions. The matters have been catalogued, the referees have been collected, and the forms have been uploaded. That is no small feat – it takes hours of coordination between attorneys and their marketing and business development teams to pull everything together.
But here’s the part many firms overlook: the process doesn’t end when you hit “submit.” The most critical stage may still be ahead – when Chambers researchers reach out to your referees and when they sit down with your practice leaders for interviews. How your firm navigates this stage often makes the difference between maintaining a ranking and an elevation.
Why Referee Engagement Matters
Referees aren’t just names on a list – they are the trusted voices Chambers relies on to validate your firm’s leadership. Yet too often, a researcher’s email to a referee ends up in a spam folder or is overlooked during a busy season, and the opportunity to share feedback is missed.
To maximize impact, check Chambers’ Research Schedule regularly – daily while you sip your morning coffee! – to see if the researcher has been assigned to your practice. When you see the researcher has been named, reach out to your referees with this note:
Next, maintain regular and thoughtful contact with the researcher to monitor progress on referee outreach. While Chambers cannot disclose which referees have responded, they will share your overall “referee response rate.” This metric is a helpful signal of whether it’s time to resend your reminder email. Because referee participation is central to your ranking outcome, take proactive steps to encourage responsiveness while striking a balance between persistence and respect for your valued clients and colleagues.
Making the Most of the Interview
For practice leaders, the Chambers interview is not a casual chat nor is it a traditional media interview; it’s an opportunity to showcase the team’s strategic strengths, recent wins, and market reputation. Researchers hear from dozens of firms. The goal is to stand out.
A few recommendations:
- Prepare, but don’t script. Have key points ready – your practice’s differentiators, marquee matters, and client highlights – but focus on the conversation.
- Be candid. Researchers value honesty about both strengths and challenges. Overly polished answers can come across as less credible.
- Highlight talent. Chambers rankings are forward-looking. Spotlight up-and-coming partners and associates alongside established leaders.
- Think outside your firm. Provide thoughtful and honest input on the practices and attorneys from other law firms that are doing well. For example, “We really admire Jane Smith at ABC Law Firm. She’s a thoughtful competitor.”
While a Chambers interview isn’t the same as speaking to the press, our Interview Worksheet Template offers a quick refresher on the hallmarks of a strong interview.
The Payoff
Submitting matters and referees may feel like the heavy lift, but your Chambers journey isn’t finished until you’ve equipped referees to connect with researchers and ensured your practice leaders deliver interviews that resonate.
The firms that rise in the rankings are the ones that treat this stage with as much discipline and attention as the submission itself. In other words: you’ve done the hard work, but don’t miss the opportunity to make it count.
