Checking out the credentials of an attorney?

[JEDI]

How reputatble is this site in Checking out the credentials of an attorney?
http://www.martindale.com/

 

[Jeeebus]

Not reputable. I have an AV rating on Martindale (the highest rating possible), and it's simply a matter of asking other lawyers to take a survey and review you (I think it's something like 30+ reviews required). It means absolutely nothing.

Unfortunately, other than word of mouth and confirming that a lawyer has not had any disciplinary action against him, there is not much you can do to confirm the quality of service you're going to get. I deal with lawyers on a daily basis that have no business getting involved in cases/taking client money. The client has no idea how awful the lawyer is, but continues to pay bills assuming his interests are being taken care of.

 

[lxskllr]

Not reputable. I have an AV rating on Martindale (the highest rating possible), and it's simply a matter of asking other lawyers to take a survey and review you (I think it's something like 30+ reviews required). It means absolutely nothing.

Unfortunately, other than word of mouth and confirming that a lawyer has not had any disciplinary action against him, there is not much you can do to confirm the quality of service you're going to get. I deal with lawyers on a daily basis that have no business getting involved in cases/taking client money. The client has no idea how awful the lawyer is, but continues to pay bills assuming his interests are being taken care of.

Afaic, lawyers are the only ones qualified to review lawyers, and they won't do it. Clients don't know enough to give an accurate review.

 

[Jeeebus]

Afaic, lawyers are the only ones qualified to review lawyers, and they won't do it. Clients don't know enough to give an accurate review.

the problem with the site is that it's not random people being asked to review you... they ask you for a list of names and they send the survey to them. You're not providing names of people who think you're retarded... so of course you end up with good reviews.

It is unfortunately incredibly difficult figuring out who is a good lawyer. Years of practice, firm size, etc. are poor indicators.

For example, on Friday I finished a trial against two guys with 70 years of experience between them. They were terrible. Their client probably paid them $50k for the trial and that was not money well spent.

 

[BoomerD]

How can you trust a site that lets liars LAWYERS rate other liars LAWYERS.

( damned browser keeps autocorrecting "lawyer" to "liar." )

 

[lxskllr]

the problem with the site is that it's not random people being asked to review you... they ask you for a list of names and they send the survey to them. You're not providing names of people who think you're retarded... so of course you end up with good reviews.

I didn't mean any particular site. I mean walking up to a lawyer that knows you, and asking "What do you think of Jeeebus' work?". The answer you get is the same quality as a former employer contact on a resume. IOW, they confirm that you did indeed have an active pulse the last time they saw you, and are pretty sure you were also breathing.