Boosting Your Legal Reputation: A 2024 Guide to the Top 12 Lawyer Review Platforms

Key Takeaways:

• • To stand out in your practice area, you need to show clients you know how to help them.
  • Today’s prospective client wants to read reviews and learn about your firm long before they contact you.
  • These are the top 12 sites you should have a profile on as an attorney.

• Array Digital can offer the hands-on support you need to rank well in search engines.

You know your firm is exceptional. Your clients know how hard you work — but does your online presence make that clear?

Even the best law firms can struggle to bring in new clients if they aren’t managing their online reputation. Reviews both draw in potential clients and demonstrate to Google that your services deserve to show up at the top of local searches.

We assembled our top 12 law firm review sites that your firm should use to stay competitive in the digital age.

How law firm review sites can boost your online presence

An online review site is a tool that enables attorneys to build their brand image and awareness. Depending on the site, it can help your website in several ways, such as showing authentic client reviews of your services or helping you get backlinks to your website. Backlinks, or links from an external site to your website, can help boost your ranking in the search engines. Most importantly, client reviews on these sites help enforce your trustworthiness, which Google values highly.

Review sites do not sell your legal services directly. However, people looking for the services you need will likely find review sites in the search engines before they find your law firm site. If your firm is on that site, that can help draw people to your website.

How much do reviews matter to legal clients?

Reviews are the second most popular way for clients to find and select a lawyer after search engines.

Consider, for a moment, how important reviews are to you. You may look at customer reviews when deciding whether to try a new restaurant. Before you spend money on a service, you want to know what past customers thought of their experience. Lawyers, who typically play a critical role in life-defining decisions, must also show their value to the client.

Comparing lawyer ratings from firm to firm can help a person find the best lawyers to help them in court. If your criminal defense law firm has glowing reviews from clients who received excellent support, that will reassure the next client who needs similar services.

The top 12 lawyer review platforms in 2024

All law firm review sites can be helpful, but some stand out for their reliable legal advice and the ease of finding a law firm that serves your needs.

1. Google

Google Business Profile (GBP) is one of the most important tools for building law firm recognition. People who need help with legal matters turn to Google as their first step to finding an attorney to help them. Your Google Business Profile is one of the most critical outward components of your practice’s public image. Your GBP is a major factor in ranking for local searches — which is where most of your clients come from.

2. FindLaw

FindLaw is an excellent platform on which to be rated. It’s simple to use and serves both clients and attorneys. Client reviews on FindLaw are authentic. You can link from your profile on the site to your law firm’s website and social media accounts.

3. Avvo

Avvo is one of the most respected websites for finding a good lawyer, and it is one you need to have a profile on as an attorney. You can claim your profile and provide information about your firm, including practice areas, contact information, and more. Then, ask your clients to leave a positive review for you.

4. Justia

Justia‘s lawyer review site and online directory are valuable tools (and ones that have been around for decades) that you need to be listed on. Justia frequently ranks high in legal search terms, and you can use it to list your practice areas, locations serviced, and reviews. It also offers ratings out of 10 and lets users filter through their options to find attorneys who fit their specific needs, such as language fluency, years of experience, or even those that offer free consultations.

5. Super Lawyers

Your attorney profile should also be on Super Lawyers. The organization has a patented attorney selection process (meaning not everyone is listed). They only select the top 5% of attorneys each year to be added to their coveted list.

6. Better Business Bureau (BBB)

Building client relationships is key, which means dealing with negative reviews. That’s something the BBB site will teach you to do. The BBB is an excellent choice for communicating the services you offer. It is a widely regarded, trusted site for finding and evaluating reliable services.

7. Lawyers.com

With over one million lawyer reviews, Lawyers.com is an excellent choice for attorneys wanting to be recognized. Another benefit is that it has an “Ask a Lawyer” feature that allows attorneys to address client questions on the site (you’re not giving out legal advice but establishing that initial, critical client relationship that matters so much).

8. Martindale-Hubbell

Another name you will find readily available is Martindale-Hubbell. It’s less well-known by consumers but more respected in the legal industry. Martindale-Hubbell has the added benefit of peer reviews, which help establish your industry presence and reliability as evaluated by your colleagues.

9. NOLO

NOLO is a bit of a different review site for your law practice. You must pay a fee to claim your lawyer profile on NOLO but having your law offices listed here is worthwhile. The site is famous for having high ethical standards (and reliable legal advice as well). Many people looking for legal advice and information start with NOLO and turn to an attorney on the site for general counsel.

10. LegalMatch

You can create your law profile on LegalMatch for free, though there are subscription tiers associated with more information. This is a bit of a different service where prospective clients provide information about their case and location, and LegalMatch then finds an attorney who matches their needs.

11. Yelp

Yelp is a long-standing and well-recognized review platform, offering a high-value profile for law practices. Over the past few years, Yelp reviews have grown increasingly relevant due to partnerships with Bing search, Microsoft, and Amazon Alexa devices, which all display Yelp results. While Yelp is a prominent platform, management can be challenging and quite pricey.

12. Facebook

Currently, Facebook is one of the first places prospective clients seek information about law firms. Positive reviews, particularly those from friends, can significantly enhance a firm’s credibility and encourage further research. Conversely, a negative review can deter potential clients from considering your firm any further.

How to use negative reviews to your advantage

Negative reviews are inevitable for any law firm. Instead of ignoring them, you can use them to your benefit.

Most review sites will remove irrelevant reviews and reviews from non-clients. When a genuinely unhappy client leaves a poor review, you should respond to them professionally. Other prospective clients appreciate those responses. How you respond to criticism speaks volumes about your character and commitment to client satisfaction.

Why law firms partner with Array Digital

We care about your firm’s quality and reputation as much as you do, which is why we set a high bar for our own work. We work with law firms of all sizes to create custom solutions that help them rank well in search engines and build a strong brand image. Whether you need a new website or a team to coach you on digital marketing strategy, Array has a solution. Schedule your consultation today to see the Array Digital difference.

Testimonials

“Our criminal defense firm in Cherry Hill, NJ, could not be happier with the services provided by Array Digital. From the initial consultation to the launching of the website, the entire team at Array has been incredible. Our phone is ringing off the hook, and we owe a lot of that to the SEO and website from Array! We look forward to continuing our relationship with Array and would highly recommend their services to any law firm looking for an online marketing presence and growth!” — Jeremy L.

“The entire team at Array Digital is amazing! They are incredibly knowledgeable and very quick to respond to their clients’ needs or concerns. If you are looking for a professional team to handle your website, I definitely recommend them!!!” — Donna T.

Grow your law firm through digital world-of-mouth

No matter where your practice is located, your clients need to be able to find you online. Let us help you. Turn to Array Digital for hands-on support and guidance for all your SEO and digital marketing needs. Fill out our contact form now or call us at 757-333-3021 to get started.