The post-submission period after submitting to Chambers and Partners is just as important as the drafting and submission stage. What a firm does after submission can influence the quality of the research process, strengthen relationships with referees and researchers, and help the firm prepare for the release of rankings.
Here are five important steps law firms should take after submitting to Chambers and Partners:
1. Effective Referee Management
Whether your firm has access to the Chambers Referee Management Tool (RMT) or not, referee management is one of the most important post-submission activities. Client and peer feedback plays a significant role in the Chambers research process, so firms should ensure that referees are properly informed and prepared. After submission, firms should:
- Contact referees to inform them that Chambers may reach out to them.
- Encourage referees to add chambers.com to their safe senders list so Chambers’ emails do not go to spam.
- Provide brief context on why Chambers may be asking about particular matters or practice areas.Encourage referees to respond promptly and engage with the researchers.Let busy referees know that they may be able to provide written feedback if they are unavailable for a call.
- Avoid coaching clients on what to say, as Chambers researchers can often detect overly scripted feedback.
For firms with access to the Chambers RMT, it is useful to monitor response rates during the research period. Where referees appear unresponsive or have unsubscribed from Chambers emails, firms may follow up with them politely to understand whether there are communication issues that can be addressed.
The goal is not to be overly pushy or pressure referees. It is to make the process easy for them and remove any practical barriers to their participation. This is also why strong client relationships matter long before research begins.
2. Prepare for Lawyer/Partner calls with Chambers
Chambers may invite lawyers or partners to participate in research calls. These invitations are not automatic, and researchers often select participants based on the needs of the research process per cycle.
If a partner at your firm is invited to speak with a Chambers researcher, preparation is essential. It is important to understand that the purpose of the lawyer call is not to complain about rankings or spend the entire conversation promoting the firm. A good lawyer call should provide useful market insight, briefly explain the firm’s strengths and positioning, and offer thoughtful feedback on other practitioners in the market.
Before the call, the participating lawyer should be prepared to discuss:
- Key developments in the practice area.
- Important market trends.
- The firm’s most significant strengths and differentiators.
- Key developments within the team at the firm.
- Any relevant context from the submission.
Firms should also be strategic about who joins the call. If Chambers requests to speak with a specific partner, avoid adding too many additional lawyers. Where additional participation is necessary, keep the group small, ideally no more than two or three lawyers, so the conversation remains focused and effective.
3. Engage with Chambers Researchers, but do not be overbearing
During the research process, there may be legitimate reasons to contact Chambers researchers. For example, a firm may need to update referee details, ask about referee responses, clarify an issue, or confirm that a referee who previously unsubscribed is now willing to participate. It is perfectly acceptable to reach out in such circumstances.
However, firms should remember that researchers are usually managing a high volume of calls, emails, interviews, and submissions during the research period.
To maintain a productive relationship, firms should be thoughtful and organised in their communication. Instead of sending several short emails, it may be better to compile questions and send them in one clear message, perhaps once a week where appropriate.
At the same time, if a researcher contacts the firm for clarification, additional information, or a lawyer call, the firm should respond promptly. Timely and helpful responses can make the research process smoother for everyone involved.
4. Track matter updates and new achievements
The post-submission period is not the time to put submissions aside until the next cycle. Law firms should continue tracking new matters, case developments, transactions, client wins, awards, lateral hires, promotions, and other achievements that may be relevant to future submissions.
This is also a good time to audit the submission process internally. Firms can ask:
- What worked well this cycle?
- Were there information gaps?
- Which practice groups were most responsive?
- Were there challenges gathering matter details or referee information?
- What can be improved before the next submission deadline?
By reviewing the process while it is still fresh, firms can make the next cycle more efficient and strategic. Maintaining a live record of matters and achievements throughout the year also reduces the last-minute pressure that often comes with directory submissions.
5. Prepare for results and marketing
Firms should begin preparing for rankings release before the results are announced. This ensures that once rankings are published, the firm can move quickly with its marketing and communications. Useful preparations may include:
- Drafting press releases.
- Preparing website updates.
- Creating social media content.
- Drafting internal announcements.
- Preparing lawyer and practice group biographies for updates.
- Planning client alerts or newsletters where appropriate.
This preparation is especially important for firms expecting new rankings, improved rankings, individual lawyer recognitions, or notable practice area results. Timely promotion helps firms maximize the value of their Chambers recognition and ensures that the rankings are communicated clearly across relevant channels.
Conclusion
A Chambers submission should not be treated as a one-off task that ends once the submissions are uploaded. The period after submission is a valuable opportunity to support referees, engage appropriately with researchers, prepare lawyers for calls, track new achievements, and plan for rankings release.
Firms that approach the post-submission period strategically are better positioned to make the most of the research cycle and build a stronger foundation for future submissions. In legal directory work, consistent year-round preparation often makes the difference between a rushed submission process and a more effective, competitive rankings strategy.