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<b><i>Online Extra:</b></i> Avvo GC Denies That Fixed-Fee Legal Service Violates Ethical Rules

By Jennifer Williams-Alvarez
September 30, 2016

Avvo Inc.'s online fixed-fee legal service violates ethics rules related to advertising and splitting fees, a recent South Carolina bar advisory opinion found. Not surprisingly, Avvo general counsel Josh King disagrees.

In February of this year, Avvo launched Avvo Legal Services, which offers consumers access to a network of attorneys who provide certain legal services for a fixed fee. Once a month, Avvo deposits client payments into the attorney's account. In a separate transaction, the Seattle-based company withdraws from the account a per-service marketing fee, which varies based on the services provided. To date, the service meant to provide better access to legal services to consumers is offered in 25 states.

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