Lawyers map
>13.8k
experienced lawyers
Filter by
17 Dec, 2017 by Jessica
Complete waste of money, almost cost me the most important piece of my life (my children). I would literally do EVERYTHING for the case. EVERYTHING. All she had to do was present it and she couldn't even do that right. I had to fire her mid court hearing it was that bad and the judge wouldn't let me speak because "I hired an attorney to speak for me"
The ONLY positive thing I can say about working with her is that I became so knowledgeable and good at the legal system, I ended up getting a scholarship to attend law school.
Read more
17 Mar, 2015 by Anonymous
I have dealt with damages from, trying to get rid of and be done with, this sorry excuse of an attorney. She was highly unprofessional during my few dealings with her, discussing other cases by name in front of me, using profanity during meetings, NEVER returning calls herself...the list goes on.
I received multiple calls from her office during which I was told I needed to track down and obtain this document or the other. I would also be instructed that *I* needed to pay for however many copies of each that she required (even though they would have been free had her office done so) and then bring them into her. If it wasn't documents she wanted, it was for me to make phone calls to various professionals. Now, I'm fairly sure that the hard come by cash I had paid her was so that SHE would be handling all this. All said and done, there was not one single thing she did in any legal capacity to further my case AT ALL. In all truth I feel her actions, or I should say, her lack of appropriate action, ANY action, caused significant damage to the incredibly important matter I entrusted her with.
Read more
06 Jun, 2011 by Anonymous
This Attorney was very unprofessional in handling my case.
Read more
07 Feb, 2024 by Anonymous
After retaining Bradley Brickhouse, his demeanor quickly changed. He did not write up in the claim for the case what was discussed and purposely did it in such a way to string it over time, to make more money. He was rude, lied multiple times about multiple things. I had to fire him. I would stay far away from him and his firm.
Read more
23 Jun, 2021 by Jim
I consulted with Mr. Brickhouse about him taking over as guardian. He had no patience with me and demanded immediate responses to his questions. Unfortunately, I couldn't hire him due to his temperament.
Read more
24 Aug, 2019 by Anonymous
Received guardianship over my daughter through Mr Brickhouse about 6 months ago. At first he was really nice, but after a while he got upset for me for doing or not doing things I did not know because he didn’t tell me, and I’m not a legal expert. Then he pretty much stopped talking to me. The guardianship paperwork I have was never fully explained to me. It has a lot of difficulties, for example when my daughter started receiving disability payments recently the bank has rejected this guardianship/conservator paperwork, and the checks are not able to be negotiated with the current document. The checks are made out to me “for my daughter “ . The bank referred to the language as ‘vague” in the guardianship paperwork, and now this money I need for my daughter cannot be accessed as the checks cannot be deposited into an account in her name because I am the payee,and cannot be deposited into my bank because the guardianship language is “too vague” per the bank. The only benefit from this guardianship paperwork was my ability to retain legal counsel on her behalf. I was not able to admit her to a hospital even though the paperwork says I can. Again, the hospital did not find the language in the guardianship sufficient to do so.
Read more
26 Jan, 2024 by K
Tried to hire him in December of last year and he was very rude and unhelpful. Answered the phone just saying "Yeah." No "This is the law office of Sean O'Connell" or anything to identify who I'm speaking to
When trying to go over the details of my potential case, he kept cutting me off mid-sentence and not allowing me to finish. When I tried answering a question he said "How about you listen to what I'm actually saying." I was trying to answer his question but he cut me off. I just hung up.
Very rude, not professional, and isn't a serious lawyer. My case got resolved by another firm, but Sean W. O'Connell was the worst experience to even have an intake meeting with.
Read more
17 Dec, 2021 by Anonymous
There was a lot of talking about what he could do or was going to do and absolutely nothing done. Sadly, after spending $5,000 on nothing I ended up going elsewhere for representation. I'm sure he's helped someone but not me.
Read more
07 May, 2021 by Adam
I take no pleasure in writing these sorts of reviews, but in my case, this was a scam. The attorney repeatedly did not do what he said he would while charging $400 an hour. I would say his performance was worth maybe $80 an hour at best. His motions were replete with typos, and he had little understanding of technology, not just forensic technology but even Microsoft Office. He repeatedly lost track of versions of documents. The final straw came when the motion I hired him to litigate took 6 months, $20,000, and yet his exhibits were out of order. Avoid this representation at all costs.
Read more
31 Jan, 2022 by Anonymous
Currently putting together a case to her in court. She practices illegal methods and boy do we have a case coming against her. I see she made sure she took out a that PPP loan for 4 employees.
Read more
05 Nov, 2020 by Anonymous
Unfortunately have to deal with her offices for an unpaid debt and she’s been a nightmare
Read more
19 Jan, 2019 by Karen
I hired Allison for a personal injury case, she required a retainer which I paid. She wouldn't return calls and then dropped my case, stating"she didn't have the time to pursue my claim". S
She talks a good game but does not deliver. Stay away from her she will take your money and leave you hanging.
Read more
16 Sep, 2011 by Anonymous
I hired Ms. Lee for my divorce and criminal case. For my divorce case, she left me in court. I gave her all my savings and she did not even finish my divorce. For the criminal case, she didn't do her own investigation. She kept judging me like if she wasn't my lawyer. I WILL NOT recommend Ms. Lee at all. No matter in what situation your in, please shop around before you hire someone like Ms. Lee. She will only take your money and won't do her job.
Read more
21 Mar, 2024 by Michael
My aunt who is nearly 100 years old has been a client for decades and was scammed for nearly $1M. Elizabeth Wildhack promised to investigate and protect her remaining assets. After meeting with my aunt, I never heard anything back from this attorney despite numerous emails and calls requesting updates and the return of documents. Why would anyone use her???
Read more
18 Feb, 2021 by Martha
Elizabeth Wildhack updated my estate documents in 2012. When I needed them updated again in 2021, I called her office. I was told by the receptionist that I just needed to email Elizabeth and she would make the changes, basically fill-in-the-blanks. I asked for a phone call from Elizabeth to discuss issues and ask questions. The receptionist again told me that could all be done via email. I insisted on a phone call. Elizabeth called me a day later. Was very professional and polite. I emailed her with changes. After about 10 days, I didn't hear back from her so I called and left a message. She emailed back (no phone call) and said she had accidentally deleted my email. She answered my questions. I emailed later with the specific changes. I NEVER HEARD BACK FROM HER. It has been four weeks. I left messages on her voicemail, left messages with the receptionist, and emailed, all multiple times. She never responded. I have moved on to another law firm.
Attorneys are a dime a dozen. Find one that is responsive, professional, thorough, helpful. Elizabeth Wildhack is NONE of these things.
Read more
10 Dec, 2015 by Anonymous
Hired Charles for a child custody and spousal support issue. He didn't call me to discuss the case until 6:30 am the morning of the court hearing. He didn't bring up any of the issues at hand and didn't fight hard at all. Seems like the case was already handled behind closed doors. Would not recommend him or his office. I called his office 4 months ago, twice, and never received a call. He's cheap...but you get what you pay for I guess.
Read more
15 Aug, 2014 by Anonymous
I had Charles as a lawyer.. He never wanted to actually answer my questions. Even with my learning of Virginia Code Laws, he didnt want to hear my thoughts. I have never been in trouble before and was very concerned. It is clear to me that this man did not want to help.
Read more
31 Mar, 2021 by Anonymous
He did such a poor job, I wanted to make sure I leave reviews for others NOT to use for family law. He was railroaded in court and did not do anything but argue. He did not listen or state case in court. Very unprepared.
Read more
18 Jan, 2021 by Anonymous
I hired this attorney to represent me for a traffic & civil infraction. After evidence required by discovery was shared by the arresting department Mr. Jack’s proceeded to inform me of my guilt and what the judge would sentence me possibly without even looking at or considering the discovery evidence. He neglected to even watch my arrest or what transpired on the video provided to my disappointment.
Mr. Jack’s did not want to do the job for which I hired him and was just going through the motions to collect the money I paid him for defense. I suggest hiring an attorney that will defend you instead of one who just agrees with the prosecution to push you through the system.
Read more
16 Jun, 2021 by Sal
Worst decision to hire gibbons and his associate Tani, before you hire Richard gibbons jr speak to me u might thing twice
Read more
18 Aug, 2017 by Anonymous
His did not give us good advice or legal strategy. Specifically, he did not advise us of the “Troxel v. Granville” Supreme Court Ruling that caused us to lose custody of our granddaughter.
We dismissed him, appealed, hired better lawyers and got her back.
Read more
18 Mar, 2021 by Deneen
I’m so Amazed with mr Braddock. He seems to have everything together as a lawyer. I know it’s Tough for him at the End of the Day to Reflect on his cases Especially the ones that Haunt his soul you can take that ole mighty Dollar over knowing the Truth and still that ole Dollar wins every time. My father Always said when you lay your head Down at night what you Do in the Day you will sleep with at night . Our Lord sees all and Rather you think you have got Bye think again there’s nothing that gets Bye our lord I hope in your prayers mr Braddock that you ask for forgiveness . All the individuals that you have shattered I pray for you every night .
Read more
07 Dec, 2014 by Harold
Handled my uncles estate and did not keep heirs informed. Wasted money and time IMHO. Represented my uncle, the estate and one of the heirs.
Read more
24 Apr, 2021 by Betty
He was appointed by the state of VA to take care of my brother's affairs. The reason for this is my brother stopped all contact with the family back in the 70s. I found out about my brother's death about 2 months after he died, so I sent away for his death certificate. My bother had a military funeral. Even though Mr. Labowitz had my brother's discharge be had corporal placed on the head stone, when in fact he was a Staff Sargent. After I received the death certificate contacted Mr. Labowitz and he sent me some of my brother's stuff among the person property was my bother's discharge papers, so I was able to contact Quantico National Cemetery and get the correct title placed on his stone. I had to contact Mr. Lebowitz again to ask for the flag that was used for my brother's funeral, his response was "Didn't think you wanted that" Along with the flag I was also sent his birth certificate which had our parent's name listed. The death certificate said parents unknown. I wrote to the state of VA to add their names and was told that that could only be done buy a court order. I wrote Mr. Labowitz and asked why he didn't provide the parents information. His response was "I do not believe that I have the responsibility to add your parents’ names to the certificate simply because we had the birth certificate and the person on my staff who provided the information to the funeral home did not connect the two documents." He also suggested I hire a lawyer who can do this for $1600.
So he thinks I should pay $1600 for something he neglected to do.
What ever the state paid him it was too much.
Read more
20 Mar, 2016 by Barry
We lived in England for the duration of our dealings with Mr K E Labowitz of Dingman Labowitz PC, Alexandria, VA which hindered communication somewhat but shouldn't have been a problem with a dedicated counsel.
Mr Labowitz. had been engaged by the executor of a will as the trustee of a testamentary trust left to our infant son: “to pay for his future university education”.
It was a sad, bad experience for us: Mr Labowitz oversaw a loss in wealth of ~63% and his failure to perform his duties as per the published directives has left a lot of questions.
For starters, the lawyer-client relationship begins with a discussion of fees, yet Mr Labowitz never discussed his fees with us even though the Virginia Bar has published instructions on this subject.
The lawyer's fee shall be adequately explained to the client. When the lawyer has not regularly represented the client, the amount, basis or rate of the fee shall be communicated to the client, preferably in writing, before or within a reasonable time after commencing the representation.
Amongst a vast (sic) amount of correspondence between Mr Labowitz, the Virginia Bar, and me, but completely out of the blue, Mr Labowitz averred that he had discussed his fees with me via a phone call. (This would have required an international call involving a 5 hour local time difference.) Sending a document via email or mail would have been more efficient and would have provided hardcopy reference material.
Even more worrying is the fact that I have never spoken to Mr Labowitz. (It is not simply the case that I have forgotten the conversation he refers to. People like us don’t receive calls from American attorneys and it would have been a memorable event.) Mr Labowitz may have been confusing me with another of his international clients. Nevertheless I asked him to check his records for the call details. He declined but the fact remains that we never knew what fees were deducted from the trust.
The VA Bar saw no need to query the differences between our versions, accepting the statement of their member.
Considering its stated purpose the trust appeared a natural candidate for investing in safe, long-term instruments for the 15 years of its lifetime yet it matured with a loss of ~63%, (down from $114k to $43K). We cannot determine how this loss came about because we never received monthly statements from the trustee or the account manager at Wells Fargo despite several requests for them over the years.
We were also unable to get answers about tax paid (even though the trust never turned a profit) as well as several other things usually of interest to an owner of managed investments.
Mr Labowitz moved the trust to a different financial institution for its final year. He never told us about the move and when we found out he would not explain why he made it. It made no sense considering the trust was severely depleted.
I made a formal complaint to the VA Bar which resisted accepting it but eventually put it on the docket and he was exonerated; things were recorded which simply hadn't happened.
This was very disappointing; all the research I had done was simply ignored.
Read more
05 May, 2021 by Ms. b
I find this attorney, Shirley A. Norman-Taylor extremely unethical. She was appointed to me, I contacted her, shared details about my case that if used against me could be detrimental to the outcome of my situation.
She stated she had no time to take on new cases, I told her I would wait until she could, instead she took my-out-of-state estranged brother as a client who is opposing me on a family matter.
My entire family will not speak to my brother and his girlfriend who are out to financially gain out of a pandemic crises I found myself in.
This attorney took them on as new clients completely throwing me under the bus. Family lawyers are already shady characters, why choose this dishonest one? She holds no loyalty and is lacking with integrity and is far from trust-worthy. I’ve asked her to remove herself in form of email, attorneys have asked her to remove herself and she refuses.
Save yourself the future horror I’m about to face in court. I filed a bar complaint on her this morning. She won’t be able to erase that. If you need further details or would like to share your experience please contact me...
Read more
05 May, 2021 by B. a.m
This attorney was appointed to me. I spoke to her about my case, later she comes to me saying she has no time to take on new cases, but decides to take on my opposing party who happens to be my estranged brother and his money seeking girlfriend.. These are people no one in my family associates with for obvious reasons. They are around to financially gain from our pandemic crises. I told Shirley Norman-Taylor things that she could use against me. I find her highly unethical, an opportunist who will throw her own clients under the bus. Most family attorneys are already shady characters to begin with why hire one you already know has a track record of disloyalty. I filed a complaint on her this morning with the Virgina bar.
Read more
13 Apr, 2012 by Anonymous
Asked her to give me a flat rate to see my divorce through to the end. I payed half up front. Then installments. I had to constantly check in to get a status report on my case(called once every two weeks or so). Less than a week before my case was due in court. She quit. No refund., No explaination other than she found another job. I didn't have the money to retain another lawyer so I had to settle for nothing from my former spouse.
Read more
29 Sep, 2011 by J. a.
Ms. Gonzalez did not do a good job while representing me, and she requested to withdraw from my case two days before my court hearing because she found another job. All she did was take my money and show up in court once where she failed to represent me adequately because she did not prepare at all, despite my having provided her with a great deal of evidence. Her legal assistant would constantly tell me that Ms. Gonzalez would be calling me, and yet she never did. She was never in her office either.
Read more
24 Jul, 2024 by Anonymous
He is terrible , he is rude and condescending. He is for the police not the people do not give this man your money please go to another Law Firm see Mr. Carol or Mr. Hall. I would give a zero if I could .
Read more
04 Apr, 2019 by Anonymous
STAY AWAY from Drummond.
He sold me to the prosecutors and gave me the worse case scenario on a first time felony charge. He didn’t care about the outcome of my case and just wanted $.
Read more
14 Dec, 2022 by Anonymous
Mona is a poor excuse for an attorney. Mona will state she can do this and that and then when you get off the phone she is done with you and will not even recall your case when you check back in weeks later because she never contacts you back. Mona will say she is filing paperwork than recant that statement and come up with every excuse she can. Mona could care less about anyone in need. Mona refused to represent because all of a sudden she knew the other party MONTHS later. I believe she was just to incompetent and did not want to do her job.
Read more
22 Aug, 2018 by Anonymous
I hired Mona to represent me in a custody hearing last Friday. She convinced me I had no chance of losing and don't bother bringing any witnesses. At the hearing, she didn't bother cross-examining the other party's witnesses and never objected, when I told her lies were being thrown around. She put in no effort to my effort and we lost bad. I'm now in a uphill battle to regain custody of my kids. I expect a peer review of her effort in my case would lead to her license being suspended. Her complete lack of effort or interest has ruined my life. Stay away.
Read more
10 Dec, 2017 by Anonymous
I retained David Fiske to protect my interests and enforce a settlement agreement, requiring a special master to maximize the redevelopment value of property prior to marketing it. Mr. Fiske refused to ask for a hearing to address violations of the agreement, he refused to withdraw and I was prohibited by the magistrate judge from replacing him. Mr. Fiske was attributed with making a false report that the zoning was going to expire to hasten the sale of the property below value. Mr. Fiske false told the special master I was in favor of selling the property without attempting to maximize value. I lost millions and still have not received what the property sold for because the court ordered me to release Mr. Fiske prior to disbursing my money, Mr. Fikse violated Rule of Professional Responsibility 1.8 accepting the protection of its orders.
Read more
21 Feb, 2016 by Anonymous
I retained David Fiske after settlement of a lawsuit brought to dissolve a partnership. I gave Fiske specific instructions his only task was to represent me when a Special Master made his recommendations to the court about what to do with the Partnership property. The Mediation judge promised to release the attorneys twice but the person appointed the Special Master decided to force me to retain Fiske to work for him at my expense. He told Fiske as long as he and the opposing counsel agreed, he would allow them to manage the business. This meant Fiske was on a cash cow with more incentive to listen to the opposing counsel than to me.
The agreement allowed the Master to "hire professions, TO BE PAID BY THE PARTNERSHIP". Fiske ignored my requests to ask for a hearing with the judge in charge of overseeing the agreement to address this as well as other violations of the agreement. As NONE of the attorneys were paid for by the partnership, none of them had a duty of loyalty or care to the partnership.
One of the opposing counsel represents a limited partner who was the previous tenant of the property. He was ruled economically antagonistic to the partnership by the Supreme Court of VA because of his lawsuits and repeatedly expressed intent to get control of the partnership property. Since settlement he has made three offers to buy the property and his business partners interested in developing the property also make offers. The property is in the revitalization district in Springfield, and the supervisor of planning for Fairfax said he would allow re-zoning and plan amendments to double or even triple the FAR, which would greatly increase the value. The Master was supposed to pursue this but he and his crew of attorneys never did and Fiske would not "remind them".
I gave Fiske keys to the buildings as well as photographs of damages the tenant was responsible for and emails concerning EPA remediation. Fiske did not deliver these to the Master. The Plaintiff's attorney was put in charge of getting the appraisal and failed to get the contract signed for several weeks. Then he went on vacation and no one provided keys to the appraiser so the report was delayed for months. The Plaintiff's attorney also ordered the appraisal for it's lowest value and refused to get leasing values as required by the agreement. I was not permitted to pay to get the additional information required by the agreement. Ignoring my instructions not to apply for bank loans without the appraisal, Fiske was turned down by the banks. Now the partnership is bankrupt and unable to pay bills and taxes. They finally got a loan but the amount they secured would only cover their fees (if they abided by the agreement) for two weeks. The partnership property will never realize it's full potential value.
I fired Fiske after I got his first bill for ten thousand dollars for a little over two weeks. I refused to communicate with him but he continues to "work for me". The Plaintiff sent an email to the Master congratulating him on the progress being made and reminding everyone they would be first in line to be paid when the property is sold.
The Master decided to have a "mini trial" in April, eight months after settlement, to decide if the Limited partner, who was also the previous tenant of the property, is responsible for damages to the property. There is a provision in the agreement that the parties release claims and counter claims they have brought or could have brought against each other.
When the Limited partner made his last offer, which was 3.7 million dollars below the appraised value and the other defendant and I rejected it, his attorney decided he was going to depose us. I was served a subpoena for a lawsuit the limited party was not a party in, a lawsuit that was supposed to have been settled. I am being denied representation of my choice, which is a violation of my constitutional rights.
Read more
07 Jun, 2017 by Anonymous
Absolutely terrible. Pay up front and promised everything. Did not represent well at all. Failed to represent the best interest of my children and this has caused me to have more court hearings to correct what he did or failed to do. Do not make the mistake of thinking his flat rates are good and that you will be adequately represented.
Read more
19 Apr, 2015 by Joshua
My family memebr and I sought out the services of Mike Massey. This was a terrible decision. My family member was charged with the possession of child pornography. My family member was an idiot with computers and had a porn addiction, however it was NOT with child porn. Long story-short, my family member was using a program, like Kazaa, on his computer to download loads of porn. The user is unable to really know what they are downloading until they have it and open up the video to view it. By this time, you have commited a crime already especially if you are caught with the hot potato. The family member and I disclosed this information to Mike Massey. He came across as a Savior that would invest his time, efforts, and energy in a respectful way to prove the innocence of my family member to this horrible misunderstanding. Yes, my family member did have a porn problem and needed help, but the pron problem that he had was with LEGAL porn! Although, many times a begged and pleaded with Mr. Massey and even shared my outright disgust for his lack of presentation of the truth, he strong armed my family member and I into plead guilty to these horrible charges. I say strongarmed us because he manipulated us be saying to trust him and his council. Since he was the one with the law degree, we felt like we should go against our gut feelings AND the truth and have my family member do as Mike guided and pleaded guilty versus going in and explaining that my family member ignorantly downloaded porn in bulk and have zero clue what it truly was that he was downloading. My family member is sitting in jail with 2 years to pull and a lifetime status as a sex offender to which is not justice. If we could do it all over again, we would NOT choose his services again. After Mike received our money, his tune changed, he bbecame less involved, took forever to respond to phone calls, and was ultimately very wrong with his unwise council. Take it from us, choose someone else ..or sticm with a Public Defender!
Read more
16 Mar, 2017 by Anonymous
Rowan was late in his appointment for 15 minutes, and he did not apologize. In the consultation, he was not able to give me accurate information, and called in his assistant, who quickly turned on her cell phone and started to find information online to read to me which did not go well and I was given contradicting information. In the end I was charged $300 for the "consultation". Rowan was extremely slow in speaking or any action, and was only clear when he told me that the fee will have to be charged.
Read more
25 Jun, 2015 by Anonymous
I've worked with Mr. Rowan on one occasion, however, he co-runs a legal firm with his wife, whom I have worked with multiple times. I am very disappointed by the firm's service--both Mrs. and Mr. Rowan have failed to inform me about important legal procedures on a timely basis, once resulting in the failure of a crucial case. In addition, I was told inaccurate information by Rowan's secretary about my case multiple times-- whether the miscommunications were accidental is not to my knowledge. After terminating our contract, I was informed by a credible source that the couple has been battling severe mental and physical illnesses. My heart goes out to the couple and I wish them the best on a personal level. At the same time, I believe that someone in such a delicate condition is perhaps not apt to practice law.
Read more
21 Apr, 2024 by Anonymous
Absolutely the most unprofessional, rude, inefficient, unorganized and useless in our case. No office to meet at. Looks like she rolled out of bed. Never returned phone calls. Missed multiple meetings and opportunities for the case. Not worth a dime of your money!!! Find a different attorney. She should not be able to practice law.
Read more
11 Dec, 2019 by Janet
I gave Ms. Major a large retainer for two separate issuers for my son. We never received a itemized list of how the money was used/spent. As in the case with most lawyers.
Ms. Major came to court looking like she slept in her clothes. I was embarrassed for her and for us.
Her office was also very unkept.
She offered information about my sons finances to the judge he did not need to know nor did he request that could of hurt my sons case, thankfully the case went well.
Once the custody case was done, she never helped my son with his divorce and will not return our emails or calls.
Read more
28 Oct, 2022 by Anonymous
Her communication was very poor and I had to correct her on several occasions about key details about my case. Very arrogant and demeaning at timesI regret not firing her and getting another attorney. I had a good case with the co-parrenting counselor agreeing to testify about our sessions and the actions by my then wife and Mary said she spoke to the counselor about testifying. Instead I found out after court that, per the counselor, Mary never spoke to the counselor about her testifying. Mary only tried to scare me our of going to court because it would be appealed by my wife if I did indeed win custody. I fell for it only to regret ever having her. I should have reported her behavior to the bar when it happened but was to beat down by everything that had just happened and was worried that she would cause me problems if I was back in court in the future.
Read more
03 Feb, 2017 by Anonymous
I had her in a criminal defense case and she was terrible. It started with a lack of communication leading up to the date. Once in court, she did not ask anything or stand up for me in any way. I fired her and sought council elsewhere.
Read more
17 Jul, 2013 by Anonymous
She attempeted to present falsified documentation in my case. Later she said it was a mistake but it is not the first time that these mistakes happen. Ditch her and got somebody with a soul.
Read more
16 Apr, 2013 by Anonymous
I had the chance to fdeal with mrs Diaz, there several issues with her.
Read more
26 May, 2022 by Anonymous
Consulted and hired for a Real Estate/ Property Case. First of all his secretary seemed to do most of the work ( if that tells you anything) . It was always an excuse when I'd call and need to speak with him or had questions, therefore days turned into weeks and still nothing. We were in too deep and has wasted too much money to hire someone else. Therefore we were left holding the bag, literally. Folks need this warning and look elsewhere
Read more
15 Mar, 2022 by Anonymous
Hired for a criminal case. I had to call/ email repeatedly and request info on court/ trial dates, info regarding the case , bond request, etc. . I gave the attorney countless possible witnesses and statements from witnesses etc that he had no clue about and did not research himself. We were encouraged to move forward with a bench trial instead of jury trial and Mr Covington was extremely ill prepared, did not have a single witness or expert witness and only offered one objection during the entire trial. We were overcharged hundreds of dollars ( I had the original contract and recepits). Overall extremely dissatisfied. This attorney was extremely ill prepared at each bond hearing , trial and sentencing. Did not act in an experienced, professional manner. Counfidentialy was not upheld as well. Huge disappointment from beginning to the end!!!!
Read more
05 Apr, 2024 by Penny
Misguided me and incorrectly evaluated my case. Misguided me. Her assistant Sarah is a disaster to work with... bad communication... sloppy work/ mishandling of documents/ disorganized....
Read more
07 Feb, 2023 by Shonda
This lawyer has to be the worse lawyer i have ever seen. Don't let her represent you or your loved ones. im sure she slept her way in. Skills could not have been a factor
Read more
18 Oct, 2017 by Sonny
Real quick: Keep in mind, I am barely ever review any product or service person b/c its a waste of time person. So for me to take the time to write this I was very irritated by how I was serviced. Especially b/c of the small amount of money involved.
Mr Graves was given 2 very easy jobs, and he knows these were cake contracts. Write up a deed of trust and take my already written parameters and create an amendment to a property settlement agreement. The 1st job was so easy it looked like it was generic sample printed off a google internet search, and it clearly did not take an hour to create but I paid the $250 b/c the PSA is what was really important and time sensitive to me. He wrote it and didn't follow what I asked. Pure and simple and not for any legal restrictive reason btw. Then I explained what I needed a 2nd time even though it was already in the parameters I provided. Then he made tiny changes it but did not address the issues that i needed addressed. After that, I wrote it and resubmitted it as if he was my college professor to see if the language was fine. He said it was fine.
Here's the kicker. Not only did I have to do the work, but before I submitted MY revision of HIS work BACK to HIM to review, I had a sizable credit balance (based on what I prepaid and what I know about the industry), that we discussed what that amount was. Then when its all done, I was was expecting maybe a credit or a zero balance. w/e its not a lot of money. Lo and behold! I get a bill stating I owe him more money. Why??? I call back multiple times and weird i can't get him on the phone. Then I email him frustrated, i believe a couple of times, and I get a NEW bill saying I owe him MORE money ON TOP of the original balance that is supposedly due to him.
Its not like Mr. Graves did me any sort of favors. This was a straight service from someone I had never known prior. Whats funny here is that the bill reflects more service work than actually occurred AND its really not a large sum of money at all, and I have had my fair share of lawyers at this point in my life and have never had issue paying for services. But this guy is really cute about it. So thats why I'm writing this review because this review IS ACTUALLY what he earned. I guess at $250 / hr you get what you pay for or even less as it appears. I can't imagine him being in super high demand, although at $250 he should be. I noticed there were no reviews on him accept for "other attorneys" and buddies in the industry. Now I know why and now he has a real review.
This is not a personal attack on Mr Graves. He was a totally nice enough professional guy and easy to talk to on the phone and in person. This is purely how I perceived the professional service I received, and it was dissatisfying.
Read more
26 Aug, 2022 by Anonymous
Dishonest attorney -avoid her.Acts against client interests and only in her own interests.I do not recommend this attorney.
Read more
07 Dec, 2023 by Tadeusz nida and wanda nida
Does not help at all, does not forward essential information that can save great encyclopedia that belongs to the world, also to him to his client and in this case it is turbify webside server provider. Turbify aka Aabaco Small Bussiness LLC aka Infinite Computer Solutions company has akk sirts criminal connections and only has one two star reviews out of of 100s of one stars on google and other review sites... Machado also has attitude problems and disrespcts people's time, money and efforts they spent on faxes, letters, emails to him... SO HE IS HIGHLY NOT RECOMMENDED!!!
Read more
26 Oct, 2011 by Sary
In my experience, Mrs. Morgan OVER bills and does not get the job done. Was not a good experience. Would not recommond. Hire someone that knows the law. Had to hire a different attorney to handle my case.
Read more
22 May, 2016 by Anonymous
She was hired for a divorce and child custody case. She reassured us we had a good case but as time went on she kept trying to talk us into giving up what we wanted so that case would be over faster. We got stuck with thousands of dollars worth of monthly expenses because she kept pressuring us into just signing an agreement that the other parties lawyer had written. She didn't "defend" us what so ever. If you need an aggressive lawyer she is completely not for you!
Read more
13 May, 2022 by Curtis
I was going through a divorce and hired Woehrle Dahlberg Jones Yao PLLC, specially Mr. Dahlberg to help me with my divorce. I thought it was great that the initial consult was FREE, cause they usually range from $150-$400 for a 1 hour consult. He did a great job selling me on the phone, but in the 2 months he was on my case, this was 1 of the 2 times we talked, the other time was for 37 minutes, however - I would end up paying over $6,000 in legal fees for actions I did not request or approve. He has 3 paralegals, some of which whom work from home cause of COVID, abuse their rights and will file motions on your behalf without you knowing, without consulting with the apposing consult, whatever they can do to run up your bill. They charge for every single email, text, phone call (answered or un-answered, seriously!!) $52.50 to file any document into their E file system, which they want to file EVERYTHING and after they file it will charge another $52.50 to organize it, (upkeep). It took weeks to book an appointment with my attorney, honestly which I only got through to him one time after our consult, while he represented me for over 2 months and got absolutely no further in my case and charged, after nearly being charged for 20 hours of work, I only talked to my attorney 1 time for 37 minutes in these charges, "37 Minutes", charged for nearly 20 hours of work, I didn't approve any motions to be filed, these paralegals that work for Mr. Dahlberg, will run you dry without even asking for you consent. Highly recommend you choose a different attorney.
Read more
Browse lawyers
Cities in Virginia - Find a Lawyer Near Me
-
Richmond
-
Fairfax
-
Alexandria
-
Arlington
-
Mclean
-
Virginia Beach
-
Reston
-
Norfolk
-
Falls Church
-
Vienna
-
Charlottesville
-
Roanoke
-
Manassas
-
Leesburg
-
Newport News
-
Glen Allen
-
Tysons Corner
-
Chesapeake
-
Fredericksburg
-
Williamsburg
-
Tysons
-
Springfield
-
Lynchburg
-
Woodbridge
-
Herndon
-
Annandale
-
Harrisonburg
-
Midlothian
-
Winchester
-
Mc Lean
-
Hampton
-
Henrico
-
Chesterfield
-
Ashburn
-
Warrenton
-
Chantilly
-
Burke
-
Oakton
-
Portsmouth
-
Stafford
-
Abingdon
-
Danville
-
Great Falls
-
Blacksburg
-
North Chesterfield
-
Sterling
-
Mechanicsville
-
Bristol
-
Staunton
-
Salem
-
Lexington
-
Yorktown
-
Suffolk
-
Dulles
-
Haymarket
-
Culpeper
-
Fairfax Station
-
Front Royal
-
Christiansburg
-
Petersburg
-
Lorton
-
Colonial Heights
-
Fort Belvoir
-
Grundy
-
Martinsville
-
Bedford
-
Centreville
-
Forest
-
Gainesville
-
Ashland
-
Clifton
-
Hopewell
-
Spotsylvania
-
Bluefield
-
Prince William
-
Rocky Mount
-
Chester
-
Gloucester
-
Tazewell
-
Waynesboro
-
Halifax
-
Stuart
-
Courtland
-
Covington
-
Crozet
-
Emporia
-
Hillsville
-
Irvington
Browse lawyers
Practice Areas in Virginia
-
Business
-
Litigation
-
Criminal Defense
-
Real Estate
-
Family Law
-
Personal Injury
-
Estate Planning
-
Intellectual Property
-
Government
-
Immigration
-
Child Custody
-
Appeals
-
Tax
-
Consumer Protection
-
Probate
-
Civil Rights
-
Medical Malpractice
-
Insurance
-
Child Support
-
Car Accident
-
Bankruptcy
-
Elder Law
-
Trusts
-
Workers Compensation
-
Domestic Violence
-
Wrongful Death
-
Lawsuit / Dispute
-
Divorce
-
Juvenile Law
-
Mediation
-
Debt Collection
-
Adoption
-
Social Security & Disability
-
Class Action
-
Discrimination
-
Federal Crime
-
Financial Markets And Services
-
Sex Crime
-
Entertainment
-
Foreclosure
-
Copyright Application
-
DUI / DWI
-
Employment / Labor
-
Wrongful Termination
-
Sexual Harassment
-
Construction
-
Drug Crime
-
Landlord & Tenant
-
Debt Settlement
-
Cannabis Law
-
Credit Repair
-
Life Insurance
-
Environmental Law
-
Contracts
-
Admiralty / Maritime
-
Constitutional Law
Discover the ideal lawyer
You can search a lawyer by practice area, lawyer name, city, state, or ZIP code
FAQs
Questions? We have answers
Top Questions to Ask a Lawyer
When meeting with a lawyer for the first time, it's important to ask the right questions to understand their expertise and determine if they're the right fit for your legal needs. Here are some top questions to consider:
-
What experience do you have with cases similar to mine?
Ensure the lawyer has relevant experience in the specific area of law pertaining to your case. -
How do you charge for your services, and what are the estimated costs?
Understand the fee structure, including hourly rates, flat fees, retainer fees, and any additional expenses. -
What potential outcomes can I expect from my case?
While no lawyer can guarantee results, they can provide an assessment of possible scenarios based on their experience. -
What is your approach to handling cases like mine?
Learn about their strategy, whether they prefer negotiation, mediation, or litigation. -
Who will be working on my case?
Find out if the lawyer will handle your case personally or delegate tasks to other attorneys or paralegals. -
How will you communicate with me throughout the process?
Establish expectations for updates, preferred communication methods, and response times. -
What is the likely timeline for resolving my case?
Get an estimate of how long the process may take from start to finish. -
Do you have references from past clients?
Testimonials or references can provide insight into the lawyer's professionalism and effectiveness. -
What are the strengths and weaknesses of my case?
Understanding potential challenges helps you prepare and sets realistic expectations. -
Are there alternative ways to solve my legal problem?
Discuss options like mediation, arbitration, or settlement to resolve the issue efficiently.
How to Check the Credibility of a Lawyer
Before hiring a lawyer, it's crucial to verify their credibility and ensure they're qualified to handle your case:
-
Verify Their License:
Check with your state's bar association to confirm the lawyer is licensed and in good standing. -
Experience and Specialization:
Ensure the lawyer specializes in the area of law relevant to your case. -
Disciplinary Record:
Look up any history of disciplinary actions or complaints through the state bar association. -
Client Reviews and Testimonials:
Read reviews on legal directories like Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, or Google to gauge client satisfaction. -
Professional Memberships:
Membership in professional organizations or specialty bar associations can indicate a commitment to their field. -
Awards and Recognitions:
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:
-
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:
-
Fee Structures:
-
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.
-
Hourly Rate:
-
Factors Affecting Cost:
-
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.
-
Complexity of the Case:
-
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.
