“The reviewers are members of the bar and judiciary (lawyers and judges). They are from similar areas of practice and/or industries as the lawyer being rated, who attest that they know or have worked with the lawyer under review, and are able to rate the lawyer on his or her professional ethical standards and legal ability.

The Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ are an objective indicator of a lawyer's high ethical standards and professional ability. Attorneys receive a Peer Review Ratings™ based on evaluations by other members of the bar and the judiciary in the United States and Canada. The first review to establish a lawyer's rating usually occurs three years after his/her first admission to the bar.

     LexisNexis facilitates secure online Martindale-Hubbell® PEER REVIEW RATINGS™ surveys of lawyers across multiple jurisdictions and geographic locations, in similar areas of practice as the lawyer being rated. Reviewers are asked to assess their colleagues' general ethical standards and legal ability in a specific area of practice.”

 

See: https://www.lawyers.com/legal-info/research/martindale-hubbell-peer-review-ratings.html