Fantastic Lawyers, formerly WardBlawg, is an AI powered legal directory and publishing platform founded in 2010 by legal technologist Gav Ward. Our purpose is to connect people with trusted legal expertise and to help leading law firms, lawyers, and legal suppliers demonstrate their experience, reputation, and impact.

Mission statement

We make it easier for people to find the right lawyer, and we help professionals who serve them to be discovered for the value they provide. We believe directories should do more than list names. They should create confident connections that lead to good outcomes. As Maya Angelou said, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” That principle guides how we curate, present, and improve every profile and article on our platform.

What we do

For more than 14 years we have published over 5,000 articles, reached more than 1,000,000 readers, and built a community of 70,000 plus followers. The focus is to make law more accessible, transparent, and human.

Fantastic Lawyers Rating (FLR)

Our percentage rating scale from 70 to 100 considers balanced trust signals to highlight genuine quality, not pay to play. Inputs include client reviews, market reputation, firm history, lawyer experience, and verified accreditations or awards. Learn more about the methodology at About the Fantastic Lawyer Rating. Try the beta and generate a rating via our GPT tool at Fantastic Lawyers Rating GPT.

70 to 80 percent

Solid foundations with growing proof of client trust. Clear service pages and early reputation signals.

80 to 90 percent

Consistent reviews, recognised expertise, and reliable service delivery across multiple matters.

90 to 100 percent

Standout reputation with strong independent recognition, depth of experience, and sustained client satisfaction.

About the founder

Gavin Ward LLB Hons Dip LP, Solicitor non practising, is a former commercial lawyer who qualified in 2010. He launched WardBlawg in June 2010 to help lawyers publish online. He worked on legal workflows at LawWare and later served as Operations Director at Moore Legal Technology (now MLT Digital). He is now a Director at MLT Digital, focusing on AI and SEO for law firms. He also founded and helps run Five Fantastic Lawyers and the Five Fantastic network, and contributes to Accident Claims Blawg and Climate Change Blawg. He previously tutored private law at the University of Glasgow and commercial law at the University of Strathclyde. Connect on LinkedIn, Twitter and Bluesky: @GavWard, @WardblawG Legal Tech News and @FF Lawyers.

What people say

The post I wrote for your site was far more successful than any other post I have done. Ian Nuttall

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Frequently asked questions

Is Fantastic Lawyers the same as WardBlawg
Fantastic Lawyers is the evolution of WardBlawg. It extends the original publishing mission with a structured global directory while keeping WardBlawg resources available.
How does the rating work
The 70 to 100 percent scale weighs reviews, reputation, history, experience, and independent recognition. Profiles explain the factors considered.
Can a firm request inclusion
Shortlists are editorially curated. Firms can express interest and should show clear expertise, strong reviews, and transparent service pages.
Are profiles paid
Core listings are editorial although we do have premium paid options and this is all a work in progress so we can see what works best for a client experience perspective. Enhanced profiles with richer content and visibility are available on our pricing page.
Do you verify information
We review firm sites and public sources and may request clarification to maintain accuracy.
How do I find a lawyer near me
Use the directory search by city or practice area or start at Top Lawyers for curated lists.
Can lawyers publish on the site
Yes. Verified contributors publish practical guides and thought leadership that help clients and peers.
What areas do you cover
Coverage includes the UK, Ireland, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and selected European jurisdictions.
Is there a fee for clients
No. Users can browse listings and contact firms directly.
How can I contact you
Use the contact page for general enquiries or contributor requests. You can also explore the law directory and recommended legal suppliers.