A negative review can be discouraging, especially if you believe it’s inaccurate, comes from someone who wasn’t your client, or touches on facts you can’t address publicly because of confidentiality rules.
Reviews are one way Avvo helps legal consumers choose counsel, but they must still follow clear rules. When a review feels off, you can ask us to review it under the Avvo Community Guidelines, decide whether to respond publicly, and focus on the broader pattern of feedback that most prospective clients actually look at.
| A few things you can do: | |
| Dispute | Check whether the review meets our Community Guidelines. If it does not, contact Customer Care to dispute it for possible removal. |
| Respond | Consider a brief, professional public response written with future clients in mind and within your ethical limits. |
| Request | Ask satisfied clients to leave genuine reviews over time so one outlier doesn’t define your reputation. |
How to respond to negative reviews
Responding to reviews shows prospective clients how you communicate, what you prioritize in client service, and how you handle difficult feedback. Many people read attorney reviews to decide whether an attorney seems professional, responsive, and straightforward to work with. In one study, more than 90% of consumers said business responses to reviews influenced them to a moderate or extreme degree.
A good response acknowledges the concern, reinforces your standards, and shows you’re open to feedback—all without getting into the details of the representation. Ethics and confidentiality rules limit what you can share about any case; check your state’s specific ethics rules, as requirements can vary by jurisdiction.
Practical suggestions:
- Keep it concise and professional. A short, neutral response is easier to absorb and less likely to be misread than a long rebuttal.
- Acknowledge the concern. You can recognize that the person was dissatisfied without agreeing with their account.
- Emphasize your standards rather than the dispute. State what you aim for—clear communication, responsiveness, clarity about options, fair billing.
- Offer an appropriate next step. If it makes sense, invite them to contact your office so you can address questions or concerns directly, outside the public forum.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if a review qualifies for removal?
Reviews must follow the Avvo Community Guidelines, including the requirement that they come from people with personal experience with the attorney, either as a client or someone who consulted with them. If you believe a review is from a non-client, such as an opposing party, or otherwise violates our guidelines, please contact Customer Care.
Will one negative review ruin my profile?
No. One negative review does not define your profile, especially if you’ve built up a solid body of honest feedback over time. Many legal consumers actually find a mix of reviews more credible than an unbroken string of perfect scores. Our research shows that consumers most trusted scores between 4.50 and 4.99, while only 7% said they trusted a perfect 5.0.
Will a negative review affect my Avvo Rating?
Client reviews and your Avvo Rating are separate. The Rating is a 1–10 score based on professional information such as experience, credentials, peer endorsements, and disciplinary history—client reviews do not change it. For more detail, see Reviews and the Avvo Rating.
Can I find out who posted the review?
If the reviewer chose to post anonymously, we don’t share their identity or contact information, even with the attorney they reviewed. For more details, see Can I find out who posted a review on Avvo?.
Does my business relationship with Avvo affect how reviews are handled?
No. We apply the same moderation standards and dispute process to every attorney, whether you have a free profile or a paid advertising relationship with Avvo.