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20 Apr, 2014 by Anonymous
He represented me in my divorce and found an unbelievable amount of different ways to charge you money. Thousands of dollars for triple copies that were unnecessary, paying a paralegal $250 an hour to carry his folders to the courthouse, charging for his time while his secretary is typing up reports, and while you are paying for his time and her time, he's on the phone with other clients.
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06 Mar, 2014 by Anonymous
My divorce involved only property issues, no child custody. That is until Mr. McLaren got involved. In the end my fees were more than the entire marital estate of both mine and my husband. And my child got ripped apart by the battle for custody that was entirely of Mr. McLaren's making.
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01 Oct, 2018 by Anonymous
At first, I was impressed with this attorney. But it wasn’t until tasks were left undone that issues occurred. He took my case, but failed to complete matters agreed on without asking for more money. There was an agreement and it wasn’t fulfilled. Hopefully others don’t have similar experiences.
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23 Sep, 2013 by Anonymous
Robert Polk handled my divorce and custody case. At the time I was a mother of a 15 month old. There were extenuating circumstances. He is a very knowledgable lawyer. Does well in court, he literally had my ex's lawyer at a loss for words at one point. Almost at times as if the other lawyer just kept agreeing with him. That being said, I feel Mr. Polk was not fighting for me. I had a feeling he made the process swift and basically easy on the other party, almost as if he had been in favor of my ex husband the entire time. He got me the LEAST amount of child support, my friends and family have no idea how my ex makes what he does and only pays $300. The father was never in the picture, committed adultery, yet me being a stay at home wife received no spousal support. The father gets our child every other weekend, holidays, one night a week and child support has been "based" on that. However the father never has gotten him which I stressed he would not even attempt to, mr Polk did not help me pursue full custody knowing I wanted to bc the father is unstable and not a good environment. For upwards of 15k I paid, I feel I did not get the result I wanted and that I was brushed aside. I honestly believe he is in favor of a father in divorce cases and custody cases. If you are a wife or mother I strongly urge you to look elsewhere. He is very smart, capable, and I believe with common interests he is a great lawyer. But he does not favor the mother, therefore I do not recommend him.
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20 Jan, 2015 by Anonymous
I felt like I was not important. I felt like the victim the entire time and never felt safe that I was going to be represented well. I have a soon to be ex- that continues to harrass me , stalk me and defamate my character to all that will listen. Because I am not rich, I guess the thought is that I am not worthy of 100% of work and someone with Go to , to get the task at hand done. I originally came to this firm with a divorce case of.." At fault under Habitual Drunkness" and now almost a year later I have been made to wait and told that it would cost me 10,000 to push this . I was thrown the line, Can you even pay your balance? When paid the balance I still sit , being given the execuse..." I tried calling his lawyer and they won't return my call."
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13 Jun, 2013 by Anonymous
He takes a long long time for his cases. he is not prepared in my opion and is late to every meeting. This divorse has taken over two years and a bunch of money. There is no children. I would try someone else.
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05 May, 2017 by Anonymous
Handled a trafficking case for me in 2012/13. Took a $25000 retainer, then came back for another $10000 5 months later, ostensibly for federal representation. Let me get interviewed by dea without counsel present and justified the fees by implying all along he could get Judge Verdon to give me an illegal sentence. Was ultimately sanctioned by the Disciplinary Counsel of the SC Supreme Court for his handling of my case and the plea he arranged has been withdrawn. I only had to spend 3 years in prison and my family had to spend about another $50000 to achieve this.
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18 Aug, 2015 by Joe
Mark was hired for a personal injury slip and fall case that seems to go no where. At first he was responsive and informative. Basically, a settlement was offered but this can take over a week to respond. This has happened to many times. Also, a concern is expenses and never receive info or validation of expenses. His emails are rushed and provide no insight and god help you getting a call with him. Personally, he might be too busy and had no business taking on the case. Need to retain other counsel
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15 Aug, 2023 by Kevin
What a complete waste of time and my money! I don't even know who Tom Winslow is because I only dealt with receptionists and via email with Allie Brown, an apparent junior attorney at the firm. I provided the firm with over 900 pages of medical documentation pertaining to a malpractice case. Everything was turned over to the "expert" for review. She never met with me one time and the "expert" never asked a single question. I did manage to get onen brief call into her, in which she was able to inform me how much money I would have to pay. Every document that they could have obtained from any doctor I have seen was laid in their laps, so they had to do absolutely nothing to obtain it. All they had to do was review it. After being told in writing that I'd be notified by the end of July if they would proceed, I found out today after sending another email that the answer was no. "I tried calling you last week to talk about your case" was the answer I got from Allie, but there was no voicemails & no missed calls on my phone. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY!
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18 Mar, 2015 by Anonymous
I am very disappointed in the service that I received from Ms. Nelson. I hired an attorney because I do not know the legal system and needed someone to guide me through. I did not find this in Ms. Nelson. I felt like she was put out by taking my case from the beginning. I then felt like she was talking down to me whenever we met. I was told to do one thing during a meeting and then told to do the opposite at the next meeting and then spoken to like I was crazy for thinking she had told me to do the first. I do not feel everything was done to represent me. I would get glimmers that something was being done but then nothing would manifest itself. After my dealing with her, I could not recommend her services for other.
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26 Sep, 2014 by Anonymous
In 2010 I got a simple possession of marijuana charge, under a questionable pull/search-and-seizure. During my arraignment a month later, I asked the judge for a continuance to find a lawyer, and hired Mr. Swan because of his reasonable price. The first time I went to his office, it looked like a run-down shopping center rential, and was very cluttered, messy, and he was not dressed professional at all and at times talked like a sailor. That did not leave a good impression, but it didn't really bother me either, as he seemed to really know his laws and loopholes. We made the mistake of paying him all in advance, and a year later (plus or minus a couple months), I still had only heard from him once, and I had to go to his office!! A couple continuances later, he finally got the charge nol prossed. He got the job done, but he took forever and would not give me updates on the case. In the end I guess he played golf and had lunch with the judge and lawyer-talked his way into a chain-of-custody error or presentation of the evidence. Only recommended if you cannot hire or afford transportation to a more professional lawyer downtown.
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27 Jul, 2017 by Anonymous
He is great on doing nothing at all he got my family member case and was not prepared for trial and sold us out!
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09 Sep, 2013 by Anonymous
Lawyer is not knowledgeable, or attentive. Fails to respond to phone calls. Lawyer is not well informed about Family Law. You will be better served by other attorneys.
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08 Feb, 2022 by Brenda
We are trying to settle a lawsuit for Trisha Ashley. It’s been almost 3 years. She had lost her car and could lose her home if this lawsuit is not settled. What does it take to settle a claim for someone who has lost their car, could lose their home any day and cannot work for a living anymore because of this horrific accident? Please help!!
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22 Feb, 2016 by Anonymous
All he did was show up on time. His communication and follow up was horrible. He did not use information that I provided him nor did he seem to care about my concerns. I heard he was a good lawyer but I did not get that vibe. Now I'm behind the 8-ball trying to find someone to fix what he started or failed to start for that matter. I will not refer him to anyone.
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04 Jun, 2023 by Kayla major
10 Jul, 2021 by Christine morris
16 Jun, 2023 by Mr b. and lucy
24 Jan, 2023 by Michael kinzie
31 Jan, 2022 by Dan quiã±ones
Archie Ackerman helped us out with our closing. He was timely, professional, and responsive throughout the process.
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16 Jun, 2023 by Mr b. and lucy
24 Jan, 2023 by Michael kinzie
31 Jan, 2022 by Dan quiã±ones
Archie Ackerman helped us out with our closing. He was timely, professional, and responsive throughout the process.
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12 May, 2019 by Anonymous
I do not recommend her for a military divorce. Poor service. Over charged me. She outright lied to me, but stated things to protect her. She represent opposing side in my opinion rather than me, the paying client.
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06 Nov, 2017 by Miguel
I was very impressed with Ms. Metts. She was not only well versed in the law but she was very realistic when explaining me the likely outcome of my case. She fought hard for me and I never felt neglected. I referred my brother and he was pleased as well.
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02 Mar, 2017 by Anonymous
Ms. Metts would not follow up on my e-mails about questions I had. She was not prepared therefore she did not fight for me. Because of her error items that was suppose to have been in the divorce decree were left out when I brought it to her attention Sept 2016 she said she would explain it to the judge so I can get an amended decree and since then I have been sending her e-mails and to this day it seems as if she is confused about what the issue is. Her explanation on Feb. 28, 2017 sounds like it is left to the opposing attorney for me to have the right to go back to court when the opposing attorney client( which is my ex-husband) has violated the judge order. Overcharged and was not represented.
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11 Apr, 2021 by David
On a positive note, he is very good at listening and accurately responding to a complaint. Judges seem to hold him in reverence. It goes downhill from there. He's not proactive. His tactic is to delay, delay, delay, and put everything off to the last minute. If he screws up, he begs the court for forgiveness. It cost me money when he failed to review the order submitted by the plaintiff's lawyer. He assumed he knew what was in it. The lawyer made stuff up and left me liable for something that was never even brought up. Since he didn't read, it nearly left me in contempt of court. Much to the opposing lawyer's chagrin, he told the court he never received the order, which wasn't true. He also created a conflict of interest that ended up costing me money.
Another party to the suit asked him to handle another manner. He charged $1,500 to send a letter. He never did. Truthfully, I can't imagine a worse lawyer.
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29 Sep, 2014 by Kay soldo
His receptionists was not very helpful. Never got a call back. Mr. S. Jahue Moore never said if he was the Junior or the Senior on any of my paperwork. Each time I called, I was asked if it was Jr. or Sr. and when I stated the document said neither, the secretary / receptionist seemed to become incoherant and confused.
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10 Sep, 2014 by Anonymous
Worst attorney I've ever been around in my entire life. Totally unprofessional - his office is an absolute mess, unprofessional in every way. Literally papers and folders scattered all over the floor that it's not a wonder that he could never remember any of our case details when we would speak with him. I felt like he couldn't care any less about us. He returns phone calls with emails and letters (who mails letters these days for important, time sensitive information? - LOL). No one ever answers the office phone during business hours. Most importantly, he gave us completely false and inaccurate advice that cost us thousands and thousands of dollars.
This is a file, pay and move on type of bankruptcy attorney. These guys are fine if you don't have anything special going on. But if you need ANY other type of assistance other than run-of-the-mill chapter 7/13 filing, before, during, or after your case, then do NOT use this attorney. He seemed completely disinterested as soon as he was paid - my opinion.
Seriously, if any of the above sounds like something you want to trust your financial future with, then perhaps Mr. Matthews is your guy. Otherwise steer very, very clear. In summary, he fit every imaginable terrible stereotype of every bankruptcy attorney, ever.
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25 Aug, 2011 by Mike
this lawyer is in it for the money.
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24 Jun, 2019 by Anonymous
Two years ago hired him in a personal injury matter. Since that time very little progress made in case
He won't return a phone call. Have to call 50 times to get a return call. Very arrogant and seems all we wants is to be a judge. Would never ever hire again or recommend him.
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07 Jul, 2016 by Anonymous
After hiring him on payment arrangements his lack of interest in the case was shown. He told me he would fight for me in court and when we went to court he did nothing except write stuff down and didn't argue once. Since then he has done nothing, filed no motions on my behalf, nor attempted to get anything changed in our order.
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17 May, 2017 by Anonymous
Mr Garis was not helpful at all. We went in for a 30 minute consultation on immigration questions. He did not provide any information really, actually said that my mother should contact an attorney in England (I did some research myself, and I have to be the one who submits the paperwork here). Also he said my step father would be considered a parent and that I can petition for him too, which I have since found out is incorrect because they were not married before I was 18. He was not very friendly, I found him condescending and a little rude, he did not listen to our questions and interrupted us, to where we had to repeat ourselves. He got up out of his chair and walked towards the door, effectively rushing us out before our time was up. My husband had a timer he set on his phone when we sat down with the attorney and when we got back into the car we had just hit 25 minutes.
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08 May, 2017 by Anonymous
He was very rude. Kept cutting me off in mid-conversation. Made me feel like I was wasting his time. I would not recommend him to anyone. Very unprofessional. If he is not happy he needs to quit his job. Misery however loves company.
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08 May, 2017 by Anonymous
I spoke with Mr. Garis in regards to my case. I can't say that he was helpful. I am not sure if he has become numb or what but I felt that there was no compassion. I know lawyers are supposed to be sharks but I always thought it was against the opposing party. I almost felt like I was wrong for protecting my children. I don't know how he is as an attorney. He may in fact be awesome, we just didn't make it that far. He was rude. I understand the reasons for the questions he asked, what I don't understand was the manner in which it was asked. Its not what you say but how you say it.
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08 Oct, 2023 by Anonymous
This “attorney” has serious issues & needs anger management. He is rude & does not care about your needs. AVOID THIS GUY AT ALL COSTS!!!
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05 Apr, 2023 by Yohanna
this lawyer does not deserve to be called a lawyer. he doesn't help you and never answers your phone.
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19 Sep, 2019 by Courtney
I hired Mr Gorski and paid him $1000 cash for a child custody case. This was in the beginning of August. I have called him everyday and been leaving messages since then. He won’t return my call. I have a court date and now need to hire a new attorney and really could use the $1000 back. I’m very disappointed.
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02 Dec, 2020 by Alley
It's funny to me because with this being such a important case to me I feel like he did not take it serious and then going on to this website I see that you've been doing the exact same thing over the course of years here I am paying you money to be my lawyer and I haven't even so much as seen a smoke signal from you you will not answer the phone I have talked to your little receptionist or whoever he is an answer the phone more than I have spoke to you not a good image for yourself I wish I would have read this before I came to your office.
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20 Apr, 2017 by Anonymous
My complaint is the same as the 2 reviews that are already on here. Paid upfront, doesn't return calls or emails and hasn't been in his office any of the times I've gone by. Very unprofessional service. Do NOT Recommend.
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29 Mar, 2017 by Anonymous
Very poor rating would have given him 1/2 a star if it would have let me. I paid Nima the full amount that he had asked me to pay and after almost 4 years I'm still waiting on my divorce, A simple divorce kids are grown now so no child support asked.He fails to file paperwork with the courts on time,That is if he files them at all. Doesn't answer calls or return them. That is IF you can leave a message due to his voicemail always being full. He never answers your emails.I've dropped by his office to attempt to contact him in that manner; hasn't been there. Not easy to fire a guy you can never reach.I DO NOT RECOMMEND!
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16 Nov, 2023 by Anonymous
Very unprofessional. She called me back after receiving my voice message, although I left detailed information who I was and why I called in my message also she responded to my profile on LegalMatch as I was looking for an attorney, she was extremely rude, hung up on me after shouting questions at me, when I said my kids are not minors and not disabled she rudely hung up on me. I texted her back calling her unprofessional and she responded with "F... off!..."
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16 Nov, 2023 by Anonymous
Very unprofessional. She called me back after receiving my voice message, although I left detailed information who I was and why I called in my message also she responded to my profile on LegalMatch as I was looking for an attorney, she was extremely rude, hung up on me after shouting questions at me, when I said my kids are not minors and not disabled she rudely hung up on me. I texted her back calling her unprofessional and she responded with "F... off!..."
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29 Aug, 2023 by Anonymous
She was hired without reference for a basic will. Her communication was terse and sparse. She was even unfriendly- to paying clients. Her emails barely had a signature, more like texting. No bedside manner whatsoever, no timeline, even nasty about a typo. Do not use her.
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15 Dec, 2022 by Cindi
Well, apparently, Mr Burrows has done to a lot of people what he did to me. After months of no contact l filed a complaint with the State Bar and was completely surprised when they said Mr Burrows was no longer representing me because l FIRED him! I never fired him and requested any papers l had signed to show l fired him and he just, once again, didn't respond. By this time the statute of limitations had expired. I lost a lot of money due to his negligence and then he lied and said it was my fault! I don't feel the State Bar did a thorough investigation, either.
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03 Sep, 2020 by Cynthia
Imagine my surprise when I found out, after months of trying to contact Mr. Burrows, that he was no longer representing me, but had failed to notify me of that fact! I'm thinking, for over 2 years, he is working on my case when he hadn't filed the first paper! By the time I was made aware of this fact, the statute of limitations had expired and there was nothing I could do. I tried to file a complaint but the Office of Disciplinary Counsel took his side, even though no proof was ever produced, to me, of him informing me he no longer represented me. The attorney who referred him to me still hasn't stopped apologizing, even though I have assured him I didn't hold him responsible, he feels terrible about involving me with this "attorney! " Save yourself a lot of money and hire someone else!
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18 Sep, 2018 by Anonymous
I hired Chris to work on an accident claim for me. It was a small case that I could have handled on my own, but decided to let him take care of it. Now 7 months later I have not been able to reach him. He does not return calls. I’ve left several messages, emails, text messages and he does not respond. BAD BUSINESS. Now I have to research my own case to see if he was paid or not....
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1.0
3 Reviews
03 Jun, 2022 by Anonymous
She just tol all my money and didn’t help me! I got nothing in my divorce ! She let my husband get every! Do not use her!
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08 Oct, 2021 by Anonymous
She gave my child to the opposing party and charged thousands of dollars and did nothing but ruin my life in only one month. Once, she may have been competent but not anymore. Run as fast as you can from this attorney!
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07 Apr, 2021 by Anonymous
1) B&D gave the opposing counsel all of my “evidence” (my entire flash drive) without requiring any reciprocation (I never saw it) and without them having filed Admissions/Interrogatories/Discovery
2) B&D withheld the fact that the opposing party then filed the above documents against me after they had MY evidence and then waited till weeks past the 30 day deadline to inform me, AFTER they filed motion to compel, forcing me to spend thousands of dollars last second on defense while also composing my counter filings, and all this a only month before the final divorce decree where the opposing party didn't have to answer before the clock ran out...and it did.. wasting thousands on a closed case. See point “*7B” below
3) B&D failed to “CC” me on emails to the opposing party as I had directly requested and then when I inquired, simply told me miraculously she'd been speaking with the opposing lawyer on the phone and their were NO email to copy me on (for nearly 3 months Feb to May)
4) B&D continually emailed (at my expense) the opposing counsel concerning issues that I had already answered or flatly refused including but not limited to: changing the custody exchange point, signing the quit claim to give my Ex my home, adjusting my Summer visitation times ALL completely my purview via my case's court orders and several other issues. Thousands of dollars in emails over nothing or issues already answered by court order or frivolous all together
5) B&D refused to file an RTSC on my behalf (My wife was openly seeing romantic partners and sleeping with them in the same household as my children for months - April-May 2020) when I repeatedly asked Natalie to do so stalling the case for 4 months in the name of “cooperation” and for the Admissions/Interrogatories/Discovery she never filed either to be returned – see above #2
6) B&D failed to review original and standing court documents concerning details about my custody, control of time with the kids time, and financial matters like whether or not I was paying alimony, in what form or even at all. She continually wasted time, money, and negotiated in favor of the opposing party/counsel constantly because she had not reviewed my cases foundational documents (the Temp support order and/or mediated agreement).
7) B&D refused to pursue and file RTSC against the opposing party for perjury on court documents concerning financial documents clearly fraudulent, including work and income not reported by the opposing party - which I had irrefutable proof, keeping my Child support payments unnecessarily high and increasing my expenses far beyond reasonable during the peak of B&D fees as well. Thousands more in cost due to her negligence
8) AND Finally B&D leveraged and risked my entire case by attempting to strong arm me into giving my home to the opposing party by signing a quit claim or she “would quit working for me” I told her no and walked out of the office. She quit. (June/July 2020)
7B - B&D allowed my case and filings to be closed/dismissed with the final divorce decree (without my permission, knowledge, or understanding) essentially wasting the last 5 months of work and nearly 8000$ paid to their office with another 2000 outstanding (approximately).
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27 Jun, 2015 by Dave
Hired Mr. Dickey for my divorce. He failed to keep me informed of any progress. In the end, i attempted numerous avenues to contact him amd none where successful. At this time he owes me money out of my escrow account and he has failed to make any attempts to return it.
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26 Nov, 2012 by Anonymous
Mr. Dickey not only failed to represent my husband and I properly he never gave us our court order which in turn made us delinquent with our court ordered child support. We filed an ethics charge and it is a relief to finally see karma has come back to bite him. Horrible attorney do not hire.
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11 Sep, 2018 by Lisa
My father died in 2014 and his wife did a 180 stating that there was no will because she is greedy and manipulative. We were told that Attorney Thomas was the best, so we retained him. His performance or lack thee of we abysmal. He never reached out about the progress, we had to call him and then when he returned our calls days later, he never had any answers, only more questions. He never even bothered to contact the probate office to tell them he was representing my sister and I. I had enough and I wrote to the bar association and demanded a refund of our money. Attorney's are very expensive, in return, the least they could do is provide services that are worth their costs. He cost us a lot of time and it was very discouraging.
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24 Jul, 2015 by Peter
I used John for my divorce. He was unresponsive and did not protect my interests at all. He allowed the other attorney to bully him in the court room. He did not protest anything the other attorney said even though we had proof to the contrary. He did not do his due diligence in my case and it cost me big time.
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14 Mar, 2021 by Anonymous
She does not know what she is doing. Worst lawyer ever!! No wonder she is a public defender.
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29 Nov, 2016 by Anonymous
Ms. McNeill utterly failed to adequately represent my son in a simple possession case in Laurens County. She met with him twice for about 5 minutes each visit, and once was about 5 minutes before his bond hearing. During the bond hearing, it was apparent that she did not know the law, nor did she have adequate working knowledge of bond hearing procedures.
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Honors from reputable organizations reflect expertise and a positive reputation. -
Consultation Assessment:
Use the initial consultation to evaluate their communication skills, responsiveness, and willingness to address your concerns. -
Ask for References:
A credible lawyer should be willing to provide references from past clients.
What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?
To make the most of your initial meeting with a lawyer, come prepared with:
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Relevant Documents:
Bring all documents related to your case, such as contracts, correspondence, legal notices, court papers, or evidence. -
Written Summary:
Prepare a concise written summary of your situation, including key dates, events, and involved parties. -
List of Questions:
Write down any questions you have about your case, the legal process, or the lawyer's experience. -
Financial Information:
If applicable, bring financial documents like pay stubs, tax returns, or bank statements. -
Contact Information:
Provide details of any witnesses or other parties relevant to your case. -
Personal Identification:
Bring a valid ID for verification purposes. -
Pen and Notebook:
Take notes during the consultation to remember important points. -
Budget Constraints:
Be ready to discuss your budget and any financial limitations.
How Much Does a Lawyer Cost?
The cost of hiring a lawyer varies widely based on several factors:
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Fee Structures:
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Hourly Rate:
Lawyers may charge anywhere from $150 to $500 or more per hour, depending on experience and location. -
Flat Fee:
For routine legal services like drafting a will or handling an uncontested divorce, lawyers might offer a flat fee. -
Retainer Fee:
An upfront payment against which the lawyer bills hourly fees. -
Contingency Fee:
Common in personal injury cases; the lawyer receives a percentage (typically 25% to 40%) of any settlement or award. -
Monthly Retainer:
For ongoing services, businesses might pay a monthly fee for a set number of hours or services.
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Hourly Rate:
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Factors Affecting Cost:
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Complexity of the Case:
More complex cases require more time and resources, increasing costs. -
Lawyer's Experience:
Highly experienced lawyers may charge higher fees. -
Geographic Location:
Legal fees can vary significantly by region or city. -
Additional Expenses:
Court filing fees, expert witness fees, travel expenses, and administrative costs may be extra.
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Complexity of the Case:
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Estimating Total Costs:
Request a detailed fee agreement outlining all potential costs.
Discuss any additional expenses that may arise during the case. -
Negotiating Fees:
Some lawyers may be willing to negotiate fees or offer payment plans, especially for clients with financial constraints. -
Pro Bono Services:
For those who cannot afford legal services, some lawyers or legal aid organizations offer services at reduced rates or for free.
