Here’s a concise, practical roundup of reviews and reputations for digital marketing agencies that commonly work with law firms — plus red flags and a short checklist to help you evaluate any agency.

Top agencies (summary, pros/cons, sources)

• Scorpion

  • Snapshot: Large, law-firm–focused provider with strong website design and onboarding in many cases, but a long history of mixed client feedback about contracts, transparency, and lead quality. (savvylawfirmmarketing.com)
  • Pros: Good at polished law-firm website design, full-service (SEO, PPC, reputation). (onthemap.com)
  • Cons: Reports of long/expensive contracts, billing/exit problems, variability in campaign performance and transparency into ad spend and leads. (growlaw.co)

• Consultwebs

  • Snapshot: Boutique/ specialist agency focused almost exclusively on law firms; generally favorable client reviews for SEO, PPC and content written for attorneys. Many clients praise responsiveness and custom campaigns. (onthemap.com)
  • Pros: Deep legal-industry experience, attorney-written content options, Google Ads certified/PPC strengths. (onthemap.com)
  • Cons: Some reviewers note slower execution and less offline advertising support; always check case studies relevant to your practice area. (onthemap.com)

• FindLaw (Thomson/Internet Brands family)

  • Snapshot: Longstanding directory and marketing brand for lawyers; can deliver directory exposure but has many complaints about templates, lack of ownership, long contracts and uneven ROI. Multiple threads from attorneys warn about difficulty leaving and poor SEO or outdated designs. (savvylawfirmmarketing.com)
  • Pros: Huge legal-directory reach and packaged services for attorneys. (findlaw.com)
  • Cons: Frequent client complaints about “rented” sites (lack of domain/content ownership), high cost for results, and migration/contract hassles. (legalmarketingreview.com)

• iLawyerMarketing (and similar niche firms)

  • Snapshot: Smaller legal-specialist shops can produce strong communication, good SEO and closer account attention; many have high Google/Clutch ratings but reviews can vary — check for specific niches served and client examples. (onthemap.com)
  • Pros: Often better personalized service and legal-industry focus.
  • Cons: Results vary by firm; some negative reviews about account managers or over-reliance on paid ads.

• Other notes (forums and community feedback)

  • Attorney communities (Reddit, forums) frequently call out the same recurring issues: long/locked contracts, lack of site ownership, low-quality/unqualified leads, and poor communication from large vendors. Use community threads to get candid, recent experiences from peers. (reddit.com)

Common red flags to watch for

• Contract terms that lock you in for a year+ with expensive exit fees or that don’t let you take your domain/content. (Many complaints center here.) (legalmarketingreview.com)
• Lack of transparency on ad spend vs. agency fees and on lead qualification (e.g., you pay for “leads” that are low-quality or untargeted). (growlaw.co)
• Host-owned proprietary websites that are hard/impossible to migrate without rebuilding. (legalmarketingreview.com)
• Frequent staff/account-manager turnover or poor communication in reviews.
• Promises of guaranteed rankings or vague “proprietary” link building without clear methodology.

How to evaluate an agency (quick checklist)

• Ask for 2–3 law-firm case studies in your practice area (with KPIs: calls, leads, conversions) and verify client references. (Don’t accept only screenshots.)
• Contract: confirm domain ownership, content ownership, data ownership, and exact exit terms (how long and how much to leave). If they host your site, ask how migration works and what you’ll receive. (legalmarketingreview.com)
• Reporting: insist on monthly reports that show raw lead data, lead qualification, ad spend vs. fees, and goal-based KPIs.
• Ask how they qualify leads (phone screening, form leads, intake process) and what percentage of leads become cases for similar clients.
• Pricing model: prefer month-to-month or short (30–90 day) cancellation windows for ongoing services; be cautious of long minimums unless it’s a fixed project with deliverables.
• Ownership of assets: require that you own your domain, Google Analytics/Search Console access, and any creative assets from day one. (legalmarketingreview.com)

Where to read reviews and do due diligence

• Clutch.co — agency reviews and case studies (good for B2B ratings).
• G2 / Capterra — software/platform reviews and some agency feedback.
• Reddit (r/LawFirm), Lawyerist, and niche legal-marketing blogs — candid practitioner experiences. (reddit.com)
• BBB / Trustpilot — useful for complaint patterns (billing/contract issues).

If you want, I can:

• Pull and compare up-to-date reviews and ratings for 3–5 specific agencies you’re considering (I’ll check Clutch, G2, Trustpilot, Reddit and recent articles and cite sources).
• Draft a short RFP/email template you can send to agencies to get the specific answers you’ll need (pricing, ownership, KPIs, migration plan).

Which would you prefer next — a targeted comparison of 3 specific agencies, or the RFP/email template to send to agencies?