What Avvo Will Actually Remove — and What Stays
A genuine, guideline-compliant review from a real client stays up, even if it’s harsh. Here’s what does qualify for removal, and how Avvo’s dispute process actually works.
Sometimes, and only in specific cases. Avvo removes or declines to publish reviews that violate its Community Guidelines: reviews from someone who was never an actual or potential client of that specific attorney, reviews containing accusations of criminal activity, reviews left in a conflicted-interest role (such as probate, mediation, arbitration, or guardianship matters where the attorney served a neutral function), and content that is AI-generated or otherwise not the reviewer’s own original submission. A genuine review from a real client about an actual experience, even an unflattering one, is not grounds for removal on its own — and Avvo does not let attorneys remove reviews directly; only Avvo’s moderation team or the reviewer can do that.
Avvo’s official explanation of the Avvo RatingWhich reviews can be removed?
- The reviewer was never an actual or potential client of that specific attorney
- The review contains accusations of criminal activity against the attorney
- The review was left in a conflicted-interest capacity (e.g., a neutral role in probate, mediation, arbitration, or guardianship matters)
- The content was generated by AI or other automated means rather than being the reviewer’s own original submission
- The review otherwise violates Avvo’s Community Guidelines (e.g., harassment, threats, or content unrelated to the attorney’s representation)
If a flag or dispute is denied
Avvo does not publish a separate, fully self-service appeal form beyond its Customer Care contact channel — an attorney disputing a review as illegitimate should raise it there, pointing to the specific Community Guideline it fails to meet (not an actual or potential client, criminal accusation, conflicted role, AI-generated content, etc.), since Avvo states it does not verify or investigate the underlying facts of a review itself.
Improve your rating instead
For reviews that don't qualify for removal, a professional response and a consistent flow of new reviews does more than chasing a removal that isn't coming.
Frequently asked questions
Contact Avvo’s Customer Care team and flag the specific review, explaining which Community Guideline it violates and providing supporting detail. Avvo typically reaches out to the reviewer to confirm they were an actual or potential client and to address the disputed content.
Avvo’s process generally runs roughly 7 to 14 business days, though more complex disputes involving additional verification can take longer.
No — Avvo states it does not share a reviewer’s identity or contact information with the attorney they reviewed, even when the review is disputed. Outside of a formal legal proceeding (subpoena, handled under Internet Brands’ Terms of Use), reviewer identity stays confidential.
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