By Paola Iuspa-Abbott, Founder and President, Top of Mind Public Relations
A Chambers and Partners ranking can give a law firm valuable third-party credibility. It can also raise the profiles of its attorneys and help the firm stand out when prospective clients research legal counsel.
Strong rankings start with a well-prepared submission that clearly explains what the firm has accomplished and why its attorneys deserve recognition. Here is what law firms should know before preparing a Chambers submission.
In summary: A strong Chambers and Partners submission should identify a law firm’s most significant matters, explain the attorneys’ specific roles, highlight meaningful results and include referees who can speak knowledgeably about the work. Because deadlines vary by practice area, location and guide, firms should create a submission calendar and begin preparing well before the official deadline.
What Is a Chambers Submission?
A Chambers submission gives researchers the information they need to evaluate a law firm or practice group for a potential ranking.
It typically includes information about the attorneys in the practice, the clients they represent and the most significant legal matters the team handled during the research period.
Think of the submission as your opportunity to make the case for your firm. Don’t assume researchers already understand your work or what makes it important. Explain what your attorneys did, why the matter was significant and what sets the team apart from its competitors.
How Do Chambers Submission Deadlines Vary by Practice Area and Location?
There is no single Chambers submission deadline for every law firm. Deadlines vary based on the guide, practice area, and jurisdiction being researched. For example, different legal practice areas within the same state may have different deadlines. Firms with offices in several states or countries may need to follow multiple submission schedules throughout the year.
A firm could be preparing a litigation submission for one state while facing a different deadline for a corporate, real estate, or labor and employment practice in another jurisdiction.
This is why law firms should not wait until “Chambers season” to begin preparing. Depending on the size and reach of the firm, the submission process may continue throughout much of the year.
Start by reviewing the official Chambers research schedule. Search by guide, country or region, location, and practice area to confirm:
- The submission deadline
- The referee deadline
- The research period
- The practice area being evaluated
- The jurisdiction covered by the research
Create an internal calendar that includes every practice area and location where the firm plans to submit. Work backward from each deadline to allow enough time to select matters, secure client approval, confirm referees, interview attorneys, and review the final submission.
How Many Work Highlights Can a Law Firm Submit?
According to the Chambers submissions FAQ, firms can submit up to 20 work highlights for each practice area. These may include a combination of confidential and publishable matters.
That does not mean every firm needs to submit 20.
A shorter list of strong, detailed matters will usually tell a better story than a longer list filled with repetitive examples. Focus on matters that demonstrate:
- Complex or significant legal work
- Strong results for clients
- The attorneys’ specific roles
- Major business or legal implications
- Experience in a specialized area
- Work that separates the firm from its competitors
The description should make the importance of the matter clear to someone who was not involved. Avoid relying too heavily on legal language or assuming the researcher will immediately understand why the work matters.
What Is the Difference Between Confidential and Publishable Work?
Firms must identify each work highlight as either confidential or publishable. A publishable matter is one Chambers may mention in the editorial commentary that accompanies the rankings. The information should already be public or approved for public discussion.
A confidential matter can still be considered as part of the research process, but Chambers will not identify or discuss it publicly.
This gives law firms an opportunity to share important work even when they cannot disclose the client’s name, financial details, litigation strategy or other sensitive information.
Before marking a matter as publishable, make sure the client and the attorneys involved are comfortable with the information becoming public. When in doubt, treat it as confidential or seek the client’s approval.
What Is a Chambers Referee?
Referees are clients or professional contacts whom Chambers may ask to provide feedback about the firm and its attorneys.
Their input matters because researchers are not evaluating the written submission alone. They also want to hear directly from the people who have worked with the firm.
A strong referee is someone who:
- Has firsthand knowledge of the firm’s work
- Can speak specifically about the attorneys involved
- Understands the value the firm brought to the matter
- Is likely to respond when Chambers reaches out
- Has agreed to participate
Don’t select referees based only on the prominence of their company or title. A client who can give a detailed and enthusiastic response may be more valuable than a high-profile executive who never answers the email.
How Many Referees Can a Firm Submit?
The limit depends on the guide and, in some cases, the practice area.
Chambers currently allows up to 30 referees for several guides, including USA, Canada, Asia-Pacific, Greater China Region, Chambers UK for solicitors, France and Germany. Certain specialist guides also accept up to 30.
Other guides and practice areas may have different limits. Firms should always review the current Chambers submission requirements before finalizing their referee lists.
But the secret is not the quantity of referees; it’s the quality. What your referees say can make or break your chances of earning a ranking. You need to choose referees who will take the time to speak with the researcher and provide specific, compelling feedback about the firm’s work.
Can the Same Referee Support More Than One Practice Area?
Yes, when the referee has enough experience with the firm to speak knowledgeably about each practice.
The referee spreadsheet allows firms to identify the additional practice areas the person can address. It also asks whether the referee is connected to one of the work highlights included in the submission.
However, don’t add the same client to several practice areas simply to fill the available spaces. The person should be able to provide relevant feedback about each team being evaluated.
Should Law Firms Prepare Their Chambers Referees?
Yes, but that does not mean telling clients what to say.
Ask for permission before listing someone as a referee. Explain the process and let the person know that Chambers may contact them by email or telephone.
It is also helpful to remind referees which matter the firm handled and which attorneys were involved. Make sure their contact information is current.
Once the research period begins, keep track of the outreach and send a polite reminder when appropriate. Even your happiest clients can miss an email or forget to respond before the deadline.
Who Should Coordinate Chambers Interviews?
The submission should identify someone Chambers can contact to arrange attorney interviews.
This may be a member of the firm’s marketing, business development, public relations or administrative team. More important than the person’s title is their ability to respond quickly, coordinate schedules and make sure an interview request does not get buried in someone’s inbox.
Attorneys should review the submission before their interviews. They should be ready to discuss the practice group’s strengths, important market developments, significant matters and what distinguishes the firm from its competitors.
Can a Chambers Submission Be Changed After It Is Uploaded?
Chambers allows firms to add, edit or remove information before the research period begins. Once the research is underway, making changes may no longer be possible.
Before submitting, double-check that:
- Attorney names and titles are correct
- The matters fall within the required research period
- Confidential and publishable matters are properly identified
- Referees have agreed to participate
- Referee contact information is current
- The correct office, jurisdiction and practice area are selected
- The submission follows the requirements for the appropriate guide
Why Good Legal Work Still Needs a Strong Story
A law firm may have outstanding attorneys and impressive matters. But if the submission is vague, overly technical or rushed, researchers may not fully understand what makes that work stand out.
The strongest submissions clearly explain the firm’s value. They use specific examples, highlight meaningful results and make it easy for researchers to see why the attorneys deserve recognition.
The information collected during the submission process can also support a law firm’s larger public relations strategy. The same matters and attorney experience may lead to media pitches, thought leadership articles, award nominations, website content, and other opportunities that build the firm’s credibility throughout the year.
How Top of Mind PR Helps Law Firms Prepare Chambers Submissions
Top of Mind PR helps law firms identify their strongest stories, position attorneys as trusted authorities and turn their legal experience into content that connects with researchers, reporters and prospective clients.
Chambers submission requirements may change. Always consult the official Chambers submission process and research methodology for the latest deadlines, limits and instructions.
Does Your Law Firm Need Help Preparing a Chambers Submission?
A Chambers submission should do more than list attorneys and matters. It should clearly communicate the significance of the firm’s work and what distinguishes its attorneys from their competitors.
Top of Mind PR helps law firms identify their strongest stories, prepare persuasive submissions and turn the information collected during the process into media opportunities, thought leadership and digital content.
Contact Top of Mind PR to discuss your firm’s Chambers submission strategy.
About The Author
Paola Iuspa-Abbott is the founder and president of Top of Mind Public Relations, a national PR agency specializing in strategic media relations, thought leadership, and digital visibility. A former journalist with more than a decade of experience in major newsrooms, she brings a newsroom mindset to public relations, helping clients earn meaningful press coverage and build authority across both traditional and digital platforms.
Since launching Top of Mind PR in 2015, Paola has led campaigns for law firms, real estate developers, nonprofits, and national brands, with a focus on securing high-impact media placements, optimizing content for search engines, and staying ahead of how AI and algorithms shape visibility today. Based in South Florida, Top of Mind has offices in Washington D.C., Albuquerque, and Philadelphia.
