How Criminal Defence Lawyers Should Handle Google Reviews After a Case Closes

31 August 2026·4 min read

Quick answer: Criminal defence is one of the hardest practice areas to collect reviews for — clients don't want their name publicly linked to a charge, even a dismissed one, and you can't chase a review the way a café would. The fix is a consent-first process: ask only once the matter is fully resolved, let the client choose how identifiable they want to be, and never mention case specifics in your own follow-up messaging. Done respectfully, reviews still become one of your strongest local ranking signals. 📈

Here's the tension every criminal defence firm sits in: Google reviews are one of the biggest local SEO ranking factors you have, and they're genuinely persuasive to someone facing charges and terrified of picking the wrong lawyer — but the people best placed to write them are the least likely to want their name anywhere near the words "criminal lawyer." Most firms respond by simply not asking, which leaves their profile thin next to competitors who've figured out a respectful way to ask. 💖

What most firms get wrong

They either don't ask at all (understandable, but it leaves real SEO value on the table) or they send a generic "please leave us a review" email identical to what a plumber would send — which, for a client who just went through a criminal matter, can land as tone-deaf. The middle ground is a request that acknowledges the sensitivity directly, offers full control over identifiability, and is sent by a real person, not an automated review-request tool with no context.

The usable asset: a two-line review ask, sent by the solicitor personally

"[Name], now that your matter has concluded, if you felt supported through the process, a short Google review — even just a line or two, with as much or as little detail as you're comfortable with — genuinely helps other people find the right lawyer when they're in a difficult spot. Totally understand if you'd rather not, and either way, all the best moving forward."

Send it from the solicitor's own email, not a no-reply address, at least two weeks after the matter has fully concluded (not the day of the verdict) — a bit of distance makes the ask feel less transactional.

Sole practitioner, traffic and minor offences: A Gold Coast criminal lawyer who mostly handles traffic matters and minor charges found clients were far more willing to leave reviews than she expected — because the stigma is lower for a licence-suspension matter than a serious charge. She now sends the ask by text two weeks post-matter, and gets roughly one review for every four sent.

Multi-solicitor firm, serious indictable matters: A larger firm shifted its ask to focus on the experience, not the outcome — "however things landed, if you felt properly represented and kept informed" — which meant even clients with difficult outcomes sometimes left thoughtful reviews about communication and support, not the verdict itself.

How to make it easy without being pushy

Send a direct Google review link (not a generic "search us on Google" instruction — friction kills response rates), keep the ask to one follow-up message with no reminder chase, and never respond to a review — positive or negative — with anything that references case details, even to correct the record. Your professional conduct obligations around client confidentiality apply to your public responses too.

💡 Never offer any incentive for a review. Beyond it likely breaching Google's own policies, in a legal context it can look like you're buying favourable feedback about your professional conduct — a bad look for a firm whose entire pitch is integrity.

Mistakes to avoid

Asking before the matter is fully resolved, when a client's headspace is still raw.
Sending automated review-request software with generic copy — it reads as impersonal for something this personal.
Responding to a negative review by disputing case facts publicly — it's a confidentiality risk and rarely helps.
Only asking clients with "good" outcomes — a review about communication and support from a client with a tough result is often more credible than another five-star from an easy case.

Frequently asked questions

Can I legally ask criminal law clients to leave reviews?

Please note: general information, not legal advice — check current official guidance and your jurisdiction's legal profession conduct rules before relying on it. In most cases asking is permitted, provided you don't pressure the client, offer any incentive, or reveal any client information yourself in doing so. The client controls what they disclose about their own matter.

What if a client leaves a review that reveals too much detail about their own case?

That's the client's choice about their own information, not a confidentiality breach on your part — but you can gently let clients know in the ask that they're welcome to keep it general ("great communication, felt supported") rather than detailed.

Should I respond to reviews at all?

A brief, warm, generic thank-you to positive reviews is fine and helps engagement signals. For anything negative, a short, non-defensive response ("Thank you for your feedback — please contact our office directly so we can address this") is safer than anything specific.

Is it worth using a review-request platform instead of doing it manually?

Platforms can help with timing and tracking, but for criminal defence specifically, a personal message from the solicitor tends to outperform automated tools — the personal touch matters more here than in most industries.