Cost transparency cited as #1 market disruption in survey of more than 10,000 consumers who use the online legal marketplace to get proposals from attorneys
Seattle, Wash — Avvo, Inc., the web’s largest legal Q&A forum, directory and legal marketplace (www.avvo.com), today announced that the Avvo Legal Marketplace is now accepting DUI cases from consumers looking for legal representation. With 1.4 million people arrested each year in the U.S. for drunk driving, the Avvo Legal Marketplace offers consumers a private and hassle-free way to receive proposals from multiple attorneys, for free, that include cost, process and success factors.
“The Avvo Legal Marketplace solves the primary issue that causes consumers stress about hiring an attorney – cost — by giving them information about cost and process, up front,” said Mark Britton, founder and CEO of Avvo, Inc. “We’re providing consumers with legal needs the confidence that they can afford an attorney, and empowering them to hire the best one for their needs. This drives more business to lawyers instead of do-it-yourself legal services whose prices, not necessarily their value, are attracting consumers in an otherwise cost-cloudy legal world.”
“A DUI conviction is a serious matter that stays on a person’s record for at least ten years,” says San Francisco DUI attorney Jason Beahm. “A person accused of DUI can benefit substantially from the services of an attorney who can navigate the legal system. The Avvo Legal Marketplace is an invaluable resource for those looking to find the right attorney to successfully guide them through the process.”
Avvo developed the Avvo Legal Marketplace to add information and transparency to what has traditionally been a confusing and time-intensive process for consumers, and to date, more than 10,000 divorce and traffic ticket cases have been submitted. In the Avvo Legal Marketplace, consumers receive proposals from multiple attorneys, for free, which include personalized information on fees and approach to the case, as well as the attorney’s Avvo Rating and synopsis of client and peer reviews. Potential clients can privately submit their information that enables attorneys in their area to evaluate the case and submit a personalized proposal that includes their fees in the form of hourly or flat rates and their approach to the case.
Lawyers interested in representing the consumer have up to three days to respond with information on their fees and a personal message, both of which are only visible to the consumer. On average, consumers in the Avvo Legal Marketplace contact two-to-three attorneys before making a hiring decision. While the marketplace is free for consumers, attorneys pay a fee when contacted by a potential client.
The Avvo Legal Marketplace can be accessed from the Avvo.com homepage or by searching on DUI-related terms on Avvo.com. DUI is the latest legal practice area to be included in the Avvo Legal Marketplace, and is also available for divorce and traffic ticket cases. Additional practice areas will be added later in the year.
About Avvo, Inc.
Avvo.com is the web’s largest legal Q&A forum, directory and legal marketplace (http://www.avvo.com), providing trusted answers to consumer legal questions every 8.3 seconds. In Avvo’s Q&A forum consumers can get free legal advice 24/7 from more than 150,000 participating lawyers, and Avvo’s directory provides comprehensive profiles, client reviews, peer endorsements and the industry-recognized Avvo Rating for more than 95 percent of all lawyers in the U.S. The Avvo Legal Marketplace, currently available for traffic tickets, divorce and DUI cases, revolutionizes how consumers find and hire an attorney. In addition, Avvo helps lawyers grow their business with Avvo Ignite, a cloud-based marketing platform and website solution designed specifically for attorneys. Founded in 2007, Avvo is privately held with funding from Benchmark Capital, Ignition Partners and DAG Ventures.
