LexisNexis Launches Firm Review Service

So, it’s going to be challenging to write about technology and law firms without sounding like a shill for my employer, so bear with me.

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I received an interesting email from our corporate communications department last week. Don’t worry, I checked with them before distributing this information. Unfortunately for you news hounds, there’s nothing too secret here…

LexisNexis has launched a Client Review Ratings Service that allows legal service purchasers to review and rate their experiences. This is in addition to the Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings System

The service is pretty new and I have yet to submit a review for any attorneys, but expect to submit the first review next week after we close on the house.

I’m pleased to see LexisNexis embracing new thinking here: Having folks submit reviews and making those available for all to see is a pretty ‘new media‘ approach. Just last year, one of our insurance companies began collecting reviews and ratings on physicians within their network. Now, user generated content is making it’s way into the legal profession also.

Overall, I’m pretty optimistic on this one. Lawyers, possibly more than other professions, depend on reputation and positive interactions. Hiring someone to advocate on your behalf or represent you in a criminal or civil matter is a significant undertaking and involves a great deal of trust and faith. I can see these ratings becoming a very important part of making a legal services decision.

However, I also think there will be a immense opportunity to abuse and misuse the system. Take one or two bitter ex-clients and you can absolutely ruin the lawyers reputation, especially if satisfied clients don’t use the service.

If you want to try the review service, simply head over to Lawyers.com and search for the firm or attorney you used. After the lawyer or firm’s profile loads, click on the “Review Now” button to complete the review.

Here’s my question to you: How will you and your firm use this new tool? Will you specifically ask your clients to submit a review? Will you simply ignore the reviews and hope the service doesn’t take off? Do you currently use Martindale-Hubbell Peer Reviews?