The Justibly Trust Score is our attempt to give South Africans a clear, consistent signal about an attorney's background before they pick up the phone. It draws on the public Legal Practice Council register and on information the attorney has added to their Justibly profile. The score is a starting point, not a verdict - we recommend reading the attorney's bio, checking their admission year, and asking about their experience with your specific matter before hiring.
What goes into the score
Every factor below is visible on the attorney's profile, so you can see why a score is what it is. We weight the factors using a formula that's applied identically to every attorney on the directory.
- LPC registration and practising status. Sourced from the public LPC register. An inactive or struck-off attorney cannot appear on Justibly at all.
- Years admitted.The year the attorney was admitted to practice in South Africa, which tells you how long they've been regulated.
- Disciplinary record. Any published finding by the LPC or its predecessor bodies, weighted by severity and recency.
- Profile completeness. Practice areas, contact details, bio, languages and a photograph - information the attorney adds after claiming.
- Community contribution.Answers posted on the Justibly Q&A, which demonstrate the attorney actively engages with the public.
Reviews from clients are shown on the profile but do not currently contribute to the score. We'll revisit that once enough reviews are posted to make a review signal reliable.
What the score bands mean
- 90 - 100 - Excellent. Long-standing admission, clean discipline, fully completed profile, active on Justibly.
- 75 - 89 - Strong. Experienced practitioner with a complete profile.
- 60 - 74 - Good. Verified LPC attorney with a partial profile.
- 40 - 59 - Developing. Newer admission or a profile that needs more detail.
- Under 40 - Attention. A flag that warrants a closer look - usually a disciplinary finding. The profile remains visible with context.
What the score isn't
The Trust Score cannot measure an attorney's legal judgement, their courtroom skill, how well they communicate, or how quickly they respond. Those things are better captured by speaking to the attorney and by reading reviews from past clients. Use the score as one data point among several.
Can the score be bought?
No. Premium subscriptions on Justibly unlock profile features (booking, enquiry inbox, featured placement in paid slots) and cannot affect the Trust Score. Every attorney - paid or free, claimed or unclaimed - is evaluated on the same formula. If you believe a score is incorrect, email [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
How is the Justibly Trust Score calculated?
We weight public LPC register data (admission year, practising status, disciplinary record) together with profile completeness once an attorney claims their Justibly profile. Unclaimed profiles show LPC-derived signals only; claimed profiles earn a numerical score from 0 to 100.
Can attorneys pay to improve their score?
No. The Trust Score is a formula applied identically to every attorney on Justibly. Premium subscriptions unlock profile features and visibility tools - they do not influence the score.
What does it mean if a profile has no score?
Profiles that haven't been claimed by the attorney display LPC-verified status without a numerical score. Once an attorney claims the profile and completes their practice areas, contact details and bio, the score becomes visible.
Does a disciplinary record affect the score?
Yes. Active or recent disciplinary findings from the LPC reduce the score. We display an 'Attention' badge so consumers can review the context before engaging the attorney.
Do client reviews affect the score?
Reviews are published on the profile but are not currently factored into the Trust Score. We'll revisit this once we have a large enough review base to score reliably - likely during late 2026.
How do I improve my Trust Score as an attorney?
Claim your profile, add your practice areas, confirm your contact details, write a bio, and upload a photo. Answering Q&A questions and maintaining a clean LPC disciplinary record contribute over time.
Will scores change over time?
Yes. We recompute scores when LPC data refreshes (typically monthly) and immediately when an attorney updates their profile. Old disciplinary findings decay in weight over time to reflect an attorney's current standing.
Questions? Contact us or email [email protected].