Attorney reviews: handling a negative review from a former client
Guide · Updated October 31, 2026
Few things feel more unfair to a lawyer than a public review that tells only one side of a matter the lawyer is not allowed to discuss. That is the core difficulty with negative attorney reviews.
This guide covers the realistic options, why the obvious reply is usually the wrong one, and how to decide between replying, reporting and leaving it alone.
Choosing between reply, report and silence
- Silence is often reasonable when the review is short, older, or outweighed by many recent positive reviews.
- A short reply can help when the review is detailed and recent. It should say only that professional obligations prevent a detailed response and that you do not believe the post presents an accurate picture, without revealing anything about the matter.
- Reporting is appropriate when the review appears to break the platform's rules, for example if the author was never a client, is an opposing party, or posts threats or private information.
- Private outreach to the former client may resolve a genuine misunderstanding, but keep it professional and never condition anything on removing the review.
Whatever you choose, make the decision calmly, after the first day has passed.
What the ethics rules say about replying to client reviews
Lawyers have a duty of confidentiality under rules based on ABA Model Rule 1.6. In Formal Opinion 496 (2021), the ABA's ethics committee concluded that a negative online review alone does not permit a lawyer to disclose confidential client information in a response.
The opinion describes options that generally remain available:
- Not responding at all, which is often reasonable.
- Asking the website or search engine to remove the review if it is false or breaks the site's rules, without revealing confidential information.
- Posting a short reply that does not reveal client information, for example saying that professional obligations prevent a detailed response and that the lawyer does not believe the post is accurate.
- Contacting the former client privately to try to resolve the concern.
State rules and ethics opinions vary. Check your state bar's guidance or consult ethics counsel before replying to a review that touches on a representation.
What to document before asking for removal
Platforms, publishers and search engines review requests based on what you can show them. A short, organized file makes a request easier to evaluate and makes an appeal possible later.
- The exact page address (URL) of the content, plus the direct link to the individual review or post if the platform provides one.
- Dated screenshots that show the full text, the author's display name and the address bar.
- A copy of the text saved separately, in case it is edited later.
- The specific rule or policy you believe it breaks, in one or two sentences.
- Any facts you can support with documents, kept private unless a process actually requires them.
- The date of each request, the form or channel used, and any case or ticket number you receive.
Keep this log even if the first request succeeds. Content sometimes reappears on another page or site, and a record of earlier decisions saves time.
How flagging a Google review generally works
Google reviews are governed by Google's prohibited and restricted content policies for user-contributed content. Those policies cover categories such as fake engagement and spam, off-topic content, conflicts of interest, harassment, hate speech, personal information and illegal content. A review that is harsh, unfair or one-sided does not break the policy just because it is negative.
- Open the review from your Google Business Profile, or find it in Google Maps or Search while signed in as an owner or manager.
- Choose the report option and select the reason that matches the specific policy the review appears to break.
- Record the date you reported it. Google provides a reviews management tool where profile owners can check the status of reported reviews.
- If the report is declined, the tool generally allows an appeal. Add any new, specific information rather than repeating the same request.
Google makes the final decision. Nobody outside Google can guarantee that a review will be taken down, so be cautious of anyone who promises that.
Why suing a reviewer can backfire
Many states have anti-SLAPP laws, which are designed to stop lawsuits that target people for speaking on matters of public concern. Consumer reviews can fall within these laws in some states.
Where an anti-SLAPP law applies, a defendant can ask the court to dismiss the case early, and in many states the person who filed the suit may have to pay the defendant's attorney fees if the motion succeeds. A lawsuit can also draw more attention to the original post.
This does not mean false statements of fact cannot be challenged. It means that the decision to sue should be made with a licensed attorney who knows your state's law, after considering the platform's own processes first.
Legal note: this guide is general information, not legal advice. Laws and platform policies change and vary by state. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
Getting help
Many of these steps you can take yourself. If you would like someone to look at your situation with you and suggest a plan, you can book a paid consultation. This is a paid consultation: price confirmed when scheduling. No payment is taken on this site. We do not guarantee that any review, article, listing or search result will be removed.