Lawyers nationwide are cheering that a court has finally mustered the courage to expose the well-funded corporations behind:

• “Super Lawyers”
• “Rising Stars”
• "Best Lawyers”
• “Superior Attorney”
• “Leading Lawyer”
• “Top-Rated Counsel”

This month the New Jersey Supreme Court Committee on Attorney Advertising made it clear what they are. They are bogus.

Lawyers and judges have known this for years, but have been afraid to say anything about the litigious badge vendors. However, I've been saying this for 10 years. Check out my 2007 blog post Super Lawyers is the "Cheesiest" Ranking. It's one of several on the topic.

Bleating online

Now that their pocketbook is threatened, the most predatory vendor is getting on a high horse -- saying that the New Jersey court's notice is unconstitutional because it is "compelling speech." Haha. Just read the court notice and you'll see how laughable this is. The court is not compelling lawyers to say anything -- it is reminding lawyers be honest in their marketing.

The situation does telegraph how desperate the vendors are. In sweaty conference rooms, they met to ask how they would generate profits -- now that the emperor has no clothes.

Did they really think that lawyers and the courts were that stupid? Yes, they did. They have thought so for years. I mean, look at all the attorneys who paid good money for meaningless accolades year after year. Smart, honest attorneys were duped into wasting good money on bogus awards. For a long time they have deluded lawyers into buying a badge, buying a listing or claiming a profile.

Attorneys must understand that the badge merchants are contemptuous of lawyers and judges. Read their socially awkward blog posts and you'll see what I mean. Disdain drips from their words.

But that's all over now. We've always known better. It took one fearless court to stand up to the venture-capital backed rascals. Now attorneys can breathe a sigh of relief and market themselves as they've always wanted to -- honestly and ethically.

As they say in the Twittersphere: All views my own except those that I have subconsciously inherited from my parents and those that I have nicked from far cleverer people.

-------- Comments --------

	David Milberg	David Milberg commented on your update
"Hooray! In the past 15 years or so, these bogus awards and their progeny have grown like weeds and have become the bane of law firm marketing professionals. Law firms have wasted millions of dollars worth of staff time on this stuff. I think that there are a lot more of these awards programs that should be "uncloaked," too. And I would start with Chambers, which in my lengthy law firm marketing experience seemed to list the same lawyers year after year, even including retired attorneys. I applaud you, Larry, for this post!"