Ranking Intelligence Reports: Are They Worth It?

Law firms invest significant time and resources into legal directory submissions, so understanding how researchers perceive a firm can be invaluable. This is where Chambers Client & Market Intelligence Reports (CMI reports), Legal 500 Research+ Reports and our Ranking Impact  Reports come in.

These reports provide detailed insight into rankings, client feedback, market perception and competitor positioning. They can help firms refine their legal directory strategy, improve future submissions and identify opportunities to strengthen their market position.

What is a Chambers Client & Market Intelligence Report?

Chambers produces Client & Market Intelligence Reports using data gathered during research cycles.

A dedicated team, separate from the researchers, compiles a report for a specific Guide and practice area/s for firms. For example, a firm may purchase a report covering Chambers Europe –Denmark – Banking & Finance and Banking & Finance: Regulatory.

What is Legal 500 Research+?

Legal 500 offers a similar service known as Research+. Research+ is designed to complement Legal 500 rankings and the Historical Data tool by providing additional feedback, benchmarking information, client response rates, and the context behind ranking decisions.

Unlike Chambers CMI Reports, Research+ should be purchased before the first submission deadline so researchers know that additional feedback and analysis will be required at the end of the research cycle. Research+ is conducted by practice area, with costs increasing depending on the number of practice areas included.

Ranking Impact Reports

The Kidd Aitken Ranking Impact Report provides a comprehensive, strategic analysis of your firm’s performance across all major legal directories. Designed for firms seeking clarity, competitive advantage and measurable improvement, this report brings every ranking, evaluator insight and performance indicator into one unified view.

By consolidating results from Chambers, Legal 500, IFLR1000 and specialist guides, the Ranking Impact Report reveals how your firm is currently perceived in the market and, more importantly, how to influence your position in upcoming research cycles.

What information is included in law firm rankings intelligence reports?

The exact content varies depending on the report purchased, but typically includes:

·       More detailed explanations behind law firm ranking decisions

·       A firm overview

·       A breakdown of ranked lawyers

·       Historical ranking information

·       Areas of strength and weakness

·       Recommendations for improving future submissions

·       Feedback to support legal directory strategy development.

More comprehensive packaging may also include analysis of how a firm performs relative to its top three competitors.

Reports can also identify lawyers who have the potential to be ranked and provide information on referee response rates. However, firms with enhanced directory profiles may already have access to some of this information.

Competitor benchmarking

Some reports include comparisons with competitor firms, allowing firms to assess their relative market position and understand where competitors may be outperforming them.

Strategic planning

The insights gained can help firms:

·       Refine future submissions

·       Improve referee selection

·       Identify opportunities for ranking progression

·       Understand risks affecting rankings

·       Strengthen legal directory and business development strategies

A useful external perspective

One of the most important things to remember when reviewing a client & market intelligence report is not to take the findings personally.

The report reflects an independent and external perception of a lawyer, practice group, or firm based on research conducted by the directory. While the conclusions may not always be aligned with internal expectations, they provide valuable insight into how the market views the practice. Often, this outside perspective is where the greatest value lies.

When should a law firm purchase a Ranking Impact Report, Client & Market Intelligence Report or a Research+ Report

We generally recommend purchasing a report every few years as a strategic health check, particularly in the following circumstances:

Persistent lack of rankings: If a practice group or lawyer remains consistently unranked despite regular submissions, additional feedback can help identify barriers to ranking progression. Enhanced-profile firms may already have access to some trajectory information, but a full report often provides more detailed analysis.

Significant team changes: If a key partner, rainmaker, or a team has joined or left the firm, a report can help determine whether that change has influenced market perception and directory rankings.

Succession planning: The reports can provide valuable insight into succession planning by highlighting potential future ranked lawyers and revealing client perceptions of a firm’s succession strategy.

Firms without enhanced profiles: These reports can be particularly useful for firms that do not have an enhanced directory profile, regardless of whether they choose to purchase additional competitor analysis.

Chambers CMI Reports vs Legal 500 Research+ vs Ranking Impact Report

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Additional Legal Directory Ranking Intelligence Tools

Chambers Ranking Hub andEditorial Archive

Chambers provides a (paid for) Ranking Hub, which brings together all of a firm's rankings in one location ahead of guide launches. It also offers an Editorial Archive, enabling marketing and business development teams to access historical editorial content for promotional purposes.

Legal 500 Historical Data and Firm Comparison Tool

Legal 500’s Historical Data tool contains a firm’s rankings for both practices and individuals for the past 10 years. This allows firms to track long-term performance and identify trends within their legal directory strategy.

The Firm Comparison Tool enables firms to compare firm rankings against up to three competitors within a specific practice area and jurisdiction. While useful for basic benchmarking, it does not compare lawyers or multiple jurisdictions simultaneously.

We recommend maintaining internal records alongside directory-provided tools to create a more comprehensive picture of performance over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Chambers Client and Market Intelligence Reports (CMI Reports) worth it?

For firms seeking a deeper understanding of rankings, market perception and competitor positioning, Chambers Client & Market Intelligence Reports can provide valuable insight that is not available through published rankings alone.

Should we purchase a Legal 500 Research+ Report?

For firms looking to gain amore in-depth understanding of rankings, how to improve rankings and competitor positioning, Legal 500 Research+ Reports offer valuable insights beyond what published rankings can provide.

How often should law firms purchase a rankings intelligence report?

Most firms benefit from purchasing either a Client & Market Intelligence Report, a Research+ report or a Ranking Impact Report report every few years, or following significant changes within a practice group, leadership team or rankings performance.

Can a law firm rankings intelligence report improve rankings?

The report itself does not improve rankings. However, the insight gained can help firms strengthen submissions, improve referee selection, understand their market position and make more informed strategic decisions.

What is the different between ChambersClient & Market Intelligence Reports and Legal 500 Research+?

Both services provide additional feedback and analysis. The key difference is that Legal 500 Research+ must generally be purchased before the research process begins, while Chambers Client & Market Intelligence Reports are typically purchased after research has been completed.

Need help improving your legal directory rankings?

Our Kidd Aitken consultants help law firms develop stronger legal directory submissions, analyse rankings performance and maximise opportunities within Chambers and Legal 500 research cycles. Find out more about our Ranking Impact Reports or request an example report.

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