Business LawGeneral Topics

Avvo.com gets records release on lawyers from New Jersey

 
On Tuesday, April 1, 2008, the New Jersey judiciary notified Seattle-based internet company, Avvo, Inc., that it has complied with the company’s request to release information on tens of thousands of lawyers in that state.  According to its website, Avvo is a web-based company that rates and profiles lawyers for search purposes by the general public.  The "Avvo Rating" system is based on background information about lawyers that they gather via general public knowledge (e.g. bar association information, etc.), experience, disciplinary sanctions, professional achievements, and client ratings.  Lawyers are also allowed to individually contribute to the information gathered by Avvo, and can be a strong marketing tool to promote a law practice.
 
Avvo petitioned the New Jersey Supreme Court to provide basic names and information on lawyers licensed in New Jersey, however, the Clerk of the Supreme Court of New Jersey, rebuffed the company’s requests to comply.  Eventually, the Clerk "relaxed" the Supreme Court’s confidentiality provision and sent Avvo 66,443 names of active lawyers able to practice in the Garden State. 
 
Interestingly enough it took Avvo almost 1 full year to get the requested "basic" information from the New Jersey Supreme Court Clerk’s Office.  The Clerk’s Office cited confidentiality provisions of admission to practice in New Jersey for the reason being why they would not release the information.  However, the article goes on to point out that the very same Clerk’s Office will release lawyer information to anyone who requests it over the phone (huh?).
 
For better or for worse, information about myself and other lawyers in the State of Washington and California (for example) are posted on Avvo.com.  It comes with the territory when you are a "public servant."  As lawyers we have to accept that some "basic" information should be made available to the public, but it is the responsibility of the Bar Association and companies, like Avvo, to protect our information from improper use. 
 
I don’t see making available, to the general public, "basic" information about my law practice that which is otherwise already available.  If some enterprising business executive wants to promote my practice in a professional and proper way, at no expense to me, go for it (just make sure the person has a link to my website).  My only problem with service providers, like Avvo, comes down to reliability and accessibility.  How can they truly evaluate, or rate, an attorney based on limited information (e.g. name, business address, etc.) accessed via public records, websites, court documents?  Secondly, most lawyers are concerned about the topic of "access to justice" – the disparity in socio-economic background and access to the justice system – and thus, are individuals in a poorer section of town going to be able to utilize this service?  A criminal public defender who only wins say 5% of their cases, may be considered amongst his/her peers as an excellent attorney, but that percentage of cases won, according to Avvo, may lower his/her "ranking."  Additionally, most good lawyers will concede that every case and client is different, and even the "great" ones lose from time to time.  But, is a person getting a "real" and honest evaluation?  Does an attorney who has been practicing for 10, 20, or 30 years have any more or less insight into a legal issue?  Most attorney’s who have been practicing for 10, 20, or 30 years can’t choose a correct billing software for their firm, let alone know what the term "search engine optimization" means.
 
Researching a lawyer’s qualifications and reputation is important when trying to search for appropriate counsel to handle a matter, and services like Avvo are important, but ASK around and do your own due diligence.  Regardless of the results, at least it was YOU who made the decision on representation, and not some disinterested third party. 
 
Moral:  Avoid hiring a family law attorney to handle the incorporation of your business.
 
Disclosure:  I am a user of Avvo.com.
 
 
Avvo, Inc.’s website is www.avvo.com
 

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