Frequently asked questions
How to read the ranking, what a contingency fee usually means, and what ClaimIndex is — and is not.
Using the ranking
Start with a shortlist, not a hire
Is this a lawyer referral service?
No. ClaimIndex does not match you with a firm, does not take a referral fee, and does not receive payment for rank. If you hire anyone listed here, that relationship is solely between you and that firm.
Do you get paid by the law firms you rank?
No. Placement is not for sale. Advertising spend, Super Lawyers badges, and TV volume do not move a score.
Should I hire the #1 firm in the table?
Not automatically. #1 may not be licensed in your state, may not take your case type, or may be a poor fit for a smaller file. Use rank as a shortlist, then ask who will actually handle the matter.
Should I still interview more than one firm?
Yes. Use the table to build a shortlist of three, then ask the questions in the hiring guide. A rank is a starting point, not a hiring decision.
Why do some well-known TV firms sit lower?
Awareness is not a pillar. If the public file shows slow attorney contact, opaque fees, or thin documented outcomes after severity adjustment, the score reflects that — not the media budget.
How often does this update?
Monthly in the product design. This prototype dataset is static until the verified file is loaded.
Fees & hiring
What to get in writing
What is a typical U.S. contingency fee?
One-third (33%) before a lawsuit is common; 40% after filing is also common. Costs (experts, records, depositions) may come out of your share. Always get the fee agreement in writing, including what happens if co-counsel is added. Read the fee guide.
Do higher average settlements mean a better firm for me?
Not by itself. A high average often means the firm declines smaller files. If your injury is moderate, a high-volume negotiator with a lower average can be the better fit. Use licensed states, response time, and “Best for” tags — not the headline number alone.
Is this legal advice?
No. No attorney-client relationship is formed by reading this site. If a statute of limitations may be running, speak with a licensed attorney in the injury state immediately. Deadlines vary by state — see the statute guide.
Can I use this in California, New York, or Texas advertising?
Not as a paid endorsement. State bar advertising rules are strict. This site is consumer editorial. Firms may not imply State Bar approval or guaranteed results. See the disclaimer.
The score
How the number is built
Why is case outcomes only 35%?
Because a huge average recovery can mean the firm declines ordinary files. Client care, speed, fee clarity, and license footprint are the difference between a good headline and a usable shortlist. Full weights are on Methodology.
Do you severity-adjust so small cases don’t punish a firm?
The opposite problem is the one we watch: unadjusted averages reward shops that only take catastrophic files. We band outcomes so volume of modest files and quality of large files can both be seen — then you still filter by practice area.
Can weights change if a firm sponsors the site?
No. There is no sponsorship product that touches the score. If that ever changed, it would be disclosed on the methodology page first. Today the answer is simply no.
Can a firm pay to appear in Resources?
No. Guides are editorial. Sponsored explainers are not part of this product.
For law firms
Claiming a profile does not buy rank
If we claim a profile, do we move up?
No. Claiming confirms a contact and opens a channel for evidence. The six pillar weights stay the same. A better documented file can change a score; a login cannot. Start on For Law Firms.
Can we use ClaimIndex in advertising?
Not as a paid endorsement and not as implied State Bar approval. State advertising rules are strict. See the disclaimer.
How fast are corrections published?
Factual errors (wrong fee, wrong licensed states) are queued for the next monthly refresh. New outcomes follow the same cadence unless the public record is already in the file.
What if we are not listed?
Absence is not a finding that the firm is illegitimate. This edition is a prototype with a limited, fictional dataset. Request access and we will open a review file when real-firm scoring is live.
This prototype
What is live, and what is a stand-in
Why are the firm names fictional in this build?
This edition is a working prototype of the ranking product. Real-firm scoring requires verified dockets, bar records, and rights-cleared case results. Swap the dataset in assets/js/data.js when those files are ready — the ranking engine stays the same.
Are the current table numbers live verified rankings?
No. Firm names in the dataset are fictional. The weights and the table UI are the product; the dataset is a stand-in until verified files are loaded.
Still comparing firms?
Filter by practice area, licensed state, fee, and response time.