ComparisonSuper Lawyers vs. California Attorney Registry
Alternatives to Super Lawyers in California.
Super Lawyers is a rating service that names attorneys through a multi-phase selection said to recognize the top ~5% by peer nomination and evaluation. Listings are free to browse; recognized attorneys often pay for badges and marketing. Sold by Thomson Reuters to Internet Brands in a sale that closed December 2, 2024.
Super Lawyers at a glance
| Type | Rating service |
|---|---|
| Scope | National |
| Owner | Internet Brands (sold by Thomson Reuters, Dec. 2024) |
| Reported reach | Millions monthly (reported) |
| Client cost | Free to browse |
| How attorneys appear | Selection is editorial; attorneys pay for marketing/badges |
| Certified CA referral service | No |
Where Super Lawyers is strong
- Prestige of an editorial 'top 5%' selection
- Peer-nomination process and recognizable badge
- Long-running national brand
What users report as limits
- Selective by design — most attorneys are not listed
- Recognition is annual and category-limited
- Not a comprehensive directory of all attorneys
Strengths and limitations reflect publicly available information and reviews as of July 2026.
Super Lawyers vs. California Attorney Registry
| Super Lawyers | California Attorney Registry | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Rating service | Directory |
| Scope | National | California only |
| Source of listings | Attorney-supplied / paid | Official State Bar of California roll |
| Ranking | Advertising / rating signals | Official record and identity verification markers |
| Client cost | Free to browse | Free |
| Attorney pricing | Selection is editorial; attorneys pay for marketing/badges | Flat profile & sponsorship fees — no per-lead, no % of fees |
- CA Attorney Registry indexes every California attorney, not a selected slice
- Verification is transparent and evidence-based, not an annual editorial cut
- No pay-to-display-a-badge dynamic on core listings
Common questions
Is Super Lawyers a good way to find a lawyer in California?
Super Lawyers is a rating service that names attorneys through a multi-phase selection said to recognize the top ~5% by peer nomination and evaluation. Listings are free to browse; recognized attorneys often pay for badges and marketing. Sold by Thomson Reuters to Internet Brands in a sale that closed December 2, 2024. Whether it fits depends on your matter and budget. Verify any attorney's standing with the State Bar of California before hiring, whichever platform you use.
What is an alternative to Super Lawyers in California?
California Attorney Registry is a California-only registry that indexes attorneys from official State Bar records in neutral directory order. Unlike Super Lawyers, coverage is comprehensive rather than limited to advertisers or a rated subset, trust markers have defined meanings, and the registry lists records rather than ordering organic results by who pays.
How does California Attorney Registry compare to Super Lawyers?
Super Lawyers is a rating service (national in scope). California Attorney Registry is a California-only directory built from the official State Bar of California roll and organized in neutral directory order. CA Attorney Registry indexes every California attorney, not a selected slice. Both are free for the public to use.
Legal information, not legal advice.
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California Attorney Registry is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any company named on this page. Product and company names are trademarks of their respective owners, used here for identification and comparison only. Comparison reflects publicly available information as of July 2026; verify current details with each provider. Legal information, not legal advice. Source: Super Lawyers public materials; Thomson Reuters press release on the Internet Brands sale (Dec. 2, 2024), July 2026.
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Every California attorney indexed from official State Bar records and organized in neutral directory order — free to search, yours to choose.
Find Your Counsel278,688 attorneys · 58 counties · Official State Bar records