Free Avvo Reviews — One Client-Review Sample (Rating Algorithm Out of Scope)

Why Avvo scoring matters before you buy volume

The Avvo Rating and Avvo Client Reviews are two different numbers

Avvo publishes two separate numbers on an attorney profile, and they’re easy to conflate. The Avvo Rating is a 1.0-to-10.0 score, from "Extreme Caution" to "Superb," built from an algorithm weighing professional background: years licensed and work history, education and credentials, industry recognition (awards, publications, speaking engagements, bar and legal-association involvement, and peer endorsements from other attorneys), and disciplinary history reported by state bars and regulatory agencies. Avvo states directly: "Client reviews are very influential for people considering hiring you, but they are not a direct input into the numerical rating." It also confirms "Paid products and advertising have no influence on the score."

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.

• 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.