It used to be the case that people would turn to phonebooks to find an attorney.  Based on little more than an affinity for the particular lawyer’s ad—from an appealing graphic or clever quote—people would hire a lawyer.  Today, in the world of websites, ratings, and reviews, the landscape is much different.  With websites like Yelp and Avvo, providing clients with the opportunity to review their experience with an attorney, finding a qualified lawyer is only a few clicks away.

On Yelp, reviewers may review everything from cemeteries to restaurants to baby furniture.  Therefore it shouldn’t be surprising to learn that lawyers and law firms are frequently reviewed as well.  In an official blog, Yelp recently summarized what percent of reviews in each business category on Yelp were written by people within five year ranges.  Not surprisingly, searches and reviews for divorce lawyers are heaviest in the range of 30s all the way up to the mid-50s, an incredibly wide range of clients.

http://officialblog.yelp.com/2011/06/ages-of-yelp.html

When searching for a lawyer online, it is important to not only keep in mind what legal services you need but the source of the information posted.  A younger client does not necessarily seek the same attributes in a lawyer as an older client might.  Further, our legal system is adversarial and there is almost always a loser.  Clients who are upset with the outcome of their case may take it upon themselves to post overly negative reviews even though it is not an accurate reflection of the representation received.  Many times, reviews are not even written by an actual client.  So while online ratings and reviews may be incredibly helpful, it is important to be aware of who may be writing them.

The Certified Family Law Specialists as certified by The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization, at Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri have decades of experience handling divorce issues for clients in different stages of life.  If you are contemplating divorce or separation, please contact the Certified Family Law Specialists as certified by The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization at Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri, who can provide you with an in depth analysis of your issues.  Please remember that each individual situation is unique and results discussed in this post are not a guarantee of future results.  While this post may include legal issues, it is not legal advice.  Use of this site does not create an attorney-client relationship.