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15 Nov, 2022 by Anonymous
Crook. Doesn’t pay debts. Writes bad checks. Crook. Crook. Crook. Crook. Crook. Crook.
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08 Oct, 2011 by Anonymous
Sara allenÂ
I absolutely hit the jackpot with this wonderful, approachable and reliable attorney.  Sara Allen went way beyond my expectations, not only solving my issues but at the same time putting me at peace while spending her own personal time (which I know she must have very little of) to take care of me. Ms. Allen's incredibly knowledgeable and has a confident and reassuring demeanor. I would entrust this attorney (person) with my most personal, life matters.  I have never had an experience as streamlined and efficient as it has been with Ms. Allen. It's not always a pleasant experience when one feels the need for an attorney, but somehow she always makes me feel much better about everything. The drop done only allows one area of law to choose from, but she's handled multiple areas for me. It's obvious she's just a
wonderful human being and I appreciate all she's done for me.
Involving any kind of legal matter
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22 Mar, 2011 by Debra
After a contract agreement in which I was owed a substantial amount of money could not be resolved, and getting no results from another lawyer, I went to Sara Allen.
She was very thorough, did not waste time, and clearly stated with the offending party's representation the terms of settlement. When they other side failed to responded and tried to employ stall tactics, Ms. Allen was prepared to go to Court to protect my rights.
Recognizing Ms. Allen's extensive court room experience and winning record, at the recommendation of their well known law firm the offending party settled for the full amount.
I can highly recommend Ms. Allen as a lawyer and will not hesitate to contact her again, should the need arise.
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09 Sep, 2017 by Brian
Mr Bobzien represented my in a very contentious divorce case, and if there ever was an ethical representative- he is it. He worked hard at keeping costs down and had a great deal of empathy toward my situation, I wouldn't hesitate to hire him in the future and would highly recommend him if you are looking for a true professional.
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05 Aug, 2014 by Anonymous
Andrew Bobzien is an outstanding lawyer with an outstanding reputation. He specializes in Domestic Violence cases. He is an expert in Family Law. Keep in mind that no matter what Family Law Attorney you hire, there will be challenges. Getting a Divorce or dealing with custody issues is highly emotional. A great example would be the review below. I know her and she actually recommended Drew to me. She unfortunately was emotionally unstable at the time and took advice from her mother instead of from Drew. I know this because I was with her during this time and couldn't believe how unreasonable she was being. I on the other hand trusted his advice and direction and came out winning my case. The best advice I can give on finding a good lawyer is to meet with them in person to see if you and the attorney are a good fit. Someone like Drew who has been practicing for many years and has a great reputation amongst his peers would also be something to consider. The other thing I appreciated about Drew is he kept the cost down as best he could and he allowed me to make payments once he worked through my retainer. Thank you Drew for outstanding representation. I wish you well.
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16 Jun, 2014 by Anonymous
I made the mistake of hiring this lawyer to represent me. I am in a very vulnerable position as my husband is a high wage earner and I have been a stay at home mother for many years. Mr. Bobzien does not know how to represent women and children who are trying to escape domestic abuse. I recognized too late that Mr. Bobzien was not advocating for me at all. It has been a costly mistake and I regret hiring him. I believe he is complete untrustworthy. For Mr. Bobzien, what comes around goes around in life.
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01 Feb, 2018 by Posh
He is all about set overs and making unnecessary court hearings just to waste everyones time so he can get paid. I have been against every set over from the beginning, its a simple case, but mr russell wouldnt make money if it was an open shut case therefore he drags it out half a year.
He's lost documents that I'm still trying to get back. Why were we in the court room shuffling for the papers that I gave him.
He tells you he's going to do something as in gather evidence for your case and then just doesn't do it and doesn't give any explanation as to why he failed to do so
He lies about court proceedings. Mr Russell told me he set a status hearing with the intention of the opposing party failing to appear and said we would be able to then present our case, I show up to the status hearing prepared to present my case and the judge was like no that's not how this works. So I don't know where Mr Russell went to law school where he thinks things happen a certian way when they don't at all.
I filed a complaint against him and when the cao emailed him asking for documentation so they can review everything, the next morning he put in his withdraw, yet it says when you file a complaint the cao tries to help the attorney and client resolve the issue. Instead Mr Russell backed out probably because he knows I'm right.
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28 Jun, 2016 by Samantha
I am young and safe to admit, pretty naive when it comes to anything law related. I am happy with the decision I made to hire Mr. Russell. He is informative, timely, organized and professional. Lots of experience in all areas of Law. Was honest with me about the case, no sugar coating. I appreciated it.
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22 Mar, 2012 by Anonymous
Everything you hope for in an attorney- a good listener, a great strategist and strives to serve your best interests without compromise. Mr. Russell achieved a settlement and Parenting Plan when the deck appeared somewhat stacked against us- I was, of course, not the "one with the money." Very satisfied to be successfully divorced at long last.
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27 Feb, 2020 by Ml
Marlene wrote our wills years ago and we are using her again to update them. She was professional, efficient and pleasant. She asked the right questions so we would know what to include and exclude in the wills.
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18 Jun, 2019 by Anonymous
Incredibly hostile and unprofessional. Acted very arrogant and entitled in her opinions. Will not work with again.
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27 May, 2022 by Anonymous
I hired Lawrence for my criminal case out of Washington County. At first things were OK. But at the end he was really unprofessional, even rude. Told me that If I didn't take the deal offered to me I was going to go to prison. Which wasn't true. He didn't really care about my concerns. He was impossible to get a hold of. Normally lawyers call you a couple days before court just to remind you, he didn't call me until the morning of, which was about 1.5 hours before I had to be in court. Thankfully i was already on my way otherwise i would have been late. And after my case was finished I contacted him asking for clarification on something and it's been 2 months and still haven't heard anything back. And it involves my fines being paid, so petty important. I wouldn't recommend spending your hard earned money here. I ended up getting free legal advice from Ryan Scott #1 criminal defense attorney in Oregon. Who had a seminar recently on subjects very related to my case. But Lawrence didn't attend. When I told Lawrence what Ryan told me too, he didn't handle it well, that's when he was the most unprofessional.. He ended up having to call Ryan to discuss what he told me. Unfortunately by then it was too late. And I was stuck in the deal he recommended. The deal I had only 10 min to decide if I should take it or not.
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24 Oct, 2016 by Amanda
If it was not for Lawrence believing in me and fighting for me like he did...I would be sitting in prison right now... I was facing 36 months in prison with no programs and no good time and because of Lawrence and his wonderful ways...he really saved my life and gave me an opportunity at having a second chance at life. If you have the pleasure of having him fight for you..embrace it..because he is an amazing lawyer!
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20 Mar, 2022 by Anonymous
Avoid this lawyer and his law firm AT ALL COSTS. We hired Ben Evans to help my mother through her divorce from her abusive ex-husband, and let me tell you: working with him was one of the most infuriating and aggravating experiences of our lives.
Not only was this illiterate, degenerate lawyer unresponsive with laser-consistency, but he was always wildly impatient and rude to my mother. He never did any of the paperwork that he said he was going to do; my mother ended up doing most of it herself. He tried to convince my mother to give up most of the very reasonable things she was asking for from the divorce judge. It almost seemed like Ben Evans was colluding with my mother's ex-husband.
Ben Evans never once showed even so much as an iota of care for his client. Ben always behaved as if we were a massive drain on his life and as if we should worship every breath he exhaled. He acted like a pretentious, defiant pre-teen.
My mother's English isn't the best, and we're a very poor family, so we dug deep into what little money he had left to hire this clown. He caused my mother so much additional stress to the point that we ended up paying Ben Evans the full amount just so we could fire him on the spot and rid ourselves of the malignant tumor he had become in our lives.
If you are a woman, or an immigrant, or struggling financially, and seeking help from a lawyer: do NOT hire this arrogant insect of a man. He will only cause you to lose tens of thousands of dollars with ZERO results.
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06 Sep, 2018 by Thomas
When I got divorced a couple of years ago, it was Awful. I am so glad that I spoke with Benjamin. He gave me great advice, and steered me in the right direction. Even afterwards, he often will ask about it if we see each other. I highly recommend Benjamin Evans!
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04 Feb, 2017 by Anonymous
After 13 years of directly paying my exwife child support for our 2 children, per a verbal agreement, she decided to take me to court for more money. After trying to talk to her and settle situation out of court, as we have for last 13 years, I realized she wasnt going to compromise anymore and simply wanted everything she could get. I knew then that i needed a lawyer.
I was given Ben Evans name as a referral from my roommates EAP. This being my first experience with a lawyer, I had no expectations. After initially speaking with Ben on the phone, I felt comfortable about moving forward with him representing me.
I brought in everything regarding my divorce and explained what had changed since the final verdict years ago. He was quick to decipher everything I had and the situation I was in. By my next visit, he had every bit of paperwork ready to fill out and a rough time frame of what to expect. Every question I had was answered. Every bit of the paperwork I didn't understand or needed quidance on, Ben was there with an answer that related to what I was looking for as my final result.
During the whole process, there were a couple hiccups with a difficult judge, Ben was adamant about rectifying the situation and wasted no time contacting the judge so we could move further on closing my case. All the while, keeping me up to date on everything transpiring.
There were a couple things that I had to take care of on my own, which he informed me of where and how to handle. Including raising the eyebrows of child support division to the alterations in my case, making it easier for me to do what I needed to do.
In the end, my support was lowered, to the surprise of my ex! Ben was easy to work with and communication was spot on. Any problems throughout my case, were handled quickly and on track for ultimate goal. Every aspect of my case was addressed and tended to.
Regardless of my unexpected, pleasant outcome, I pray I don't have to go through this again but will definitely be calling Ben if the situation presents itself. I would recommend him to any person in need of a thorough family lawyer.
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09 Mar, 2024 by Jason
I am the custodial parent and was being challenged on my behavior with my 12 year old. Child protective services were called to investigate an accusation of withholding food. The case was deemed unfounded. My child’s mother apparently desired a second opinion. This is when I called the firm Austin Batalden worked at. Batalden was happy to meet with me and my wife for the consultation fee. While speaking with her, she exuded a confidence to handle our legal situation. Based on her appraisal, Batalden estimated the cost would end up being a few thousand dollars if things went smoothly, and perhaps ten thousand dollars or more if they did not. Once Batalden began working on my case, I began to lose confidence in her. I tried to encourage Batalden to be more assertive with the facts already available, and I kept getting the sense that she did not want to be too strong with the opposing counsel. The opposing counsel was being quite strong however, and when I had spent about four thousand dollars, I decided to seek out a different attorney. I hired a new attorney. Batalden’s firm, aware of my disappointment, transferred my case for the associated clerical fees. I was quite relieved once I began to work with my new attorney.
What I learned is that attorneys can often sound intelligent, and indeed are intelligent in terms of law, but that does not inform clients as to their competence other areas related to their job. My opinion is that Batalden was disinterested in my case and my perception was that my case got away from her before she realized it. I also perceived and felt that she was not interested in me and my well-being as a person experiencing a difficult situation evolving into a crisis. My mental health and that of my wife and whole family suffered through the next two years to have our matter eventually go before a judge. I believe this could have been avoided.
I remain my child’s custodial parent and my child’s mother was ordered supervised visitation and mandatory professional coaching. I would not recommend Batalden for any matter that had more nuance than simply navigating the legal system. The total cost of my court ordeal was around 50 thousand dollars. I believe this too could have been avoided.
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27 Feb, 2024 by Meeta
I hired Austin for my divorce and recently for my custody case. Austin is one of the most genuine people I have ever met - she is very knowledgeable about family law and puts the childs interests above everything else. She is not only a great lawyer, but a very patient, strategic advisor on how to proceed with your case. She responds quickly and communicates very well.
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17 Jan, 2024 by Hannah
Austin Batalden has been an incredible attorney for my family and I. Austin took amazing care with my case. She made sure that everything was done correctly. She communicated everything clearly and easily. I really appreciated her realistic approaches to a turbulent situation. If you are looking for a family law attorney, you cannot do better than Austin. Knowing that you have someone competent and empathetic handling a sensitive issue brings priceless peace of mind.
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18 Sep, 2015 by Anonymous
I sent Robin an email for potential representation and she responded immediately. She was very knowledgable about the process and fair in her pricing structure.
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04 Sep, 2014 by Suzanne
She was suppose to represent us as Intended parent and she does not return emails or phone calls within 48 hours! What kind of attorney does that? Whether she's good or not, there are other attorneys who are better! Don't go to her! She may be good before but this is 2014 and she's no good and her reviews are outdated.
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07 Dec, 2020 by Anonymous
I met Mr Bittner last year to discuss my confusing and emotionally charged divorce case that only few attorneys would consider taking. After our initial consultation, he expressed willingness to move forward in spite of the mess I was in. I decided to hire Tom because he handled me like a bowling pin and I needed a good negotiator (I wasn’t interested in trying to burn my X but protect my family). My case took almost a full year to resolve, and through that time I had the freedom to proactively work together with him; he was always there as a voice of reality to temper ideals and help me refocus. Tom won’t tell you what you want to hear. He knows the system and will help you to see where justice is blind to your case. If you’re a vindictive person he’s not a good match, but if you need a strong advocate who really wants to help people work things out, I highly recommend his services.
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18 Oct, 2018 by Anonymous
Mr. Bittner did not explain that he is an attorney that wants a positive result for both parties. I used him as my divorce attorney and he did not negotiate a fair settlement for me during my divorce. I felt I was rushed during the entire process.
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13 Oct, 2021 by Anonymous
Hired for the initial divorce. She likes talking at slow pace and killing time and creating excessive documentation and evaluation adding billing hours. Costed 90k with initial divorce- the case was straight forward with property, custody and parenting- no complications.
Relies on clients to provide analysis rather than being creative and strategic. Had multiple issues post divorce and I had no choice but to continue to retain as she knew the case history but attorney clearly missed the key details in trials, misguided with incorrect judgment language interpretation and lacked proactive and firm standing against opposing attorneys. I guess after making big fat check it was a matter of how to get pocket change!
Good at being empathetic but not thorough when it comes to attention to detail and presentation in court. Unable to process judgment language and provided contradictory advise, after being directed by opposing attorney she changed her initial advice. Likes to followup with opposing attorneys on trivial issues(unnecessary) but consistently missed the real issues and left them unaddressed. When these concerns were brought on table and around invoicing hours she said her job is to ensure that invoices match billing and clearly the intent is to accumulate hours to charge. During recent trial, Failed to discuss and consent with client on any strategy until the weekend the night before ( trial on monday) and then over the weekend created different documentation (for same issue) for submission to court and opposing attorney-when asked why 2 different sets were created, there was no reasoning then only 1 set of documents were not submitted to court. All her bills$90k have been paid on time but when questioned on the most recent act of unnecessary hours and lack of how loosely the case was handled she opted to withdraw and threatened to get collections involved.
Further when asked about open issues and followup (since my ex is not abiding by the court order) she ignored and shoved them on the side and those still remain open on my file.
Overall the firm is a big name but needs more matured and smart to the point attorneys who are more transparent and keep client interest first over increasing the quantity of hours.
Overall good at being counselor but provides weak arguments, excessive documentation, missing key details, lack of timely and to the point communication.
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07 Sep, 2020 by Estella
I was referred to Sarah Denner at Gearing, Rackner & McGrath LLP when it became clear that my path to divorce was not going to be straight forward.
Sarah is amazing! She handled every turn of my case with expertise and creative solutions to get the best outcome for me and my kids. Her compassion and patience helped me process complicated matters without getting overwhelmed.
The rest of the staff at Gearing, Rackner & McGrath were all super supportive and professional as well. I felt taken care of and prioritized.
I highly recommend Sarah Denner and her team and feel lucky to have been referred myself
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17 Mar, 2010 by Anonymous
Ms. Soto neglected to inform me about the other attorney's motion which cost me thousands of dollars and a financial mess. She did not complete her work as requested and basically dumped my case.
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13 May, 2009 by Anonymous
Ms. Soto represented me in traffic court in 2008 and the ticket was thrown out. I was satisfied with her representation and she was very affordable.
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04 Mar, 2013 by Anonymous
when I need lawyer I contact Olivia. she great.
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06 Dec, 2012 by Anonymous
She told me one thing, then told others a different story. Took too long to return calls and seemed to lose interest in the case. This case ended in a hugely traumatizng event for a really big family and several young children due to her incomptence.
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05 Sep, 2010 by George
Craig sorted out what was a difficult mixed-property dissolution and obtained a favorable result in a settlement. Craig was my first and only attorney in this dissolution. Craig was consistent during the transitions. He explained the law to me and at critical times during settlement provided good, sound, conservative advise. I was confident after being educated by Craig that I could stand firm on certain issues, while giving on others.
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05 May, 2009 by Anonymous
We hired this attorney for my son's divorce and found him to be passive and quiet. He let everyone walk over him in court and didn't represent my son's best interests. We felt he was siding with my son's wife and he didn't get us a court date after asking him frequently for one. We feel he was just stringing us along to bring in money for the firm. As we hadn't dealt with a divorce in our family before, we didn't realize how bad things were until my son was about 30 thousand dollars in debt and he still didn't get a divorce after over 2 years. My son fired him and hired another attorney. The divorce wasn't a difficult one so there wasn't any reason why it wasn't finalized much sooner. We don't recommend this attorney for anyone.
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13 Jun, 2023 by Anonymous
Hired him to represent me to win my SSI. He guided me through the process with much empathy. Unfortunately I was presented with a disagreeable SSI judge at my hearing and didn't win my award. Fortunately I didn't have to pay for his services unless I'd have won my case.
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29 May, 2021 by Nik
I also believe that Todd was intentionally working against me. Possibly forwarding emails. Giving bad information. Giving terrible advice. And possibly lying. Either Todd is a court dodger or not truthful. Either way I feel betrayed. Beware!! Run away!!!
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18 Apr, 2021 by David
To be fair to Mr. Worthley, he did suffer a death in his family at the time, but still, I wasn't contacted by him or his staff for two months after I and my advocate consulted with him in person. (I'd been referred to him by the Oregon Bar.) After those two months, he said that he'd called the other person's lawyer, and that he didn't think I needed any legal help or even mediation. He then gave me a solution that we'd already explained to him wouldn't be possible. With all due respect, Mr. Worthley didn't remember any of the key issues in my case, and then only offered me a solution that would not only not work for my case but had nothing to do with the core issues which we presented to him at our meeting in person. He refunded only part of my retainer and wrote me a letter saying I had "mischaracterized" him (whatever that means). I was surprised and disappointed, and I would definitely not recommend him.
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18 Mar, 2022 by Anonymous
Mr.Engel is a waste of money and will only
make your case worse! He will try and pinch every last penny he can by over charging, not communicating, and refusing to represent ethically on the matter. Not only did I waste my entire savings with this guy but he resigned before it even mattered. My Ex won everything and I was left high and dry! Don’t worse your time, Mr.Engel is about himself and does not represent his clients in good faith. I suggest using someone else absolutely on all matters!
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18 Mar, 2022 by Anonymous
I hired Brett for a divorce matter and not only did he drag the case on for way longer then it needed to but he made sure to have it cost as much as humanly possible. He lost me everything and then proceeded to tell me it’s the way it is. Awful lawyer and does not represent his clients in a decent manner. Skip over Brett, you’ll be very thankful you did!
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11 Sep, 2021 by Rachel g
31 May, 2021 by Jamason
I’m sad to see that someone else has had the same experience that I had with Laura and the rest of her pathetic scum of the earth firm. These people are leeches and will turn your life upside down out of sheer incompetence and bad breath.
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25 Oct, 2018 by Jason
Laura Rackner is by far the best attorney I've ever worked with. She is fair, firm and extremely knowledgeable. She was very comforting during a very difficult time and always gave me confidence in her answers and approach with my case. I would highly recommend her to anyone.
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27 Aug, 2018 by Anonymous
Had hired her but ended up getting her junior partner when it came for court time who could not even write a decent court document for the case. Also she kept giving bad advice putting my children and myself in danger. After finally switching to a less known but very competent and effective lawyer who listened to my concerns. Ms. Rackner would not believe all the things I was telling her and had to get 2 witnesses to talk with her who were professionals to have her even consider that going back to an abusive home was out of the question. She would not be my choice for an abusive situation or if there is any mental health problem in a divorce case.
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29 Nov, 2023 by Robert
Lucy demonstrated she is not capable of representing those who desire anything other than to throw themselves at the mercy of the court or are simply willing to settle for mediocrity about their representation. Lucy takes on FAR to large a caseload and in turn does not communicate proactively or effectively. She does not answer phone calls, she returns emails and texts when it appears she feels that she has no choice. She does not follow reasonable client requests regarding providing discovery, exhibits, etc. She only takes the time to communicate when she knows she has dropped the ball. Her lack of initiative and professionalism cost me unnecessary time in jail, money, and more importantly frustration. I am VERY calm and reasonable. I understand professionalism and attempt to do the best job one can. I essentially represented myself. In the end, she provided nothing to my situation. She added insult to injury by not following through with disputing Lake Oswego Municipal Court from billing me for her court-appointed attorney services. Short of having a license with the bar I don't know what aptitude she brought to the table. I discourage anyone from placing their future in the counsel of Lucy.
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10 Apr, 2022 by Anonymous
Felt like her case load was to big and she didn't have the time to work on my case let alone respond to my questions I sent in emails or provide me with my full discovery. I felt like she just wanted me to take a plea bergen and be done with me. She might be a good attorney if you hire her or if she believes in your case.
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25 Oct, 2021 by Anonymous
As a first nation I struggle with identity and acceptance of the populations in the Americas in simply making jurisdictions in-laws to over substance substantiate what has happened in history in America does not negate any of the facts on how political framing exist I pray for every first nation in America and I pray that Lucy also heals from stating she had enough hearing about my ancestors for all court-appointed people in the biracial Community we are in a period where our ancestors are and will always be allowed to be discussed.
I had to end the relationship a d engagement due to cultural reasons and hope her clients are happy yet in my 1st nation life, we talk soind act and are different. It was very clear in meeting face to face and speaking as a Native only western nows!
Not in truth of Our boarding schools some acknowledgements must be done by those whom hold those same standards, that have covered up our peoples stories. I have ptsd anxiety and generational trauma. None of my emails were ever responded too, and I am sorry but our Ancestors abuse is handed down And taught. In reality I pray over understanding of this period in a non western conflict.
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23 Jan, 2022 by Anonymous
Unprofessional! Does not meet commitments including scheduled calls and meetings multiple times. Have had to go over same information multiple times.
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19 May, 2018 by Gabriel
After long hours of work travel and caring for my elderly parents I returned to a restraining order and found myself without my home.
I shopped around & scheduled meetings with 5 Lawyers. Ms. Runstein was the only one who told me that she will do her best to win/mitigate the accusations.
Robin had a firm handshake and an On-Point attitude. She tackled the issue without hesitation and intended to resolve it within our first meeting. She presented me with all possibilities in a layered approach. Robin Runstein carefully planned against each allegation, and Beautifully executed in the court room.
Needless to say, the Judge was convinced to reject the
restraining order.
I would HIGHLY recommend Robin Runstein to anyone looking for a Great Lawyer. I only wish her Father (Ted R.) could have seen her flawless performance.
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17 Mar, 2018 by Karyn
I want to inform other abused women of my experience with Robin Runstein who served as my divorce attorney from June 2013 – June 2015. In my opinion, Ms. Runstein’s significant and consistent lack of preparedness and legal accuracy, combined with her inability/unwillingness to communicate effectively in a timely manner with me (her client) and with opposing counsel, made an already dangerous situation for my children and me, far worse. I do not believe I was well represented and I would not recommend her.
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02 Aug, 2022 by Anonymous
Five years and $10k later (plus the $20k paid to her company), and I’m still cleaning up her messes on parenting time and child support. Support for two kids calculated as lump sum rather than per child, and so I’m fighting to get my 18 year old’s portion paid directly to him. Younger child cries over parenting time, but Chris’s poor advice and poor choice of parenting coordinator continues to make our lives miserable.
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16 Dec, 2019 by Anonymous
Chris is a delightful person. I had a high conflict divorce which she was not equipped to handle. I expected her to be a stronger advocate for a woman in a abusive relationship.
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22 Jan, 2012 by Anonymous
lack of communication, no return phone calls, did not fight for me and my case, lack of personable interest,
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30 Apr, 2024 by Anonymous
He just really took your money. Do the bare minimum, never check in on you. Slacking off so he’s gonna waste a lot of your time. He gonna get you to the point that you rather doing it yourself instead of waiting for him
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06 Jan, 2021 by Osvaldo
Jim Shipley absolutely sucks never once did he have my best interests in mind consistently told me to play the game in my divorce while he joked and flirted with the opposing lawyer he forced me into an 800 dollars a month child supprt settlement when I only had to pay 400 he lied and forces me to agree to 400 extra dollars a month when I spoke to a real attorney I was informed that my last lawyer had made an agreement for 5 years that absolutely screwed me over I should of new better when this old man pulled out lined paper to actually use a pen and paper its was 2020 and this guy never once used any kind of technology to help him remember the things I would say bottom line dont waste your hard earn money on this clown Jim you absolutely suck you should turn in your license and refund me my money cause are nothing but a dirty thief that took my money and did absolutely nothing to help me stay away from this clown guys
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12 May, 2015 by Anonymous
Never let me know once my retainer was up. Created unnecessary meetings in order to charge me. Didn't actually assist me. Could have filled out the paperwork myself.
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19 Sep, 2017 by Lisa
My ex and I were told we needed to use Ricks to split our retirement funds. From the start Ricks was nothing but rude and condescending to us, he had account numbers incorrect and lied about information that was given to him that he said he never received (we had emails to back it up). He has no idea what he is doing. The financial institutes that we had funds in had worked with him before and they used the word incompetent and rude. DO NOT use this man for anything unless you love to be treated poorly and love frustration and wasting money.
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24 Oct, 2015 by Anonymous
hired to create QDRO could not ever get dates and my name correct on paper work. Extremely rude and curt when trying to talk to him about situation.
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13 Jul, 2015 by Doug
when hired i was told 30 to 45 days, when i called after 45 days the paper work hadnt even been submitted and it would be another 30 to 45 days when i asked for a discount he said no that it just slipped through the cracks, WOW thats competance and fair huh, someone dosent do his job right according to a contract and he refuses to compensate NICE. Sorry dan but this was supposed to be quick and simple and you turned it into a pain, my opinion is go to someone more competent
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02 Jun, 2016 by Nate
I hired Mr Sumner to represent me in my divorce in 2011. He missed the deadline to submit work on my parenting plan, and a different parenting plan was put in that I did not agree with. I would avoid Mr Sumner at all costs.
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13 Jul, 2011 by Anonymous
I hired this attorney for a personal injury claim and was not impressed with his ability or follow through. I hoped he would pursue my case strongly, but I didn't feel he put much time or effort into it. I would not recommend him.
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06 Dec, 2010 by Anonymous
Mr. Sumner did not impress me as having a broad knowledge of the law and I didn't feel he did a very good job in court advancing my case. I felt let down by him after spending a significant amount of money. Caveat emptor.
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15 Mar, 2016 by Anonymous
Like the other reviews on here, Kimberly was all talk when I first hired her. She referred to herself as a "bulldog", saying she would have our back and push for what was fair. That turned out to be all smoke and mirrors. She is spineless, has zero care for her clients but will be happy to take your money. I came out the huge loser in my divorce and paid an outrageous amount of money to my ex-wife when I shouldn't have. Kimberly just kept caving to my ex-wife's lawyer and saying that it was the best we were going to be able to do. She also leaves her office for weeks at a time with zero notification and takes forever to respond to phone calls or email, even after repeated messages left with her office assistant. Run as fast as possible in the other direction and find a lawyer that a friend or relative has had a good experience with. I truly regret ever hiring Kimberly.
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04 Mar, 2016 by Anonymous
Kimberly was all talk prior to me hiring her; I had what should have been a VERY open and closed case for divorce and full custody. I was told I had a very strong case and shouldn't have any problems getting the very few requests I had.
Kimberly not only rescheduled my first court date without even letting me know it had been scheduled; but also completely failed to even tell me of the SECOND scheduled court date! Had my ex not mentioned something about our upcoming court date, I would have missed it altogether!
More contact was had in the 2 days prior to the final court date than the entire year prior; I have had multiple ignored phone calls, voicemails, and emails as well. There is clearly no fight in her to back up her clients needs, even with substantial documentation, proof, and evidence. Kimberly didn't negotiate for me in the slightest - to the point it actually felt like my ex had two lawyers, but I was paying for one of them!
She was the second biggest mistake of my life; the first was marrying a person I knew was dishonest.
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20 Mar, 2014 by Marcia
Worst lawyer ever. She was totally useless and not the least proactive. She never came up with any solutions or things I should be addressing. She did not fight for me at all! Five years later I am still regretting hiring her and wish I could have done it over. So many things she did not tell me about or suggest for my divorce. I got nothing and ended up giving away all my retirement savings. And now my kids have no money to go to college. I felt like I had no one on my side. Isn't your lawyer supposed to be helpful and go to bat for you?? I got nothing for her. And then she had the nerve to request more money when it was over. She promised me when I hired her that no client ever said that she didn't do everything she could for them. Well, that was a lie. She did nothing for me or my children. I have two friends who were working with her at the same time and both of them got screwed by their ex-husbands too.
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29 Nov, 2018 by Anonymous
Do not go to this guy! If he's appointed to you, fire him! He comes across as "Do whatever dhs says if you want your kids back." What about dhs shouldn't have ever taken them?? What happened to defending your client?? It took me 8yrs fighting the injustice system. I finally got full custody just in time to find out my son had a brain tumor the size of an orange on his brainstem & was close to death. Ya this "lawyer" was the first mistake. Hiring one of his parters, mistake #2. Good luck out there!!
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29 Feb, 2024 by Anonymous
She was intimidated by opposing counsel, encouraged settling and giving more to them than was even necessary let alone fair. She is not a fathers rights attorney whatsoever. She has no experience (outside of our case) with high conflict people, and had no idea how to handle it. There were multiple instances of her giving advice, only to concede that she was wrong. She dropped the ball on multiple occasions. When she’d speak to the judge, she was too nervous to get across ideas. It was like she was a kid reading from a written speech, no ability to improvise. Hiring her and not firing her mid battle is one of my biggest regrets. I don’t mean to be cruel, but this needed to be said. It’s too important and too much money for others not to know.
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01 Jan, 2009 by Anonymous
Mrs. Morasch gouged me in my divorce. She made sure everyting was convenient for her and not in her client's best interests. She would not respond timely to any of my written requests/instructions and lost my divorce case for me due to her poor representation which has cost me thousands of dollars. During the divorce hearing, she just sat there and never once defended me. She was a total disappointment.
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15 Feb, 2016 by Anonymous
Ms. Peterson was hired by me in relation to descrepencies on my credit report. During our initial consultation, she appeared competent and knowledgeable. After she was hired, she did not follow through on promises she made to attempt to contact the companies regarding my case, she did not return my phone calls or emails. I had to
Physically go to her office twice. The first time I showed up, she apologized for not returning my calls stating that things got extremely busy. She admitted that she had not even started on my case and it had been almost a month since she was hired. After our meeting , I heard from her via a letter she sent to the companies on one occasion and then another "letter" that actually was an invoice for time accrued. Well it's been 6 months and I have heard nothing else from her. I just recently emailed her requesting the valve of my retainer: $44.00. This attorney is awful and I am extremely surprised she has remained in business. I only stumbled upon her through my employer's EAP Program...if you need a lawyer, beware of this one....in fact, run the other way.
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19 Feb, 2016 by Anonymous
Attorney Ford was referred to me via Pre-paid Legal to write a letter to someone who was defaming my name. He sent the draft letter for me to review. I submitted the letter with changes. I then received a email from his administrative assistant with the original letter attached without the changes I requested. The name and orientation of the agency was wrong, and there were several name spelling errors. I let the office know that I was not aligned with them sending out the letter. Despite my communication of my not being aligned with the letter they sent the letter out without my knowledge or approval.
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11 Mar, 2016 by Wendy
DO NOT HIRE ERIN KEELER (RICKARDS) AS YOUR DIVORCE ATTORNEY.
Erin Rickards failed me in every way that a divorce attorney could fail. She failed to give me good advice. She failed to critique every level of the valuations done of shared assets. She failed to ensure that premarital assets were attributed to me. She failed to account for money that could have and should have been deducted from the equity of assets. She failed to go after my ex when we really had him with his lying and concealing of assets. She failed me. I trusted her and thought she knew what she was doing. But she did not. She had barely been out of school three years when taking my case she had NO business being my divorce attorney. She made mistake after mistake and failed to protect me from total financial ruin.
The results of Erin Rickards failure towards her client is that I am about to go into bankruptcy because of the insurmountable debt that I have incurred because of the huge divorce judgement against myself. I owe more on my divorce judgement today then I did in 2010 because at 9% interest I can barely make the interest payment each month. Furthermore, the emotional and physical stress that I have suffered since my divorce trying to run the business that I unhappily own and be a single mother and pay my ex-husband every extra cent I have has had a terrible toll on my physical health to the point that I can no longer even work in the restaurant as I am physically unable.
Please take my advice and do not use her if you want to come out on top on your case.
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What a Family Law Lawyer Can Do for You
A family law lawyer provides legal services related to family relationships, including marriage, divorce, child custody, and adoption. Family lawyers help clients navigate emotionally charged legal issues, providing guidance and representation in disputes that affect spouses, children, and parents. Whether you're going through a divorce, seeking custody of your children, or drafting a prenuptial agreement, a family law lawyer ensures your rights are protected and your interests are represented.
Family law attorneys often handle sensitive matters and offer objective legal advice, helping clients reach fair outcomes either through negotiation, mediation, or litigation.
When Should I Hire a Family Law Lawyer?
Hiring a family law lawyer is beneficial in several situations, especially when legal matters involve close personal relationships. Common reasons to hire a family law lawyer include:
- Divorce or separation: When ending a marriage, a lawyer can help you navigate issues such as division of assets, spousal support, and child custody arrangements.
- Child custody and visitation disputes: If you and your co-parent can't agree on custody or visitation, a lawyer can represent your interests and work toward a solution that benefits your children.
- Child support: Whether you’re seeking child support or defending against a claim, a lawyer can help ensure the appropriate amount is calculated and enforced.
- Prenuptial or postnuptial agreements: A lawyer can help draft or review agreements that protect your assets in case of divorce.
- Adoption: Family law lawyers guide you through the legal process of adoption, ensuring that all requirements are met.
- Domestic violence or restraining orders: If you're a victim of domestic violence or being falsely accused, a lawyer can help you obtain or challenge protective orders.
- Paternity cases: If there are questions about the paternity of a child, a lawyer can help establish or dispute legal fatherhood.
Hiring a lawyer early can prevent issues from escalating, and they can offer you the best chance of achieving a favorable outcome in emotionally charged situations.
What Does a Family Law Lawyer Do?
A family law lawyer provides a wide range of services depending on your specific legal needs. Their responsibilities may include:
- Advising on legal rights and options: Helping you understand your legal rights regarding divorce, child custody, support, and other family law issues.
- Filing legal documents: Drafting and filing petitions, motions, and agreements with the court, such as divorce papers, custody agreements, or support orders.
- Representing clients in court: Arguing your case in front of a judge if a settlement can’t be reached through negotiation or mediation.
- Mediation and negotiation: Assisting with alternative dispute resolution methods, such as mediation, to reach agreements on issues like custody, property division, and support without going to trial.
- Enforcing court orders: Helping you enforce court orders related to child support, alimony, or custody if the other party fails to comply.
- Drafting prenuptial or postnuptial agreements: Creating agreements that protect your assets in the event of a divorce.
- Handling adoption proceedings: Ensuring that the legal process of adoption is followed, from filing paperwork to finalizing the adoption in court.
How Are Family Law Lawyers Paid?
Family law lawyers typically charge clients in one of several ways, depending on the complexity of the case and the lawyer’s experience. Common payment arrangements include:
- Hourly rates: Most family lawyers charge by the hour, with rates varying based on experience and location. Clients are billed for the time spent working on their case, including consultations, court appearances, and document preparation.
- Flat fees: For more straightforward legal services, such as drafting a prenuptial agreement or handling an uncontested divorce, some lawyers offer flat-fee arrangements.
- Retainer fees: In cases that are expected to require significant time and attention, such as contentious custody battles, a lawyer may charge a retainer, which is an upfront payment that covers the initial costs of legal services. The lawyer then bills against the retainer as they work on your case.
The exact cost will depend on the complexity of your case and the lawyer’s fee structure, which should be discussed upfront.
How Much Does a Family Law Lawyer Cost?
The cost of hiring a family law lawyer varies based on factors such as the lawyer's experience, the location, and the complexity of your case. Here are some general cost guidelines:
- Hourly rates: Family law lawyers typically charge between $150 and $500 per hour, depending on their experience and the complexity of the case.
- Flat fees: For simpler cases, such as drafting a prenuptial agreement or handling an uncontested divorce, fees may range from $1,000 to $5,000.
- Retainers: For more complex matters, such as contested divorces or custody battles, lawyers may charge a retainer ranging from $2,500 to $10,000 or more. The lawyer will bill against the retainer for the work they do on your case.
- Additional costs: You may also be responsible for additional costs, such as filing fees, mediation fees, or expert witness fees.
Always ask for a clear breakdown of the lawyer’s fees and any additional expenses during your consultation.
Top Questions to Ask a Family Law Lawyer
Before hiring a family law lawyer, it's important to ask questions to ensure they're the right fit for your case. Here are key questions to ask during your consultation:
-
What experience do you have with family law cases like mine?
Make sure the lawyer has experience handling cases similar to yours, whether it's a contested divorce, child custody dispute, or adoption. -
How will you charge for your services?
Clarify whether the lawyer charges by the hour, a flat fee, or requires a retainer. Ask for an estimate of the total costs involved. -
What are the possible outcomes of my case?
An experienced lawyer should be able to give you a general idea of what to expect based on the facts of your case. -
What is your approach to resolving disputes?
Ask whether the lawyer tends to favor negotiation and mediation or whether they prefer to take cases to court. This can help you determine if their style matches your goals. -
How long do you expect my case to take?
While it’s difficult to predict, the lawyer should give you an estimate based on similar cases. -
Who will be handling my case?
In larger firms, junior attorneys or paralegals may do much of the work, so make sure you understand who will be your main point of contact.
How to Check the Credibility of a Family Law Lawyer
To ensure you're hiring a reputable family law lawyer, follow these steps to verify their credentials and reputation:
- Check state bar association records: Verify that the lawyer is licensed to practice in your state and is in good standing with no disciplinary actions.
- Read client reviews and testimonials: Look for reviews on websites like Avvo, Google, or Martindale-Hubbell. Previous clients can give you insight into the lawyer’s professionalism and success in family law cases.
- Request references: Ask the lawyer for references from past clients who can speak to their experience with the lawyer.
- Review their website or professional profile: Look at the lawyer’s background, case history, and areas of focus to ensure they have substantial experience in family law.
- Look for professional memberships: Membership in reputable organizations, such as the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), can indicate a lawyer's expertise and dedication to family law.
What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?
To get the most out of your first consultation with a family law lawyer, it’s important to come prepared. Here’s what you should bring:
- Relevant documents: Bring any documents related to your case, such as marriage certificates, prenuptial agreements, financial records, custody agreements, or court orders.
- List of assets and debts: For divorce cases, prepare a detailed list of all assets (e.g., homes, bank accounts, retirement funds) and debts (e.g., mortgages, loans, credit card balances).
- Details of the family issue: Provide a written summary of the situation, including key dates and facts related to your divorce, custody dispute, or support issue.
- Questions for the lawyer: Write down any questions you have about the legal process, costs, and potential outcomes.
- Your goals: Be prepared to discuss your objectives, such as custody arrangements, property division, or spousal support, so the lawyer understands your priorities.
Being organized and clear about your situation will help the lawyer evaluate your case more effectively and offer the best advice for moving forward.
