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01 Oct, 2015 by Anonymous
Intelligent and extremely sharp lawyer. Sally works closely with her clients to get the best results. She is truly an amazing lawyer with great work ethics.
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12 Mar, 2012 by Mai
Lasy year, I was in really bad shape financially because of the large amount of credit card debt I had incurred. Sally Chan and West Themis Law worked tirelessly to settle all my credit card accounts. I put complete trust in Sally and her team to always act in my best interest to get me the best outcomes possible. Sally was very knowledgable about the credit card industry and I was impressed with the methods and strategies used to get me the best results possible. Throughout the process, Sally's team kept me well-informed and followed up tirelessly with the credit card companies. As of February this year I am 100% credit card debt-free thanks to Sally and her amazing team at West Themis Law. A huge financial burden has been lifted off my shoulders and I am eternally grateful to Sally and her team for this. I highly recommend Sally and West Themis Law.
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10 Mar, 2012 by George
As a seasoned business professional, I have retained at least 10 attorneys in the past for matters such as bankruptcy creditor actions, partnership disputers, labor law defense, customs disputes, commercial real estate and copyright actions. Of all the law firms my businesses have retained, Sally and her team at West Themis are by far, the most astonishing. They work 10x faster and more efficient than all of the attorneys and law firms that I've used. Sally's methods are very concise, methodical, and strategic. She filed a certain motion in a case that my former attorneys at a larger firm never did. With her firm, I got answers, strategy, and results at much lower rates. Sally is the managing partner at West Themis Law. This law firm has a team of attorneys and professionals that handle different related areas of law that helps them strategize and attack each matter with different areas of law. They don't do copyright. All in all, I am very impressed. I think their secret to delivering quality, fast, and affordable representation is because of Sally's management style and use of technology. Also, I am sure that not locating themselves in a high riser definitely translates to savings to their clients. Like I said, highly recommended.
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28 Jun, 2014 by Spencer
Mr Moravec knows his stuff, especially helpful for planning - planning for marriage, for divorce, & for death. Who knew that the proceeds of an life insurance policy should be in a trust? I had no idea that certain wills (if done by hand with handwriting but also with typed words) could be invalid in California. I now know the difference betw a power of attorney and a medical power of atty. I can now sleep more soundly. Thank you Mr. Moravec. Money well spent for such attention to detail and such personal attention.
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17 Nov, 2008 by Anonymous
Mr. Delinko represented me in a complex personal injury matter and obtained a great settlement result after intense litigation.
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17 Dec, 2012 by Roland
Ms. Price guided us through complicated commercial real estate leasing and general business issues. She ensured that our contracts went through with no surprises. Excellent work.
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15 Jul, 2010 by Anonymous
She is the best and most outstanding attorney I had. She let me read through all my declarations for accuracies, and sent me all the court filed legal documents for my case before we went to trial. I was nervous, but my attorney was always well-prepared and poised. I am so proud of having Attorney Linda represent me in court, and fight for my justice. Thank you again.
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25 Apr, 2016 by Juan
Brian has helped for years. The first time I used his service ( case). My wife and I knew that we he was the person that we where going call when we needed help. Thru the years that we have recommend him to family and friends. Thanks Brian.
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01 Sep, 2024 by Ricky rhodes
Excellent and smart lawyer. Detailed and thoughtful work. Thank you Ajay!
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05 Jun, 2024 by Sarai canahui
Exceptional service from start to finish! Mr. Thakkar guided me through every step of the process with expertise and professionalism. I highly recommend his services to anyone in need of immigration assistance.
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04 May, 2024 by Rui de sousa lopes
Ajay is a great professional in a world that is very hard to navigate: extremely thorough, very high attention to detail and has deep knowledge about the immigration process. I know we shouldn’t compare people, but while my immigration experience was smooth, fast and easy. I have friends that went through the immigration process (with other lawyers) and told me in the beginning that it’s a nightmare, that they got RFEs, and the interviews were tough: basically the whole process left them scarred. Not with me, and that’s thanks to Ajay! Since I started working with Ajay, I realized that he was always available to answer questions, that every step he always took the time in making sure we were 100% ready. He gave an in-depth overview of the whole process, what we needed to get done and how he was going to tackle it. He checked, double-checked, and triple-checked everything and made me feel really confident every step of the way. And when I look back at what my friends complained, my whole process was great: never got a RFE, interviews were waived, and got everything approved in a really quick time. I have asked Ajay multiple questions and he always took the time to made us feel comfortable and confident. It makes a world of difference when you start such an important process with someone who cares about you and is very clear throughout the process. We’re not just another case and another paycheck to Ajay, he wants to make sure he does the best for us. As such I have recommended Ajay to other friends who want to start the immigration process and they feel the same way.
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26 Apr, 2024 by Sherry young
Professional services. Very patient and supportive
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09 Jan, 2024 by Dreamsworldxo levi lui
Justin and Audrey handled everything for me regarding immigration extremely detailed and diligently I couldn’t have asked for anyone better they will stay on top of everything for you and answer any questions. They are quick to respond to calls or emails. It made everything a no-brainer, and it was an extremely smooth process. I can take them enough!
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24 Jan, 2023 by Nana s
Very patient and honest, always willing to answer you questions with details 👍🏻
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26 Jan, 2023 by John mueller
Good honest attorneys.
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26 Jan, 2023 by John mueller
Good honest attorneys.
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11 Feb, 2019 by Neelam
All I knew was that I was not about to lose custody of my children to their father. However I did not know the laws or the rights I had as a single mother. It was a blessing to have met Sebastian and his team who really helped me put my mind at ease. I did not have to worry about the legal side of my case and was able to focus on my children and my work. At the end my case unfolded just as Sebastian had predicted. He is detailed, knowledgeable and a friendly lawyer. Thank you Sebastian for all your help and support...totally indebted to you for guiding me during my family's darkest phase.
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18 Jan, 2016 by Jung
I'm So glad I found Sebastian! Sebastian A.J. Davies, and his team are fantastic. They were always accessible to me throughout the process, and kept me well informed on the status of my case. They are aggressive and knowledgeable advocates. One wont find a better firm. Highly recommended.
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14 Jan, 2016 by Anonymous
Mr Davies helped me majorly during my case. He was professional, effective, personable, and creative. I would recommend him to anyone in need of legal counsel.
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02 Oct, 2024 by Jamal w.
If you are looking for a background lawyer, I highly recommend Devin and his law firm. No cap! I reached out to him regarding my case and he helped me settle my case for 30k. He was professional, efficient and pursued my case to the end and I greatly appreciate it. Thank you again Devin!
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15 Aug, 2024 by Keysha henry
In 2021, I faced significant hurdles in securing housing due to my background, despite having received a pardon. My current home had mold, and I desperately needed to move, so I applied for an apartment. When I was unfairly denied, I knew I needed legal help and hired Devin to represent me. Devin immediately took action, thoroughly examining the background report and uncovering serious errors. He also found that the background check company had not followed the law, which became central to our case. During mediation, the opposing party tried to tear down my character, bringing up my past to weaken our position. But Devin didn’t back down. He pointed out that, even after three years of being made aware of the mistakes in my background report, they still hadn’t corrected it. At that moment, everything became clear—I thought, "Boom, we got them!" The case was settled in my favor, and I was incredibly satisfied with the outcome. Devin’s dedication, clear communication, and genuine care for my case made all the difference. He made sure I understood every step of the process and was always available to answer my questions, even after hours. Devin is a true professional, and I highly recommend him to anyone in need of legal representation.
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25 Apr, 2024 by Anthony fleming
I would give DHF Law and team 5 Stars all day long. They did a great job on my case and kept me in the loop and were amazing at communicating. My case was not very big and they treated it with importance and did not leave me hanging. They made it easy for me, and I would use them again and recommend them to anyone.
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15 Aug, 2024 by Nickolas leguizamon
Laura Orozco was my attorney but she made me feel like I was a part of her family. She genuinely cares about her clients. I have had other lawyers who treat me like a number. Just another case. While Laura makes you feel like you are her most important case. She was at every single hearing. She showed up early to help me practice. She gathered evidence throughout the entire process. She fought hard for me. I will never forget that. When I won my case, I couldn’t believe it. Because in my type of case, it’s very hard to win, but Laura found a way. Without her I don’t know where I would be.
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14 Aug, 2024 by Anonymous
I had a terrible case. And worse, I had to go to court deep in the valley. Very far from where I lived. And although they continued my case, about 2-3 times. Laura was always at every hearing. Laura was ready to go to war for me. She had a game plan. She prepare me well. And everything happened just like she planned. I thought I had a loser case. But Laura always remained positive. When I won my case I knew it was because of Laura. She is an amazing attorney. She treats you like part of her family. She gave me such great advice, that I follow until this day. I learned a lot from Laura, and she inspired me. I would recommend her to all my family and friends.
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26 May, 2024 by Blissfullyspeaking taylor bliss
She Professional and unbiased! Fair to the point and she sticks to the facts. If you need to KNOW someone is on your team Ms. Laura Orozco is the person you need. Her negotiating skills and ability to mitigate are top notch. She is a good read and has a great grasp on how to obtain the best outcome in a plethora of different situations making sure you have your just fair trial and that due process is without fault. She is to the point. Be clear and honest with her and she will do her job!!! Laura Orozco made me believe in the justice system again! We went to trail and she got 60 CHARGES DISMISSED! I walked out of court with a BIG NOT GUILTY ON ALL COUNTS! She believed in me and. I believe now that the judicial system does work. Her trust and compassion was shown through how hard she worked to get these 60 COUNTS COMPLETELY DISMISSED! THANK YOU Ms.Orozco!!
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15 Aug, 2024 by Nickolas leguizamon
Laura Orozco was my attorney but she made me feel like I was a part of her family. She genuinely cares about her clients. I have had other lawyers who treat me like a number. Just another case. While Laura makes you feel like you are her most important case. She was at every single hearing. She showed up early to help me practice. She gathered evidence throughout the entire process. She fought hard for me. I will never forget that. When I won my case, I couldn’t believe it. Because in my type of case, it’s very hard to win, but Laura found a way. Without her I don’t know where I would be.
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26 May, 2024 by Blissfullyspeaking taylor bliss
She Professional and unbiased! Fair to the point and she sticks to the facts. If you need to KNOW someone is on your team Ms. Laura Orozco is the person you need. Her negotiating skills and ability to mitigate are top notch. She is a good read and has a great grasp on how to obtain the best outcome in a plethora of different situations making sure you have your just fair trial and that due process is without fault. She is to the point. Be clear and honest with her and she will do her job!!! Laura Orozco made me believe in the justice system again! We went to trail and she got 60 CHARGES DISMISSED! I walked out of court with a BIG NOT GUILTY ON ALL COUNTS! She believed in me and. I believe now that the judicial system does work. Her trust and compassion was shown through how hard she worked to get these 60 COUNTS COMPLETELY DISMISSED! THANK YOU Ms.Orozco!!
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25 May, 2024 by Israel cruz
Not good. she was appointed as counsel by court & Independent Counsel Comitte IDCO May 2024. IDCO pays counsels $117 per hour and it became grossly evident Laura Orozco was padding hours. During her short 3 week appointment she made calls to me and chit chatted about numerous case non related items, 3 total calls lasting 2 hours each which she ultimately bills IDO/ LA City and is paid with tax payer funds. un ethical thirsty broad. complaint with CA bar & IDCO was filed recently.
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15 Aug, 2024 by Nickolas leguizamon
Laura Orozco was my attorney but she made me feel like I was a part of her family. She genuinely cares about her clients. I have had other lawyers who treat me like a number. Just another case. While Laura makes you feel like you are her most important case. She was at every single hearing. She showed up early to help me practice. She gathered evidence throughout the entire process. She fought hard for me. I will never forget that. When I won my case, I couldn’t believe it. Because in my type of case, it’s very hard to win, but Laura found a way. Without her I don’t know where I would be.
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26 May, 2024 by Blissfullyspeaking taylor bliss
She Professional and unbiased! Fair to the point and she sticks to the facts. If you need to KNOW someone is on your team Ms. Laura Orozco is the person you need. Her negotiating skills and ability to mitigate are top notch. She is a good read and has a great grasp on how to obtain the best outcome in a plethora of different situations making sure you have your just fair trial and that due process is without fault. She is to the point. Be clear and honest with her and she will do her job!!! Laura Orozco made me believe in the justice system again! We went to trail and she got 60 CHARGES DISMISSED! I walked out of court with a BIG NOT GUILTY ON ALL COUNTS! She believed in me and. I believe now that the judicial system does work. Her trust and compassion was shown through how hard she worked to get these 60 COUNTS COMPLETELY DISMISSED! THANK YOU Ms.Orozco!!
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25 May, 2024 by Israel cruz
Not good. she was appointed as counsel by court & Independent Counsel Comitte IDCO May 2024. IDCO pays counsels $117 per hour and it became grossly evident Laura Orozco was padding hours. During her short 3 week appointment she made calls to me and chit chatted about numerous case non related items, 3 total calls lasting 2 hours each which she ultimately bills IDO/ LA City and is paid with tax payer funds. un ethical thirsty broad. complaint with CA bar & IDCO was filed recently.
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27 Jul, 2024 by Elizabeth d’antonio
very unprofessional and rude. wouldn’t recommend.
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17 Oct, 2023 by Chinguis13
Excelente atención y muy empáticos y cálidos, viaje desde México y valió totalmente la pena, Gabby es muy amable y el abogado también, actualizo información más extensa cuando tenga avances sobre mi caso, de entrada, recomiendo bastante.
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09 May, 2023 by Vince
I thought Rudy was great!
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27 Jul, 2024 by Elizabeth d’antonio
very unprofessional and rude. wouldn’t recommend.
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17 Oct, 2023 by Chinguis13
Excelente atención y muy empáticos y cálidos, viaje desde México y valió totalmente la pena, Gabby es muy amable y el abogado también, actualizo información más extensa cuando tenga avances sobre mi caso, de entrada, recomiendo bastante.
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09 May, 2023 by Vince
I thought Rudy was great!
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30 Jul, 2024 by Kathleen callow
Woman bothered to check to see if my case was worth it to them. It was a disability for a $20 per hour park ranger so maybe 25% of 1200 per month for 1-2 years of back pay they would collect. She didn’t say she wouldn’t take the case at first but spouted off a bunch of confusing numbers and then sounded really condescending when she said I should get a social worker and they weren’t in the business of holding people’s hands so I guess this is a different kind of disability lawyer and they don’t want my 25% for holding my hand. I am not a homeless person, I don’t need a social worker, if you’re not going to take the case just come out and say it.
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25 Jun, 2024 by Felix umaña
Was just told that SS is not a thing to consider applying to since the pandemic, things are really crazy the office mgr just told me.
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23 Apr, 2024 by Judith tapuro
I highly recommend attorney Kelvin K Lee as he is very knowledgeable with assisting with the Social Security Disability application process. He is caring and responds to questions quickly alleviating our worries and concerns. I’m thankful for all the help attorney Kelvin K Lee because it resulted in positive results and benefits. His office assistants are also very helpful and professional as well.
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13 Aug, 2024 by Rangel mendez
Dishonest has no ethics
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13 Aug, 2024 by R rj
This guy I cannot call a man. Very lil to call a lawyer. Lawyers are supposed to have dignity, honesty, integrity and honor. Which this person lacks. He can get caught lying and will still lie at your face. He will try to take advantage of you, if he sees you as ignorant. The lack of honor he has and dignity he has. Is so disgusting. He lies in front of the judge! (IN FRONT OF THE JUDGE). That’s right and when you say the truth. He looks at you with such a narcissistic look! If you had a case with this person and lost do appeal it a sue him back! I will be reporting his ethics and any sending recordings to the board. He likes to call people names around the hallways of the court. Even inside courtroom will talk about you. And say that you may have secret handshakes or bribe court staff members to win cases. While in court where things get recorded.
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06 Jun, 2023 by Miya glasauer
I just talked with Attorney Heckmann. He was very kind and willing to guide me at the initial consultation without even charging me the fee. Seems very knowledgeable and straightforward. I will definitely hire him if I have problems with my tenants in the future.
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13 Aug, 2024 by Rangel mendez
Dishonest has no ethics
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13 Aug, 2024 by R rj
This guy I cannot call a man. Very lil to call a lawyer. Lawyers are supposed to have dignity, honesty, integrity and honor. Which this person lacks. He can get caught lying and will still lie at your face. He will try to take advantage of you, if he sees you as ignorant. The lack of honor he has and dignity he has. Is so disgusting. He lies in front of the judge! (IN FRONT OF THE JUDGE). That’s right and when you say the truth. He looks at you with such a narcissistic look! If you had a case with this person and lost do appeal it a sue him back! I will be reporting his ethics and any sending recordings to the board. He likes to call people names around the hallways of the court. Even inside courtroom will talk about you. And say that you may have secret handshakes or bribe court staff members to win cases. While in court where things get recorded.
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06 Jun, 2023 by Miya glasauer
I just talked with Attorney Heckmann. He was very kind and willing to guide me at the initial consultation without even charging me the fee. Seems very knowledgeable and straightforward. I will definitely hire him if I have problems with my tenants in the future.
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13 Aug, 2024 by Rangel mendez
Dishonest has no ethics
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13 Aug, 2024 by R rj
This guy I cannot call a man. Very lil to call a lawyer. Lawyers are supposed to have dignity, honesty, integrity and honor. Which this person lacks. He can get caught lying and will still lie at your face. He will try to take advantage of you, if he sees you as ignorant. The lack of honor he has and dignity he has. Is so disgusting. He lies in front of the judge! (IN FRONT OF THE JUDGE). That’s right and when you say the truth. He looks at you with such a narcissistic look! If you had a case with this person and lost do appeal it a sue him back! I will be reporting his ethics and any sending recordings to the board. He likes to call people names around the hallways of the court. Even inside courtroom will talk about you. And say that you may have secret handshakes or bribe court staff members to win cases. While in court where things get recorded.
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06 Jun, 2023 by Miya glasauer
I just talked with Attorney Heckmann. He was very kind and willing to guide me at the initial consultation without even charging me the fee. Seems very knowledgeable and straightforward. I will definitely hire him if I have problems with my tenants in the future.
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27 Jul, 2024 by Elizabeth d’antonio
very unprofessional and rude. wouldn’t recommend.
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17 Oct, 2023 by Chinguis13
Excelente atención y muy empáticos y cálidos, viaje desde México y valió totalmente la pena, Gabby es muy amable y el abogado también, actualizo información más extensa cuando tenga avances sobre mi caso, de entrada, recomiendo bastante.
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16 Oct, 2023 by Thelma lópez
Todos los abogados que me habían tocado, sentía me discriminaban o no tomaban enserio mi caso, el señor Rudy fue cálido y amable, espero seguir con esta impresión y contar ganado mi caso en un futuro.
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03 Jun, 2021 by Anne
I was told that if I did a review on the performance issues and treatment I received by Ms. Varga she would file suit against me. Enough said?
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17 Sep, 2015 by Vincent
Excellent service
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24 Sep, 2017 by Anonymous
Hugh outright verbally lied to me before I hired him. We were the only 2 people in our only face-to-face meeting. I came to him with a trust instrument I had managed to get via a previous lawyer from the 2 trustees (with a history of being untrustworthy to me) of a standard abc trust created by my parents in 1989. My father, pretty much the sole breadwinner, died in 1992. I had heard the trust included some individual family money my father had inherited in 1989. The trust instrument didn’t include schedules, and the trustees chose not to send a record of assignments or disbursements, even though requested. Hugh told me verbally that the law was “black and white” in this area, that the trustees HAD to provide the financial accounting of what was assigned, what was left, and more-or-less what was disbursed. He said we would have to resend the first letter sent 1.5 years before, and that, if the trustees still refused to cooperate, we would petition the court to order the information and then move to ask for their removal as trustees (assuming further lack of accounting). Then I would be named trustee and we would subpoena the missing documents. He said it was possible there was little money left, but that I would at least know the true financial info. I paid $5G. He asked me to research additional addresses online and to provide the emails 1 trustee had written outlining various loans/gifts made to the 2nd trustee and non-beneficiaries. (I had found online that making loans to trustees is generally considered to be trust mismanagement.) I sent the addresses/emails. He never commented on those emails, despite me writing him asking whether this was proof of trust mismanagement. Emails filled with lies from the trustees (one disproved by another email I sent to Hugh) followed. There were time extensions requested too, and the number of them was something Hugh contradicted himself about verbally via phone vs email. He phoned I should grant every requested extension, based on what he knew the judge would say once we petitioned the court (which never happened). Near the end, a lawyer for the trustees wrote that I was NOT entitled to any accounting. Hugh responded there was case-law. She asked for the cases and he refused to provide them. Finally a trustee-homemade accounting, one that didn’t seem believable considering past spending, came. I emailed Hugh about when were we going to petition the court to get the real info? Hugh refused to directly answer any of my questions. Finally, I googled from another lawyer site that I was NOT entitled to an accounting as a remainder beneficiary for a trust made before 2007! Wow! We then had a 2nd phone call (after hiring). He said that maybe the money my father inherited hadn’t been put in the trust. Maybe he died “intestate,” which meant my mother and offspring would divide it equally. (Talk about out of “left-field!”) He asked if I had been notified of any probate- no. He said he would do a deed search on the marital home- no, wait, the other lawyer did that. Hugh never explained what purpose that had. He kept repeating himself, moving away from the speaker, and interrupting my questions. Afterward I thought- wait, isn’t that pretty much the POINT of trusts-to AVOID probate and estate taxes, which my father hated? Hugh wanted $1500 more to do a probate/will search. I was feeling misgiving, but after even MORE googling and remembering the word “executor” having once been used, I thought maybe I could get SOME idea of what went into that trust, perhaps through a “pour-over” will. A month later Hugh had emailed nothing about the house deed, nor probate nor will. I asked for an update and said he never directly answered any of my questions. I got a rude email saying I looked for him to confirm a personal diatribe against a trustee and he wasn’t going to represent me anymore- like that was even an issue anymore! LOL Net result: $6500 poorer due to Hugh, and I have none of the promised info!
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23 Oct, 2011 by Anonymous
He was more concerned with making money for himself and his firm than he was in taking care of us.
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22 Sep, 2010 by Anonymous
I met him via my real estate friend to do the eviction of my tenant. He seemed to be knowledgeable but it's almost impossible to get hold of him, in spite of leaving many many messages with his "secretary" and he never returns his phone call. It took so long to process the eviction and at the end, I ending up losing so much money. My tenant finally moved out because she happen to finally found a place to move, not because Dennis did anything to move her out. If you need to evit someone, I won't hire him. I tried two different times since he was only person I knew and I lived far away from my rental home but this will be the last time. It was worse in the second time.
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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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. What is your approach to handling cases like mine?
    Learn about their strategy, whether they prefer negotiation, mediation, or litigation.
  5. 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.
  6. How will you communicate with me throughout the process?
    Establish expectations for updates, preferred communication methods, and response times.
  7. What is the likely timeline for resolving my case?
    Get an estimate of how long the process may take from start to finish.
  8. Do you have references from past clients?
    Testimonials or references can provide insight into the lawyer's professionalism and effectiveness.
  9. What are the strengths and weaknesses of my case?
    Understanding potential challenges helps you prepare and sets realistic expectations.
  10. 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:

  1. Verify Their License:
    Check with your state's bar association to confirm the lawyer is licensed and in good standing.
  2. Experience and Specialization:
    Ensure the lawyer specializes in the area of law relevant to your case.
  3. Disciplinary Record:
    Look up any history of disciplinary actions or complaints through the state bar association.
  4. Client Reviews and Testimonials:
    Read reviews on legal directories like Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, or Google to gauge client satisfaction.
  5. Professional Memberships:
    Membership in professional organizations or specialty bar associations can indicate a commitment to their field.
  6. Awards and Recognitions:
    Honors from reputable organizations reflect expertise and a positive reputation.
  7. Consultation Assessment:
    Use the initial consultation to evaluate their communication skills, responsiveness, and willingness to address your concerns.
  8. 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:

  1. Relevant Documents:
    Bring all documents related to your case, such as contracts, correspondence, legal notices, court papers, or evidence.
  2. Written Summary:
    Prepare a concise written summary of your situation, including key dates, events, and involved parties.
  3. List of Questions:
    Write down any questions you have about your case, the legal process, or the lawyer's experience.
  4. Financial Information:
    If applicable, bring financial documents like pay stubs, tax returns, or bank statements.
  5. Contact Information:
    Provide details of any witnesses or other parties relevant to your case.
  6. Personal Identification:
    Bring a valid ID for verification purposes.
  7. Pen and Notebook:
    Take notes during the consultation to remember important points.
  8. 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
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