As more legal departments comparison shop for outside counsel, firms are stepping up their marketing and business development efforts. Being singled out by one of the research-based legal rankings or directories can be a big client booster, whether it’s a practice area or individual lawyers that are recognized.

In an entry on Attorney At Work, Elizabeth Lampert, president of the legal marketing company, Elizabeth Lampert PR, and Nigel Savage, managing director of Savage Communications, which specializes in helping firms with legal directories and rankings, offer tips for making the cut.