I’m actually in favor on online ranking/evaluation systems, especially if they’re free. But you’re right about Avvo’s “claiming” system being a scam. I more or less said the same thing in my post. I contacted Avvo’s CS to try to “unclaim” my profile, but they refused. Avvo’s deficiencies is one of the reasons I started posting “Client Testimonials” on my site.

Sincerely,

Chuck Krugel

Martindale Hubbell has for years published credible attorney rankings. Its methodology is transparent and credible, and its rating are avallable for free at http://www.martindale.com.

Avvo appears to be a scam which deflates a lawyer’s ranking unless he or she “claims” his or her profile (and provide personal information, and a credit card),

As we’re in the law topic, the other day I ran into another new kid in the block named lawyerahead (www.lawyerahead.com). Not sure how their internal system works but their concept is about “Present your case. Find the right lawyer”. Users can either present their case only to lawyers or publicly, where others can read their case and give input. It seems to be working by the number of cases in the system. It seems like they started late last year. I don’t think Avvo and Lawyerahead are competing, since the models seems to be completely different.

In the end it’s about the customer. What is the user going to feel, whose going to have the most value. Anyway I have to give some kudos to lawyerahead. Fresh idea and potentially a new way of looking at how legal services can be provided.