No. Lawyers of Distinction is a private membership organization that recognizes and promotes accomplished attorneys. It is not a bar certification, it is not affiliated with any state bar, and membership is not free. Below is exactly how members are selected, what each membership costs, what members receive and what our critics say, so you can decide for yourself.
Lawyers of Distinction recognizes attorneys and markets them. Members receive personalized awards, a profile in our public directory, national publicity and access to LOD Connect, our referral network for member attorneys.
It is not a certification issued by a bar, a court or any government agency, and we never present it as one. References to “excellence” or “distinguished” describe the organization, not any individual member.
Every member goes through the same four steps.
What we score: legal experience, educational background, case results, verdicts and settlements, honors and awards, special certifications, representative clients, professional activities, lectures, writings and publications, pro bono and community service, and Google reviews.
Read the full process on how to become a member.
Membership is billed annually. Every tier includes the core benefits. Featured adds national roster publication, and Distinguished adds a personalized crystal.
| Benefit | Charter | Featured | Distinguished |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $475 | $575 | $775 |
| Personalized 14 x 11 inch plaque | Included | Included | Included |
| Directory profile with photo and biography | Included | Included | Included |
| National press release announcing your membership | Included | Included | Included |
| LOD Connect referral portal | Included | Included | Included |
| Use of the Lawyers of Distinction logo | Included | Included | Included |
| Members only networking group | Included | Included | Included |
| Member discounts with national vendors | Included | Included | Included |
| Office brochures | Included | Included | Included |
| Expert hosted webinars | Included | Included | Included |
| Member roster publication in national newspapers | Not included | Included | Included |
| Personalized 11 inch crystal statue | Not included | Not included | Included |
To cancel, call Membership Services at 877.335.3021. Full details are on our membership types page.
A personalized plaque. Every member receives a 14 by 11 inch plaque with their name, practice area and membership year.
National roster publication. Featured and Distinguished members are listed in the member rosters Lawyers of Distinction publishes in national newspapers, including recent editions of USA Today and The Washington Post. These are paid placements: we buy the advertising space and publish the roster.
A directory profile. Each member has a profile in our public directory with a photo, biography, links to their firm and a map of their office, and can update it at any time.
LOD Connect. Members can refer cases they cannot take to other member attorneys and receive referrals in their own practice areas. A case manager handles each submission.
Recognition tools. Use of the Lawyers of Distinction logo on your website and letterhead, a press release announcing your membership, office brochures and an announcement across our social channels.
A crystal statue. Distinguished members also receive an 11 inch crystal, laser etched with their name, practice area and year.
Sample plaque, every tier
Sample crystal, Distinguished tier
USA Today, October 5, 2026
The Washington Post, August 5, 2026
Search our name and you will find attorneys and legal marketers who call recognition organizations like ours pay to play. These are the criticisms we hear most, and our answers.
Membership has an annual fee, and we publish it on this page. Nomination is free, and acceptance depends on the review described above. The fee pays for what is listed in the table: the plaque, the publications, the profile and the referral network.
Years ago, law firms tested recognition organizations by submitting pets, and some of those submissions got through, including at Lawyers of Distinction. Those stories are real. They exposed a gap in how candidates were checked at the time, and we changed our vetting process in 2018. Today every candidate is scored on the criteria above and must pass an ethics review and background check before acceptance.
They are. Lawyers of Distinction buys the advertising space and publishes the member roster. We say so here because you should know exactly what you are getting.
Correct. No state bar endorses Lawyers of Distinction, and we do not claim otherwise.
Lawyers of Distinction holds a 4.7 rating from 136 reviews on Google, as of November 2026. Five of them are below, quoted exactly as written. Read all 136 on our Google Business Profile.
I found the folks at Lawyers of Distinction to be responsive and I was honored to be chosen to join their ranks. I would recommend.
Ryan Couzens, criminal defense attorney in Roseville, California
★★★★☆ Google review, January 9, 2025
We have a positive experience being recognized and promoted through the service.
Eugene Strupinsky
★★★★★ Google review, January 9, 2025
Very nice and humbling award. Am honored to have been included.
Darren Marks
★★★★★ Google review, October 3, 2024
I had a wonderful experience with Lawyers of Distinction. Quality product and services.
Tracy NealLopez LA
★★★★★ Google review, October 2, 2024
We appreciate the organization’s recognition of those exceptional and innovative attorneys who are moving the industry forward!
The Estate Planning Group, LLC
★★★★★ Google review, October 1, 2024
No. Nominations are free. Attorneys can also be invited by our Selection Committee or apply directly.
Yes. Membership is annual: $475 for Charter, $575 for Featured and $775 for Distinguished.
No. Membership is not endorsed by any of the 50 state bar associations or the District of Columbia Bar.
Call Membership Services at 877.335.3021.
Yes. Members may use the Lawyers of Distinction logo on websites, email signatures and letterhead. Check your state bar’s advertising rules on awards before you publish it.
Our Selection Committee, using the scoring, ethics review and background check described above.
Talk to Membership Services before you decide. Schedule a call, read how selection works or compare memberships.
