How Does Avvo's Rating Actually Work?

Avvo Client Reviews are a different, separate feature: a 1-to-5 star review a real or potential client leaves describing their experience, averaged and displayed at the top of the profile alongside — but independent from — the 1-to-10 Rating. Every review is read by Avvo’s moderation team against its Community Guidelines before it goes live, and it has to reflect the reviewer’s own genuine experience as an actual or potential client of that specific attorney.

Because these are separate systems, they move independently. A newer attorney with excellent client experiences but limited tenure and few peer endorsements yet can carry a strong 5-star review average alongside a modest numerical Rating. Conversely, a veteran attorney with decades of practice, bar leadership, and a clean disciplinary record can hold a high Avvo Rating while having only a handful of Client Reviews on file. Checking only one number gives an incomplete picture of what a profile actually shows a prospective client.

A third, related concept is peer endorsements — a colleague vouching for an attorney’s skill in a specific practice area directly on the profile. Unlike Client Reviews, Avvo’s own guidance confirms endorsements "also factor into your Avvo Rating," since they’re treated as a signal of professional recognition rather than client experience.

• Experience and background — years licensed, breadth and type of work history (firm, in-house, government, bar leadership), and education/credentials.
• Recognition and contributions — awards such as Super Lawyers or Martindale-Hubbell ratings, publications, speaking engagements and CLE presentations, and active involvement (especially leadership roles) in bar and legal associations.
• Peer endorsements — other attorneys vouching for the attorney’s skill on their Avvo profile; Avvo confirms these factor directly into the numerical score, unlike client reviews.
• Disciplinary history — information reported by state bars and regulatory agencies; Avvo does not publish the exact weighting, but disciplinary findings can lower a rating.
• Recency — Avvo weighs recent awards, publications, and other activity more heavily than older entries.
• What does NOT move it: Avvo Client Reviews and star ratings, and paid products or advertising — Avvo states both have no direct effect on the numerical Rating.