Is Avvo Safe to Use as an Attorney?

Is Avvo Safe to Use as an Attorney

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As modern technology takes over every business sector, users nowadays can access information about legal services at their fingertips. 

Avvo.com is an online marketplace launched in 2006 in Seattle, Washington. It aims to disclose a database of information about attorneys based on their professional backgrounds. 

In its essence, a lawyer’s Avvo profile includes data such as peer endorsements, client reviews, or disciplinary actions. However, it is important to know that Avvo can’t directly indicate factors like communication skills, professional knowledge, performance on specific previous trials, or personality. 

Without further ado, let’s elaborate on the benefits Avvo offers to attorneys. 

What is the Avvo Rating?

The purpose of Avvo Rating is to assess an attorney’s professional background based on available data. 

Avvo uses a special template that processes data collected from state bar associations together with information provided on members’ accounts, to assess their legal service. 

Attorneys are required to claim their profile in order to get rated. Additionally, the factors that affect ratings are accessible for every lawyer.

Calculation of the Avvo Rating

Avvo rates attorneys based on two types of sources: the information they provide on their profile themselves, and public data.

Public data rating may cover accessible online sources and public records, including state bar associations, court records, and regulatory agencies.

Lawyers can vouch for their own experience by claiming their profiles and adding accurate information themselves or through an Avvo Customer Care representative.  

“Attention” or “Not Active on Avvo” status

Avvo displays an “Attention” for attorneys who have a rating lower than 5 due to publicly available disciplinary actions in their professional history.

A “This attorney is not active on Avvo” announcement means that the particular attorney has not claimed their profile and has no public record of disciplinary actions in state bar associations, therefore Avvo cannot display a rating.

Avvo Rating- and Review

Details on How the Avvo Rating Is Calculated

Avvo’s interface takes the aforementioned data into consideration and evaluates it through a numerical rating, ranging from 1 to 10: 

10 – 9.0 Superb

8.9 – 8.0 Excellent

7.9 – 7.0 Very Good

6.9 – 6.0 Good

5.9 – 5.0 Average

4.9 – 4.0 Concern

3.9 – 3.0 Caution

2.9 – 2.0 Strong Caution

1.9 – 1.0 Extreme Caution

As for the criteria of evaluation, Avvo does not reveal the value of individual factors (such as professional experience, client reviews, and disciplinary sanctions) in the mathematical rating, so that an unfair advantage is avoided. 

Unrated Attorney Profiles

Avvo only rates a lawyer’s profile if it is claimed by the lawyer in question. 

If the attorney is serving as a public official or has passed away, Avvo will not provide a rating.

Moreover, Avvo can remove a rating upon request by an attorney that is not in search of clients and does not have a disciplinary sanction. In these cases, such profiles will not appear in Avvo’s search listings and there would be an “Avvo Rating Not Displayed” on them.

Avvo is 100% free for attorneys

It is not required for lawyers to register or pay for their Avvo profile. Instead, Avvo locates and creates a profile for every attorney with available information online. 

Avvo accounts are completely free and independent from any form of advertising or payment.

Can lawyers falsify data to boost ratings?

Manipulating legal information is strictly forbidden by law – it can make lawyers lose their licenses and get banned. Attorneys are not likely to take that risk and Avvo puts trust in its users to provide valid information about themselves.

However, if you spot any supposedly invalid data, you are expected to contact Avvo so that they look further into the issue. 

Can I remove the Avvo Rating from my profile?

Avvo does not normally change or remove attorney ratings by request. Lawyers can only get their rating removed provided that they are not looking for clients and have not been penalized before. 

When Avvo does approve a removal request, the attorney in question would not be included in practice area listings.

Can I add or correct information without claiming my profile?

Lawyers who have not claimed their profile can contact Avvo’s representatives and ask for corrections of their profile data.

You can get in touch with the support team through email, phone, or online chat and request an addition or removal of certain information.

How can I change my Avvo Rating?

New information about your professional output can change your Avvo Rating. Updating your experience and achievements on the Avvo profile may positively affect your score.

Needless to say, all the data you add must be valid – falsified information is always detrimental to your score and overall reputation.

If you suspect there is a possibility of erroneous information from a public organization with a negative impact on your score, you should contact the source of the particular data, then Avvo’s support team will reassess your profile.

Every update on your profile can contribute to a change in your numerical Avvo Rating.

Avvo values peer endorsements over customer reviews because endorsements from other attorneys are a sign of professional recognition in your sector. This is a crucial element of Avvo Rating as a form of legal service evaluation 

Does the Avvo Rating change over time?

Avvo’s numerical score on an attorney’s profile is bound to change over time. There are several main factors for this to happen.

If an attorney’s profile lacks data or particular information has yet to be verified, Avvo labels this material as unknown. Once it is reviewed and confirmed, it can bring changes to the lawyer’s Avvo rating.

When a lawyer adds new information or a public organization updates their data, the Avvo Rating gets recomputed, so your rating is tuned to the new information.

Some of the data included on Avvo attorney accounts can partly lose its value over time. 

Additionally, Avvo updates the mathematical template for calculating lawyer’s ratings from time and this can alter some attorneys’ scores.

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  • Raymond Hickman

    Raymond Hickman is a distinguished lawyer, writer, and legal commentator with extensive experience in various areas of law. He is widely recognized for his exceptional legal knowledge, insightful analysis, and engaging writing style, which have earned him a reputation as a leading voice in the legal profession.With his exceptional legal expertise, insightful analysis, and engaging writing style, Mr. Hickman has earned a reputation as a leading authority in the legal profession. His contributions to the field of law have been recognized by his peers, clients, and the wider legal community, making him a valuable resource for anyone seeking legal advice or insight.

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