For attorneys, Avvo often ranks just below their own website. Avvo removes reviews that break its guidelines, but lawyers face a constraint other businesses do not: what they can say in response.
Reviews from people who were never clients or consultations, reviews written by opposing parties, abusive or threatening content, and reviews revealing confidential information.
Claim your Avvo profile, then report the review through your account, explaining which guideline it breaks. Stick to facts you can state without revealing anything about a client.
The ABA has cautioned lawyers against revealing client information when responding to online criticism, even to defend themselves. A short, general reply that says you cannot discuss client matters is usually the safest option.
Avvo builds profiles from public licensing data, so the profile itself will not be removed. Claiming it lets you control the information and respond to reviews.
Inviting satisfied clients to review you, within your state’s advertising rules, is the most reliable way to outweigh a single unfair review.
It is possible in clear defamation cases, but it often backfires and raises confidentiality issues. Get independent advice first.
What to write, what never to write, and why the response matters more to future customers than the review itself.
Read moreWhat legally counts as defamation, why most negative content is not, and when a legal route is worth considering.
Read moreWhat Healthgrades, Vitals, RateMDs, Zocdoc and WebMD will remove, how providers report reviews, and how to respond without breaching HIPAA.
Read moreTell us what you are dealing with. We will tell you honestly what can come down, and there is no charge unless it does.