The Legal 500 has released its 2026 United States submissions guidelines, marking one of the most significant expansions of coverage in recent years. Here’s what law firms need to know as the process gets underway.

Key Dates

• Client referee spreadsheets due: Nov. 14, 2025
• Editorial submissions due: Nov. 14, 2025
• Firm interviews: December 2025 – February 2026
• Publication: June 2026

What’s New

The 2026 edition introduces several new rankings that broaden recognition across the U.S. market:

• Mid-market categories in mergers and acquisitions, disputes, energy and real estate.
• Boutique firm rankings in commercial disputes, white-collar crime and media and entertainment.
• Expanded energy coverage with new mid-market and large-cap distinctions.

This expansion underscores Legal 500’s commitment to recognizing excellence from global firms to regional leaders and niche boutiques.

What Hasn’t Changed

The fundamentals of a strong submission remain:

• Submit on time — deadlines are enforced.
• Use the official templates without changes.
• Highlight the right people — focus on senior lawyers most relevant to the matter.
• Choose referees who have worked with the firm within the past 12 to 18 months.
• Prioritize matter highlights, which carry more weight with researchers than referee feedback.

Resources

The full list of practice areas, guidelines and required templates is available here: Legal 500 U.S. 2026 Guidelines.

Georgie Palm is Poston’s director of content client services. She is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.