Sounds like a good idea.
A venture capital-backed Web site called Avvo that launches Tuesday claims to offer a “game-changing” alternative to the Yellow Pages for anyone interested in hiring a lawyer.
Avvo’s plan is ambitious: to award a numeric score to every attorney in the United States, along with a profile, client recommendations and peer endorsements.
“It’s the most critical piece of guidance that we provide,” Mark Britton, a former vice president of Expedia who is Avvo’s chief executive, said about the numeric score. “It’s our assessment of how good a job that lawyer is going to do for you.” Avvo says it has received $14 million in funding, including money from Benchmark Capital and Ignition Partners, co-founded by Microsoft alum and Avvo board member Brad Silverberg.
This is bothersome however:
In tests, however, Avvo’s pages seemed to be riddled with bizarre errors, profiles of attorneys who have been dead for more than a century and inexplicable scores in which some felons received better ratings than law school deans and internationally renowned litigators.
I smell lawsuit.
(Not to be confused with “I smell, lawsuit.”)
RBG
“some felons received better ratings than law school deans and internationally renowned litigators.”
Sometimes they write themselves.
Where’s the entry for TB GUY? (aka Mr. Speaker)
Now waiting for a similar site that rates doctors, and it would have to do much better than this one, according to the linked article. It would be nice if either site actually bothered to investigate valid complaints submitted to appropriate state agencies.
The TB guy’s lawyer is here.
http://tinyurl.com/yp2mjd
But lawyers who have been convicted of serious crimes–including disbarred attorney Lynne Stewart, currently in prison for conspiracy to defraud the federal government–boast 6.5 ratings.
Uuhh, Lynn Stewart was convicted of representing her client. The charge was Conspiracy and Providing material support to Terrorists.
If the critic site can’t get it right, then how do we know who to believe?
The idea of a medical ranking would be just as bad an idea.
Letting laypeople rate experts is a monumentally bad idea. When I read the blanket rash generalization statements made here about politicians, lawyers, cops, doctors, teachers, and everyone else I have to ask, why would I ask some Joe Schmo for a reference?
#6,#7, You are partially correct. But how else can you decide which consultant to hire, if not for some sort of customer satisfaction and complaint investigative rating? Admittedly, I know of no way how to accomplish that goal, but when you’ve been messed over by doctors and lawyers (before internet times), what better way to get information? Cheese, it’s difficult to find someone reputable to work on a car, much less legal or health problems. How do you intelligently choose a lawyer or doctor? My GP just retired, so I’m looking for a good one. If someone can come up with a real solution, I’ll be ready for it. The yellow pages just don’t cut it.
BubbaRay
Word of mouth is the only way I know of but it don’t help much if you don’t live where Iive. Ask your GP for a reference.
#8 – The issue is credibility.
There are plenty of armchair experts (who are really idiots) who think all lawyers are corrupt, all doctors are incompetent, and who accept whatever anecdotal story anyone tells as proof.
No matter how good a lawyer is, he/she will lose some cases, especially when the client doesn’t really have a case. No matter how good a doctor is, some people will die if they are sick enough or don’t really follow the advice of their doctor properly.
I think the concept is a good one for consumers, but I have no reason to trust the testimony of uneducated references.
Peer ratings for attorneys already exist and are available to the public if one knows where to look. These existing ratings, while not infallible, can give some indication of an attorneys competence. Combined with word of mouth and actually interviewing the attorney, they do help with one’s decision whether to hire the attorney or not.
Existing peer/attorney ratings:
Martindale-Hubbell
Super Lawyers
M-H Register of Pre-Eminent Attorneys
#10
It is also about competency, which I realize you are not disputing. Malpractice is a fact and does exist. Same thing with a lawyer, competent lawyers lose cases I agree but I also know there is a difference in large degree how that plays out. Competent professionals spell out risks, take responsibility for their actions, and keep their patients and clients in the loop at all times and ,as much as humanly possible, tell them about all of the possible scenarios and are very clear about where liabilty could lie and what actions the client or patient have availible if they have any questions about their professional conduct.
Bubba……hit up a few Senior Apartment living complexes…..ask the ones over 85, that are walking, talking and not drooling who they recommend as a good Doctor. 🙂
To all, thanks, not bad ideas. I’ve found that the level of health care and legal acumen to be much better in a town of 3,500 than in the Metroplex, population some 3 million. In small towns, word of mouth travels at near the speed of light and those who are inferior or incompetent do not last long since they get no business. My new dentist is in such a town, the problem is having to drive 2+ hours to get care. Their hospital is second to none, with an uncrowded emergency room just 5 minutes from my Dad’s house and staffed by doctors on loan from Scott and White. Guess I’ll have to drive the 2+ hours to see a good doctor or lawyer, it’s darned near impossible to find one in Big D. Hmph. TV doctors and lawyers, indeed.
I merely ask this: what highly lucrative, highly competitive profession would be the most likely for it’s members to unethically and enthusiastically labor to jigger the ratings in order to (a) artificially boost their own ratings, and (b) lower their competitors’?
#8, Bubba,
You asked a very good question about finding a good physician. Since my wife is an RN, and works at the local Hospital, she knows all the physician’s good and bad points. Not just the cold statistics, but the professionalism and competence too.
Find a nurse and use your good looks to charm her. Or, you could just ask what Physicians she would prefer to treat her.
#11, That’s a great idea. Thanks! (Slapping forehead) why didn’t I think of that?
#15 – Bloggers?
#18 – OFTLO
“Bloggers?”
OK, OK – two. What two professions…
#16, Mr; Fusion, that’s a great idea also. I should know that nurses in a hospital would know best about doctors. Wish I knew some, I relied on them to save my life, not the darned doctor. Thanks.
I wage the site will not last long. Nor will ratings by clients really be helpful to people looking for lawyers. First, there is the problem of the complainers being most likely to participate. Second, it is possible to do excellent legal work and still not satisfy some clients. And, we haven’t reached the matter of libel. Bad idea.