Houston AV Rated Lawyer

Martindale-Hubbell Ratings Categories

Martindale-Hubbell is an independent peer review rating service.  It sends out surveys to randomly selected lawyers throughout the state requesting Judges and lawyers to rate an attorney.  Ratings are categorized according from below average to preminent with respect to a lawyer’s legal ability.  Lawyers are also ranking based upon their ethical standards.   Some say this is the best and most reliable independent ranking service in the legal field.  Most agree that it is independent, and very hard to influence their rankings.  This is because the lawyers and Judge who rate the candidates must swear that they have not told the applicant how they rated them.   Thus, the person who is ranking the candidate should feel no pressure to provide an accurate ranking.  Further, there is no rank given except to candidates that the lawyer knows something about.

Joe Stephens has earned an “AV” rating by Martindale-Hubbell which means that he has earned the highest grades that he can received from his peers. 

Martindale-Hubbell Ratings are categorized with letters:

Attorney’s Legal Ability Rating:

A lawyer is ranked based on his reputation and ability from lawyers he faces in court, and around the state.  The rankings take into account his expertise, qualifications, and track record.

Joe Stephens has an “AV” rating. The “A” ranking means Judges and Fellow Lawyers believe he has the highest “legal ability” rating of  “Preeminent.”  Other grades that many lawyers earn are lower, such as “B” for High; and “C” for “Good; “   “D” for average, and so on.

Attorney’s Ethics Rating:

Similarly, Joe earned the highest rating in ethical standards as well as demonstrated by the “V”  in the “AV” ranking.  There is no higher rating given by Martindale-Hubbell.

Lawyers are reviewed each year.  Joe Stephens has earned an “AV” rating every year since 1993.