AvvoReviews 419

While I absolutely agree that the sites "ranking" of attorneys is completely bogus (read their criteria for establishing these rankings), I think it's important to note that attorneys can't just dole out legal advice based on brief fact patterns, they could potentially have ethics issues with the State Bar for doing so. They have to tell you to retain your own counsel to review your entire situation to make sure that your legal situation is handled properly. Not to mention that it is impossible to just give a "this is how you do it" answer as no two situations are the same or should be handled the same.

Many excellent attorneys do not pay for "Avvo Pro", so do not have "10" ratings because of this. Please make sure you call several attorneys and speak to them directly before deciding who to hire (yes, call the non-10 rated attorneys too!). Basing your hiring decision on a ridiculous paid-for scoring system is ridiculous.

Avvo.com is a SCAM site. I posted a very proper review of a truly horrible attorney. I followed all the guidlines and did as they demand on their site.
However, a day later, my review was rejected, falsely claiming that I did not follow guidlines.
You know what I did?
I wrote them back and specifically stated that if they refused to post my review of the attorney, then I (yes, I) would sue them for DELIBERATELY VICTIMIZING POTENTIAL CLIENTS OF THE ATTORNEY, BECAUSE BY THEM REFUSING TO POST MY REVIEW, THEY WERE MISINFORMING THE PUBLIC AND CONTRIBUTING TO POSSIBLE FUTURE VICTIMS. I TOLD THEM, IN MY EMAIL TO THEM, THAT THE PUBLIC HAS THE RIGHT TO AN INFORMED DECISION, AND BY AVVO.COM REJECTING MY REVIEW, THEY WERE CONSPIRING TO DEPRIVE THE PUBLIC OF THAT INFORMED DECISION.
The next day, they published my review. PERIOD.
All of you who've had the same experience, MUST FIGHT BACK. Do NOT just accept their rejection of your review--CALL THEIR BLUFF, EXACTLY LIKE I DID.
Also tell them about their horrible reputation and that it's becoming worse and that you'll make sure to help their reputation become worse--also tell them that if they continue to reject your review, then you'll GO ON RIPOFFREPORT.COM AND WRITE ABOUT THEM. ON RIPOFFREPORT.COM, ANYTHING YOU WRITE WILL BECOME GOSPEL ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND THEY CAN NEVER REMOVE IT.
Believe me, then they WILL publish your review.

I hired a lawyer based on reviews from this site (he was rated a 9.3!) Well, it turns out that not only was this lawyer Setlak difficult to work with, but had a major conflict of interest with the opposing lawyer. I asked him several times if he had a personal relationship with this other attorney because he was so accomodating to her. During my time with him and in the midst of a contentious legal war, he actually peer endorsed the other attorney (and my case was adversely affected due to bad advice and guidance from my own lawyer). I tried sending an objective, but negative review and it was rejected. DO NOT HIRE AN ATTORNEY BASED ON REVIEWS FROM AVVO!

I was licensed to practice law over 20 years ago but never practiced law and was in good standing yet "retired" from the law as my state calls it. I found a profile on Avvo and they will not delete it even though I have never, nor will I ever practice law. Another similar site called Justia.com did remove my listing the same day I emailed them the request. Avvo is a scam in the highest degree and I suspect any 5 star rating here is from employees of Avvo. It's pathetic that people will resort to this to try and make money. Anyone considering using Avvo, you'd be better off just Googling attorneys.

From a client's perspective you get iffy advice and there are lawyers on the site with the highest rating -- '10'-- with not a single client review (or peer review, for that matter.) They raise their rating by answering questions, I guess. The attorney answers to some questions I researched were from attorneys not in my state who were either wrong or 'wronger'-- they told questioners to go hire an attorney (uhh-please!) when they could have sent them to the state office for FREE advice and follow-up. An attorney answered me with a non-answer. I replied 'let me restate the question' and received no additional answers; my comment is also hidden. I've chosen my next attorney from Martindale-Hubbell where they are peer-reviewed and client reviewed. It seems honest and factual.

Is unfortunately not a useful site as it is paid for by attorneys who are ostensibly reviewed by any client. Truth is that the Payer (in this case Attorneys) gets the kid glove treatment. It just gives visitors the impression that they are making informed decision when selecting an Attorney based on 'reviews'/ 'rating' at the website. In fact visitors are no more wiser than if they were to pick an Attorney at random. Sadly this review site (and sadly like most review sites) is not a magic bullet in selecting a service provider based on client reviews :(

I've repeatedly tried to submit a review of my attorney (and not a favorable review), Nevertheless, every time I click "preview," the site tells me that I have 128 characters remaining. I've tried it numerous times, counting every character, and still, the same thing comes up.

They seem to make it impossible to submit a review, and although I've emailed them at their "contact us" address, no one bothers to answer.

My best guess is that avvo is a sham, protecting lawyers who've registered with them and protecting themselves.

I tried to find an attorney through Avvo. The lawyer made an early morning appointment with me and then stood me up and never contacted me to apologize. I lost work time to make that appointment. I posted this objective review, never personally characterized the attorney, made it clear this was our initial meeting. The review was approved and posted and later removed for "not following guidelines." My conclusion is that consumer reviews are not an honest reflection of the lawyers' ratings. Just for good measure the attorney that stood me up for an 8:00 am meeting was Peter Lennington of St. Paul, MN.