A. Does the legal profession need more transparency? Absolutely.

B. Do consumers need a better way to inform themselves when choosing a lawyer? Absolutely

Unfortunately Avvo’s self serving submission that they address A & B does not mean, however, that Avvo’s solution is either sound or useful. One could posit that having the imprimatur of A & B that it is beneficial to consumers when the reverse could just as easily be the case. Having seen how ineffective and downright unreliable the feedback system on eBay one wonders how, when the stakes are much higher than a pair of ill-fitting blue jeans, Avvo’s system of client input will be monitored.

I have absolutely no love for the legal profession. But, I can savor the irony in that the hubris of one of its own - Britton - may engender warm feelings for one of the least likeable groups.

And I will also say that will I sympathize with your comment about empathy (’some of my best friends’ are lawyers, after all), it’s a profession that IMO has been coddled and sheltered from the real world for far too long, and is pretty far down on my list of groups who get my sympathy.

And finally, I don’t think society is being hypocritical at all. Lawyers are getting what they deserve - every group / profession / occupation that’s been put under pressure by technology has gotten what it ‘deserved’. The profession could have avoided some of this - or at least retarded its advance - if it had been more transparent and made it easier for consumers to understand and compare the value of legal services. But (like pretty much everyone else - real estate agents being a great current example) the profession has resisted that at every turn, IMO. Services like Avvo are the necessary and just result, IMO. For many lawyers, fear is the correct attitude to hold, I think.

Do I suspect the lawsuit was just waiting in the wings? Yup. In fact, I wonder whether there is a bit of hangover from Britton/Berman’s Expedia relationship (I hope I’m barking up the wrong tree here!), but certainly anyone with sense would know the lawsuit is coming. Avvo as well as the outraged attorneys. As you wrote, “Best PR money can buy.”

Yet, I bow to Berman’s experience and skill that allowed him to draft a sufficiently muddy, yet strangely enticing, complaint within the space of a few days. He probably did it in one sitting (because Avvo says he’s good like that), with the rest of the time was spent getting it typed up. :o))

It gets the point across, don’t you think, this “shining the light in dark places” thing, although it’s kinda roll-the-eyes melodramatic. “Here there be monsters”…only makes me wonder who is playing Captain Jack Sparrow.

On a serious note, however, this controversy demonstrates a terrific lack of empathy for lawyers as *people*, as if lawyers are magically transformed into demons because they undertake the task of representing every side of an argument.

News alert: that’s called democracy. The divorce lawyer on the other side would do the same *for* you. The prosecutor would do the same *to* you. It kinda falls apart when lawyers become legislators, but then how does one get to be a legislator without campaign promises? How many of *those* are kept?? At least when you buy yourself a lawyer, you buy a lawyer for yourself.

Lawyers are sharks…lawyers are greedy…blah, blah, blah. What lawyers need are for the marketers and the business people to step up to their own elevated sense of honor and trustworthiness. I’ve seen at least one survey in which marketers rate just as poorly,–and for good reason.

So, this whole demonizing the profession for representing the wishes, hopes and aspirations of the same people who then turn about and stab them in the back is so utterly incredible that as a lawyer, I can’t take it that seriously.

What I DO take incredibly seriously is the idea that lawyers are somehow transformed into fair game by people who thrill to the image of blood gushing from our professional pores. I dare say that there isn’t another high paying “profession” out there that doesn’t suffer from the same issues. Been to the doctor’s lately? Had to get your car fixed lately? Been to a government office…*lately*? Had a police officer stop you for a bogus ticket…**lately**??

Professional civility is something everyone needs, from McDonalds to the Supreme Court (yeah, I said it!). There’s no question but that lawyers need to have better “user interface” skills,–but they are not alone.

And, there is a thin line between what you might interpret as “fear” and the testosterone (laced with a healthy dose of estrogen) that normally appears when a hypocritical society attacks. Client-Lawyer Smackdown. Now THAT would be a great TV show!

:o))