The growth has been tremendous and we’re all pretty happy with how well the Answers product has resonated with both lawyers and clients. We’ve talked with lawyers that have been getting business through their answers. They’re very vocal when they get clients.

But, clients can be considered the silent majority. They don’t send out a tweet when they’re dealing with fairly private legal issues.

Would they consider hiring a lawyer who provided an answer to their question?

• 21% selected “Yes”
  
• 47% selected “Maybe — it’s just one factor in deciding”
  
• 15% selected “No — I’m not happy with the answer provided” (note similarity to Pac-Man chart above)
  
• 17% selected “No — I don’t need to hire a lawyer”

If anything, this seems to debunk any theories that Avvo Answers is only for people looking for free legal advice. About 1 in 5 don’t need a lawyer, but nearly 7 of 10 might actually hire the lawyer that answered the questions.

Would they consider paying for the lawyer they hire?

• 47% asked why they should have to pay if they’re innocent
  
• 12% asked if they could hire me pro bono
  
• 22% asked if I would come to Des Moines to handle their DUI
  
• 18% asked if I would accept $13 and a chicken, because that’s all they had
  
• 0.9% asked if I would sue the last lawyer they found on Avvo for stealing their money so that they could pay me
  
• 0.1% asked when we could get started defending them from the charges

Given the obvious difference between the results of my highly scientific study and Avvo’s, I naturally turned back to Bennett for some clues as to why such dissonance exists.  Bennett did not disappoint. 

In yet another blog dedicated to Avvo and its Answhores, named Avvo Pimp, it’s explained :

Well, one might say that pimping is about style. Others might say it’s all about dat money. And even others may say it’s about respect. Avvo Pimps though, are all about those points. All those answers get’em 15 points.

Gotta get that street cred.

But, how do a pimp get street cred? Easy. Just put some whacked out crap on the Avvo site. Don’t matter what you got to say, but say it like Johnny Cochrane would.

Or, even better, put some junk together that you can cut and paste into your answer like my homeboy Mr. Brinkmeier do. Take a look at this post and then take a look at some of his other shit.

Homeslice is like Steve Jobs with all dat cut and paste.

And what duz that get da pimp? Mo points, Mo points.

Apparently, lawyers who answer questions are given points for doing so, no matter if their answers are correct or wrong, long or short, helpful or not.  These points must do something for them, like get a star next to their name, or maybe earn a new pair of hotpants if enough are accumulated.  I dunno.  But they are desirable to some lawyers.  The Avvo Pimp is about with lawyers who :

Posting to states they ain’t licensed in

Pasting the same jive ass template answers to every damn thing they can

Tellin the peeps – “find a local attorney”.  Duh !!??

Piggybacking answers with “I agree with the previous response”.

And he’s kind enough to given us a free taste, which exemplifies one of the “Pimpalicious” answers that Avvo’s legal consumers find so wonderfully worthwhile.   The question (which happens to be about New York law) isn’t nearly as important as the answer, though you can read it all if you want.  Ironically, the answer is correct, if a bit terse, but the beauty is in the totality of the AvvoAnswer:

 Lars A. Lundeen

  This attorney is licensed in Vermont and 1 other state. 

No.

Legal Disclaimer: Mr. Lundeen is licensed to practice law in Florida and Vermont. The response herein is not legal advice and does not create an attorney/client relationship. The response is in the form of legal education and is intended to provide general information about the matter within the question. Oftentimes the question does not include significant and important facts and timelines that, if known, could significantly change the reply and make it unsuitable. Mr. Lundeen strongly advises the questioner to confer with an attorney in your state in order to insure proper advice is received.

And another satisfied legal consumer.  Not only a great product, but a way for lawyers to do their part to help educate the public on important legal issues. 

Update:  And if you think AvvoAnswers emits an unplesant odor, consider the stink coming from  LawGuru, where every “answer” starts with the advice that “you need to hire an attorney” and ends with a call to action.  Contact me, me, me…

H/T Randazza’s Legal Satyricon