Here's an overview of the mentioned legal organizations and the significance of their rating systems:
Description: Martindale-Hubbell is the gold standard for lawyer-to-lawyer reviews and has been so for generations. It is the definitive legal directory most trusted by lawyers to provide information on lawyers and law firms across the United States. Lawyers have used Martindale-Hubbell as the "go-to" authority for evaluating attorneys they do not yet know. They trust reviewing lawyers because they must be best positioned to assess fellow lawyers. Prospective clients dealing with life-altering cases usually have no training or background to evaluate lawyers, so this resource is invaluable.
Rating System: The AV Preeminent rating is the highest peer rating standard awarded by Martindale-Hubbell. It signifies that a large number of lawyers familiar with the rated lawyer's work rate the lawyer as being at the "Highest Level of Professional Excellence" based on 1) legal knowledge, 2) analytical capability, 3) judgment, 4) communication, and 5) legal experience. Furthermore, even being top-rated in all those categories will not earn the AV Preeminent rating. A lawyer must also be described by other lawyers as being highly ethical.
Description: Justia is a legal information website that offers consumers seeking legal services a directory of lawyers, free case law, codes, regulations, and legal articles.
Rating System: Justia allows only attorneys to rate other attorneys.
Description: The DUIDLA is one of two national professional organizations dedicated to the education and support of attorneys who defend individuals accused of driving under the influence (DUI).
Rating System: The DUIDLA does not have a formal attorney rating system. However, membership indicates a commitment to specializing in DUI defense and staying informed about developments in this area of law.
Description: Avvo is an online legal services marketplace that offers lawyer referrals and access to a database of legal information.
Rating System: Avvo provides an attorney's numerical rating on a scale from 1 to 10, known as the Avvo Rating. This rating is calculated using a proprietary algorithm considering an attorney's experience, professional achievements, disciplinary history, and peer endorsements. Client reviews do not affect the Avvo Rating.
Description: The NCDD is the older of two national professional organizations focused on providing advanced legal training to defense attorneys for DUI (properly "DWI" in Texas).
Rating System: The NCDD does not have a rating system. However, membership indicates a commitment to specializing in DUI defense and staying informed about developments in this area of law. The organization provides excellent DUI-specific training and discussion with other DUI attorneys. Mr. Goff has been a member of NCDD since 2001. Mr. Goff was one of the first DWI defense attorneys in the United States to have successfully completed the NCDD Advanced Curriculum in Forensic Science and Trial Advocacy: Mastering Scientific Evidence, Metrology, Serious Science: Blood Alcohol Analysis, and Serious Science: Blood Drug Analysis.
Description: The TCDLA is a professional association that provides support, training, and resources to criminal defense attorneys in Texas.
Rating System:The TCDLA does not have a formal attorney rating system. Membership indicates a dedication to criminal defense practice and access to ongoing legal education. Mr. Goff has been a member of NCDD since 1997. In 2024, Mr. Goff published an article in The Voice, the TCDLA magazine received by thousands of criminal defense attorneys across Texas.
Description: The American Chemical Society (ACS), through its Chemistry and the Law Division (CHAL), offers the Lawyer-Scientist designation to attorneys who have completed specific scientific training related to forensic evidence.
Significance: Attorneys with this designation have demonstrated proficiency in understanding and challenging forensic evidence, particularly in chemical testing cases, such as DUI or drug-related offenses. Mr. Goff started and successfully completed the Lawyer-Scientist curriculum in 2023, one of only about 100 lawyers in the United States. In 2024, Mr. Goff completed advanced scientific training regarding liquid chromatography, training only Lawyer-Scientists can take. Approximately 12 lawyers in the United States have completed that advanced training.
Many badges on other websites signify nothing more than buying the badge, which declares a lawyer to be elite, TOP 10, Top 10%, or many other dubious claims. I make no such claims, which I consider deceitful, even if they are not intended to be so. See my blog piece for more. It's essential to look behind the badges. You need to know whether they are meaningful indicators of the lawyer's ability to help you or just props to trick you.
In summary, these organizations and designations serve legitimate roles in the legal profession, from providing resources and education to offering certifications and ratings that help identify attorneys' expertise and ethical standards. Here's what I have to say about avoiding the fake rating organizations.
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