New Jersey Super Lawyer

Donald D. Vanarelli was named to the New Jersey Super Lawyers list in years 2007–2014.

Donald D. Vanarelli was named to the New Jersey Super Lawyers list in years 2007–2016. An independent firm conducted the polling, research and selection of Super Lawyers in a process designed to identify New Jersey lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Super Lawyers are outstanding attorneys, representing a wide range of practice areas, firm sizes and geographic locations. Only the top 5% of New Jersey lawyers are named Super Lawyers.

original

About Super Lawyers

Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process is multi-phased and includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations.

Super Lawyers is published as a special supplement in leading newspapers and city and regional magazines across the country. Super Lawyers Magazine features the list and profiles of selected attorneys and is distributed to attorneys in the state or region and the ABA-accredited law school libraries. In the United States, Super Lawyers Magazine is published in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., reaching more than 13 million readers.

Super Lawyers Selection Process

Step One: Creation of the Candidate Pool
Each year, the Super Lawyer selection process begins with a statewide survey of lawyers. Lawyers eligible to participate include those who have been in practice for at least five years. Lawyers are asked to nominate the best attorneys they’ve personally observed in action. Lawyers cannot nominate themselves. Lawyers may nominate attorneys in their own firm, but these nominations count only if each in-firm nomination is matched by at least one out-of-firm nomination. Additional names are added to the candidate pool through a process by which an attorney-led research staff searches for outstanding lawyers by reviewing national and local periodicals as well as legal trade journals; searching numerous databases and online sources; and conducting in-person and telephonic meetings with law firms.

Step Two: Evaluation of Lawyers in Candidate Pool
The background and experience of each candidate is examined for evidence of peer recognition and professional achievement. Factors considered in evaluating candidates include: verdicts and settlements; transactions; representative clients; experience; honors and awards; special licenses and certifications; position within law firm; Bar and or other professional activity; pro bono and community service; scholarly lectures and writings; education and employment background; and, other outstanding achievements.

Step Three: Peer Evaluation by Practice Area
Candidates are grouped according to primary area of practice. Those with high point totals from the balloting and qualitative evaluation steps are asked to be on a blue ribbon panel for their practice area. Panelists review and score a list of candidates from their practice area. Panelists may add names to the list.

Final Selection
Final candidates are segmented according to firm size (firm size categories vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction). Those with the highest point totals from each category are selected. Only 5 percent of the total lawyers in the state are selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers.

Super Lawyers Selection Process Examined, And Found Legitimate, by the New Jersey Supreme Court, As Well As Courts and Bar Associations Across the United States

Bar associations and courts across the country have recognized the legitimacy of the Super Lawyers selection process. The New Jersey Supreme Court upheld the findings of a Special Master assigned by the court to, among other things, examine the details of the Super Lawyers selection process. In his July 2008 report, the Special Master lauded the Super Lawyers lawyer-rating process, stating:

“[The Super Lawyers selection process] is a comprehensive, good-faith and detailed attempt to produce a list of lawyers that have attained high peer recognition, meet ethical standards, and have demonstrated some degree of achievement in their field.”

“Suffice to say, the selection procedures employed by [Super Lawyers] are very sophisticated, comprehensive and complex.”

“It is absolutely clear from this record that [Super Lawyers does] not permit a lawyer to buy one’s way onto the list, nor is there any requirement for the purchase of any product for inclusion in the lists or any quid pro quo of any kind or nature associated with the evaluation and listing of an attorney or in the subsequent advertising of one’s inclusion in the lists.”

Super Lawyers Selection Process Patented by The United States Patent and Trademark Office 

In April 2013, the Super Lawyers selection process received a patent (U.S. Pat. No. 8,412,564) from The United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Additional Information

For additional information regarding Donald D. Vanarelli, member of the New Jersey Super Lawyer list, call us at 908-232-7400 or click here to contact us online.

Credentials: Past Chair of the Elder and Disability Law Section (EDLS) of the New Jersey State Bar (NJSBA) >