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04 May, 2020 by Brittany
Unprofessional, incompetent, and a huge waste of money. This attorney never had a clue as to what was going on in regards to my case, and all my phone calls and meetings with her were spent repeating the same details to her over and over, which had already been documented and covered in paper format with her client intake questionnaire. I ended up completely compromising on basically all of the issues in our case and my ex ended up writing our divorce settlement for her in order for us to be divorced in a timely manner. Still was charged for her time in "writing it up."
The day of my final hearing, she walked up to me confused and asked if I was her client. This was after meeting me in person twice, the last one occuring less than 2 weeks before the hearing. Also, right before the final hearing started, she ran off to make copies and when the judge and clerk arrived, they were baffled by her absence and we all had to wait for her to come back. Her delay in the proceedings of course were charged for.
From a low income, single mom who is legally fully responsible for the finances of 2 children, take my word. Save your money. Hire someone competent.
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21 Jan, 2018 by Mishelle
Contacted by email, quick response. Contacted again, quick response by phone and answered all my questions. Very impressive.
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05 Nov, 2013 by Anonymous
Susan superbly handled my divorce from a local attorney 5 years ago. She was able to keep a level of professionalism between all parties. Recent follow-up with her has been easy. I would say her creativity in divorce law has helped me tremendously. I would highly recommend her.
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28 Jul, 2023 by Vicki
Employed by FSCS for 8 years in an Admin Support role. Definitely a Best Place to Work!
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25 May, 2023 by Mike cherry
Thanks for all the help.
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28 Dec, 2022 by Meghan mott
10 May, 2023 by Relentless
This guy rocks
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13 Aug, 2017 by Capen mclemore
13 Aug, 2024 by Sonja sirie waters
Very slow need more people
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26 Jul, 2024 by Rick the ricker
No help or even reply.. Good luck.
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22 Jul, 2024 by Taniesha sanford
Lawyer was very careless she basically sided with who i was going to court against i lost both my cases while she laughed and giggled with the person taking me to court i was harrased after court she never respo ded to messages until 3 days later she was very careless about my situation we came to a agrrement in court and my landlord added fees that was not in my agreement and she did not say anything about it she was not for me she was more for getting paid for nothing worse lawyers ever
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04 Apr, 2023 by Thomas brennan
Re:Diane Knoblauch
(Edit to add: after leaving this review, she called me back and shamed me for the review. Her reason: I called her after office hours. I called her at 7:07pm on a Tuesday night because google said she was open. She answered the phone. So, why would I think she was closed? Still no reason to be so rude.)
If I could give zero stars, I would. My wife called her about needing a lawyer and from the beginning of the call, she was rude and unprofessional. She cut my wife off halfway through the conversation and said, “this isn’t something I can help you with. I don’t practice that kind of law. Sorry”
And hung up. That was it. No help whatsoever. I don’t even think she gave my wife time to explain what we need.
Definitely don’t waste your time calling her if you are looking for an attorney.
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30 Jan, 2023 by Rosemary stover
Well just got off the phone with the receptionist and was rudely dismissed. Never higher these people if a Good Attorney can higher lower then educated assistants to work for them and treat possible clients with the less respect one can get is a no brainer.
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25 Jan, 2023 by David bugbee
I got to say that even though I was dealing with the wife's attorney on his request by his assistant, I will say in the three times that we sat down to talk about a deal that we needed to be worked out, the David Lacasse was definitely not what I expected because I was working with my wife's attorney. However in them three times that we met I was treated with nothing but respect by David and there was a deal that was agreed upon the David had wrote up. I thought that my wife's attorney did an excellent job and he also treated me with respect and fairness so therefore I must give him a four-star rating on that fact alone. I don't know him personally but I do know that our meetings were held and a private room and although he was working for my wife he still treated us with respect and I think that David especially and probably his partner to our excellent attorneys for our community. I'm not sure honest pricing but I'm sure if you asked him if there was a way to work something out that David would be that kind of guy that would try to figure out how things could get paid for. I'm the third occasion I did walk out of the office having a lot more gained respect for him only because I felt like I was going into hostile territory when you're going to your wife's attorney. However David did change my mind on this and I think you mix a great addition to lenawee county for our attorneys
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24 Feb, 2024 by Maggie
I spoke to Ms. Martell the other day. I had previously reached out to her a day or so before. She return my call personally and was very kind. Ms. Martell provided my fiancée and I with very valuable and easy to understand legal advice with regard to LGBTQ parenting laws. We will definitely be using her for any of our estate planning and family needs.
Please note: I was a bit thrown off by the rating, But as I always, do, I read the reviews carefully. The low ratings are not a reflection of this business. Sometime ago, a scammer used the name of this business. This is similar to how a catfish steals someone’s photo off social media to scam others. This law firm is not connected with the credit card scammers in ANY way. The owner of the business is just as much as a victim as anyone else that was affected by the criminals involved.
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31 May, 2023 by Michael de ianni
They're the victims, not you and your drained bank account. I got them on the phone and that was the story. It's their company and their name. The fact that they haven't addressed it speaks volumes. They are absolutely part of the scam. File a police report with your local PD
They will contact Ann Arbor PD.
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28 May, 2023 by Robert ayala
Just reading reviews and situation. I was hit with a $300 fraud charge from this law firm. I’m dealing with the credit Union and getting new cards issued but a very bad way to start the Memorial Day weekend.
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31 Jan, 2016 by Kim
My husband and I went to Adam to represent us and guide us through the adoption process of our son. Adam was professional and timely throughout the process. I felt confident in his ability to help us through the adoption proceedings. It was apparent that he was knowledgable when it came to family law and had the best interest of our family as the top priority. Adam kept us informed every step of the way. I would recommend him to any friends or family with full confidence.
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27 Jan, 2016 by Brett
I contacted Adam for various legal advice.
He was very professional and gave me sound advice free of charge. It was very clear from talking with him that he has his clients best interest as a top priority. He was very knowledgeable about the law and I knew if I ever needed to hire him he would do everything in his power to ensure I would be represented to the very best of his abilities. He is very adiment that making sure his clients get the best representation from him possible.
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06 Oct, 2015 by Dennis
I hired Adam to represent me in a custody hearing, I found his preparation of the case was poor, he failed to keep me informed in a timely manner, he failed to supena needed witnesses that I had requested feeling that their expertise would be helpful to proving my case. The judge in his ruling stated that he gave more weight to my ex's side because she had 1 witnes that was viewd as an expert, my witnesses would have refuted her but my attorney refused to supena any of them. He has since tried to bill me for services that I already paid for. I in good faith could not recommend this attorney to anyone for family court.
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07 Aug, 2018 by Mark
I’ve been a client of Mike Solner for over 20 years. He has handled all of my family’s wills, trusts, real estate transactions and living wills. The reasons I highly recommend Mike include:
• His Thoroughness: Every legal document Mike prepares is accurate and complete.
• His Communication skills: Mike is able to communicate complex legal strategies in a straightforward way that even I can understand.
• His Fairness: Mike has worked many more hours than he has billed me. He doesn’t believe in billing his clients for every 5 minute phone call.
I am extremely pleased with the legal services Mike has provided me and I plan on using Mike for all my future legal needs.
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03 Jul, 2018 by Anonymous
I did not have a good experience with Mike and am still bitter about it. He did work we did not agree to in writing and then expected me to pay for it. In the meantime, he did NOT do what WAS agreed to in writing. I didn't want to end up in court over it so I paid him. I rated him 2 stars instead of 1 because I don't think he was intentional about his error but he should've owned up to it and acknowledged he deviated from our written contract. This was a difficult time in my life made more difficult by someone who should've been helping me.
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19 Jul, 2024 by Aaron miller
03 Mar, 2024 by Dori cassidy
09 Feb, 2024 by Lahib desha
Please do your research before hiring an immigration lawyer! We decided to reach out to Taft Law regarding an E2 business visa. We were told during our consultation that it would be around $6-8000. We talked it over and decided to go with them. We had a few more questions about the process in the next following days and we had told them we were going to go through with it and pay a retainer. After the first initial email we got from them me and my wife decided that we were no longer interested in pursuing that visa. Not because of the law firm but we decided that it was too risky of business for us and decided not to proceed. I sent them an email saying I was sorry and no longer wanted to proceed and apologized for wasting there time and that I was going to pay them for there time they had spent on our file.
We had a 45 min consultation, a 15 min phone call followed by a 20 minute phone call. We had no idea that every second of each phone call was being billed out at $480/hour. Long story short they charged us $1740 for a Zoom Consultation, 2 phone calls and an email. And they said that price included things that they didn’t charge for as well, as if they were giving us a break at that price. I feel like they threw the charges at us only because we were no longer working with them. They quoted us 6-8k for the visa and they did about 5% of the work and billed us $1740? Something doesn’t add up. Unfair billing practices!
I don’t expect them to work for FREE but $1740 for an email, 2 phone calls and a consultation is ridiculous.
I would highly suggest you go elsewhere where they are more transparent with their prices.
We are out the $1740 but it’s probably best as there quote of 6-8k would probably end up being 10-14k.
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25 Sep, 2019 by Andrew
She is a life saver. I had another lawyer that took my money and didn't care. She changed my situation around and now my daughter is happy. She is the best of the best. I went from losing to winning. Well worth the money and some!
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23 May, 2018 by Anonymous
She seems nice and knows the talk and walk; but she does slip and slid with the truth. Just beware if you make an agreement in mediation with her, because in front of the judge she changes what was agreed upon. I think this is her way. So, if she is your attorney and you don't mind her moving this way, she's good to hire.
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20 Nov, 2016 by Anonymous
I used Jayne for mediating a divorce. She gave false information which created issues with dividing up assets, failed to make an appointment for which she was in the office but did not respond to a phone call or message, and her office staff doesn't respond in a timely manner.
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13 Jun, 2019 by Christine
Jenna has facilitated several cases for me. She was easy to contact and handled her own scheduling which really simplified the process. She was prompt and prepared for the facilitations and was personable (gentle but firm) when dealing with me and my client. I appreciate her diplomatic but honest assessment of my cases. I highly recommend her as either a facilitator or neutral arbitrator.
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10 Apr, 2013 by Anonymous
THIS LADY ENDED UP TAKING MY CASE;WHICH WAS GOING EXCELENT AND LOOKING FAVORABLE; WHEN THE ORIGINAL ATTORNEY LEFT THE FIRM. REASONS UNKNOWN AND UNBENOUNCED TO ME. SHE AND THE FIRM NEVER INFORMED ME OF THE CHANGE AND I ONLY FOUND OUT WHEN I LOOKED ON LINE AT CASE ACTIONS THAT SHE HAD MISSED 2 MAJOR COURT HEARINGS.
I SHOULD OF FIRED HER ESPECIALLY HOW RUDE SHE WAS TO ME WHEN I FINALLY DID REACH HER 3 MTHS AFTER SHEDE TAKEN OVER. INSTEAD SHE TALKED ME INTO IT AND I KEPT HER ON. ONLY FOR HER TO NEVER NOTIFY ME OF ANY CASE HAPPENING AND THE OPPSING COUNCLE TRYING TO DISMISS. THE SECOND TO LAST HEARING I FOUND OUT THE DAY BEFORE AND SHOWED UP IN COURT.
THE JUDGE AND DEFENSE HAD NO IDEA WHO I EVEN WAS.YET MY CASE WAS DISMISSED BECAUSE OF A FINE THAT WAS TO BE PAID FOR MISSED COURT APPOINTMENTS AND SHE REFUSED TO COUGH UP THE THOUSAND DOLLARS. I CERTAINLY HAD NO CHANCE OF TRIPING ON THAT KIND OF MONEY IN 24 HOURS ;AND SHE HAD KNOWN ABOUT THIS FOR 7 AND HALF WEEKS. I WOULDNT EVEN TELL MY WORST ENEMY TO HIRE THIS CHIC.
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14 Feb, 2017 by Mary
Mr. McGlynn had my case for six months. He never filed for a motion for summary disposition of my case.
Mr. McGlynn did not take any depositions on my case in the same six months. As far as I am aware, he never even submitted any written interrogatories or request to produce.
In my opinion he had charged too much and accomplished too little, so I chose to hire a new attorney.
My new attorney actively and efficiently pursued the case, took discovery, and the case was dismissed.
My new attorney advised me that if he had been representing me in the beginning of the case he would have immediately sought a dismissal of the case based on the defenses that were available and was surprised that such a motion was not filed.
My experience with Mr. McGlynn was upsetting. In my opinion his not efficiently pursuing these existing defenses added unnecessarily to the cost and was emotionally draining.
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19 Jun, 2014 by Mark
I have (unfortunately) had to hire a number of lawyers over the past couple decades. And I have to say that Dan has been the best. He goes above and beyond for his clients and is always fair at invoice time. I will recommend Dan to everyone that needs a good attorney.
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4.8
12 Reviews
1.3
14 Reviews
19 Aug, 2024 by Youssef eweis
My experience with Greenstone Legal Group was excellent and heartwarming. They seemed to have suffered multiple attacks after I started reacting to Capital One's [not known for hiring the best people] harassment campaign.
The conflict with Capital One was published on December 31st, 2023. Also on that day, it seemed like the entire past of the US Army had possessed my spirit to chant the best possible cadence my lungs could muster.
It's funny how there was a Green Beret on the bus as I joked about calling Capital One and threatening them for abusing their late payment fees immediately after I signed my contract.
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14 Aug, 2024 by David slatten
Please, if you read this-and many other- review stating that Greenstone is terrible and not to get involved, BELIEVE THEM!!! Greenstone Legal Group is nothing but a scam, 100%. Yo make a long story short, we entered into an agreement with them to help negotiate some debt settlement and after 15 months of paying into the program…..nothing. We received several offers to settle or debt from the creditors which we promptly turned over to Greenstone only to have them do nothing. Then we received a summons from court after discovering that one of the creditors was suing us. We turned that promptly over to them also. Their whole spiel is that they are there to protect you from collection efforts while trying to negotiate settlements. Well they failed. Just recently we received a letter from the court stating that the creditor had won their case against us for “failure to contact the court or respond to the summons”. So basically, Greenstone did nothing! They keep about half the money that you send as “payment for services rendered” however, it is plain to see that they don’t actually render anything but lies. We have since canceled our agreement with them. We did get some money back but only about half of what we put in. And we negotiated directly with the creditors and had deals to pay half the original debt in one day. Wonder why Greenstone couldn’t have done that. I implore you to stay far far away from this group. They will tell you nothing but lies and rob you of your money.
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13 Jul, 2024 by Sandra
Don't use these people!! They are con artists with nothing but lies. Didn't do one thing they said they would do. They will ruin your credit.
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04 Apr, 2016 by Anonymous
My experience has been the worst. She never contacts you. If there is ever an emergency...forget trying to get a hold of her. But when she needs something oh you better contact her. Very unprofessional and unfair in everyway. I would never recommend her to anyone even my worst enemy. Everything is on HER TIME.
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02 Dec, 2012 by Anonymous
Garwood was more concerned with making money and lengthy drawn out court proceedings than the well being of the family. The case should have been within a year, however Garwood drew out the process making the legal and time expenses extremely high.
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01 Jun, 2012 by Douglas
I've been with Tammy for nearly three years in high-conflict divorce and custody issues. In my opinion she is one of the best out there. She is caring and honest but when the chips are down she is willing to fight for her client's rights.
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07 Feb, 2023 by Adrian law
0 transparency, 0 communication, and then threatens to sue. 18 months ago I asked questions about the charges and got no response.
This company cannot be trusted. If I could give a rating of 0 I would.
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09 Sep, 2022 by J garcia
Collison & Pedawi resolved my legal disputes in a timely manner. The professionalism and representation of these lawyers are exceptional! I will always recommend their legal expertise.
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09 Sep, 2022 by Maddison velasquez
My experience with Great Lakes Bay Legal services were outstanding! The degree of professionalism and practice of legal issues showed to be true of their word. I greatly recommend this office of lawyers.
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07 Aug, 2024 by Destiney lesley
I owed the hospital for the birth of my son and some hospital bills for both my kids when they were really sick. I was served 2023 for part of it I paid it off in only a few months. I was served again this year for the rest of the amount I called right away and made arrangements and a payment. I missed a month they got a judgment to wipe out my whole account $1600. The next month I made another payment and couple days later found out they were now garnishing 25% of my checks. If I would have known I would have just not made a payment it’s pointless to even try. I tried talking to them and everything is my fault I didn’t return a document and they will just talk to you like you’re nothing. I didn’t remember needing to fill anything out and returning it I called and said I wanted to do this much a month and I got an okay. I remember calling the second month to make a payment and the lady told me you don’t have to call every month I can send you a link to pay and I started using the link.you have to be careful and keep track of all your receipts, I have a very bad memory and it could be me but I don’t remember missing any payments at all. Hopefully I don’t owe the hospital any more after this is done if I do I wont even bother trying they’re gonna just wipe you out anyways. I given them almost 3 thousand in the last two years and $1700 in the last two months and I have small children that are in daycare. At the end of the day I know I owe it but this is a lot in a short amount of time. Hopefully this helps someone else in a similar situation!
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08 Jul, 2024 by Jacob garrison
Terrible customer service. My garnish company told me I could call goodman and have them retract my garnish as long as I set up a payment plan. Then I call and talk to this bumnard guy and he tells me "you forgot to call me back and set up a plan, so now there's nothing I can do do help you"
Straight bum he/she was. All because they where upset I didn't call back fast enough
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01 Jul, 2024 by Chandler shoaf
Timothy J. Frost told me, when discussing finances issues and payment plans, that “I should’ve made better life choices”. They have no sympathy and are not working in your best interest.
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12 Nov, 2021 by Anonymous
Do not depend on James to beat your case I should've listened to my gut. Money wasted, I lost my case and ended up getting sued.
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17 Sep, 2019 by Anonymous
It was my experience that Ms. Underwood presumes that her clients are not as intelligent as she believes she is and therefore tries to get as much money from them as she can while doing the least amount of work. As the Attorney for our father’s estate, my sisters and I found her to be unresponsive to our many requests for accounting and supporting documentation causing us to seek new counsel. We would recommend you hire an attorney who will put any and all assets of your loved one in an interest bearing trust account, which Ms. Underwood did not do for us. As a result, a lot of money was lost and we felt we were grossly overcharged for her representation (or should I say “misrepresentation”).
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06 Nov, 2023 by Anonymous
One of the worst attorneys I've ever had to work with. The most disappointing and unprofessional attorney I've ever had encountered. Never had an attorney speak in derogatory terms and speak with complete disregard for clients needs. I would never ever recommend this disgraceful so called attorney it their law firm. Stay as far as you possibly can from this this firm and you will save yourself the unnecessary headache.
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21 Oct, 2021 by Anonymous
Roy Johnson is a bottom feeding lawyer. He took 100,000.00 for a divorce case while collaborating with the other party. He hid evidence, committed perjury and intentionally mislead the court. Currently being sued. Stay away!!! Legalized criminal!
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07 Sep, 2024 by Anonymous
After initially meeting this attorney, there is absolutely no way that I could honestly recommend this attorney to anyone. To me did not seem like a pleasant person at all.
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FAQs
Questions? We have answers
What a Mediation Lawyer Can Do for You
A mediation lawyer specializes in resolving disputes outside of the courtroom through a process called mediation. Mediation involves a neutral third-party mediator who helps the disputing parties reach a mutually acceptable agreement. Mediation lawyers can represent clients in various matters, including divorce, business disputes, employment conflicts, contract issues, personal injury claims, and more.
Unlike litigation, mediation is a less adversarial and more cost-effective way to settle disputes, often leading to faster resolutions and preserving relationships between the parties involved.
When Should I Hire a Mediation Lawyer?
Consider hiring a mediation lawyer when you’re involved in a dispute and want to avoid the time, expense, and stress of going to court. Common reasons to hire a mediation lawyer include:
- Divorce or child custody disputes: A mediation lawyer can help you reach a fair settlement on issues like property division, alimony, and parenting arrangements without going to court.
- Business or contract disputes: For disagreements such as contract disputes, partnership conflicts, or intellectual property issues, a mediation lawyer can assist in resolving the matter through negotiation.
- Employment disputes: Issues like wrongful termination, discrimination, or wage disputes can be addressed through mediation to find common ground and avoid lawsuits.
- Personal injury cases: Mediation can help both parties agree on compensation in cases like car accidents or slip-and-fall claims without a prolonged court battle.
- Property disputes: Disputes over property ownership, landlord-tenant issues, or boundary disagreements can be settled more amicably through mediation.
- Family or inheritance disputes: Mediation can help resolve conflicts over wills or trusts without further dividing the family.
What Does a Mediation Lawyer Do?
A mediation lawyer provides a range of services to help clients resolve disputes through negotiation and mutual agreement. Their responsibilities often include:
- Representing your interests: Acting as your advocate during mediation to ensure your rights are protected and you understand your legal options.
- Preparing for mediation: Reviewing the facts of the case, gathering necessary documents, and advising you on potential resolutions.
- Facilitating communication: Helping to facilitate open and constructive dialogue between parties to clarify points of contention.
- Negotiating settlements: Assisting in negotiating fair and balanced settlement terms that are in your best interest.
- Drafting mediation agreements: Preparing the official mediation agreement that outlines the terms of the settlement, which is often legally binding.
- Avoiding litigation: Aiming to reach a settlement that eliminates the need for a court trial, saving time and resources for both parties.
- Handling complex legal issues: Explaining the legal implications of various settlement terms in cases with complicated legal matters.
How Are Mediation Lawyers Paid?
Mediation lawyers typically charge for their services based on the complexity of the case and the time involved. Common payment methods include:
- Hourly rate: Charging an hourly fee ranging from $150 to $500 or more, depending on experience and case complexity.
- Flat fee: For simpler mediations, some lawyers may offer a flat fee covering all legal work involved in the process.
- Retainer: In ongoing or complex cases, a retainer may be required as an upfront payment billed against as work progresses.
Discuss fees and payment structures with your lawyer during the initial consultation to understand the cost of mediation services.
How Much Does a Mediation Lawyer Cost?
The cost of hiring a mediation lawyer depends on several factors, including the case's complexity, the lawyer’s experience, and the time required to resolve the dispute. General cost estimates include:
- Hourly rates: Typically between $150 and $500 per hour.
- Flat fees: For simple mediations, fees may range from $1,000 to $5,000.
- Total mediation costs: Can vary widely, from $2,000 to $10,000 for straightforward cases, up to $10,000 to $50,000 or more for complex disputes.
Always request a detailed cost estimate during your consultation to understand total expenses.
Top Questions to Ask a Mediation Lawyer
Before hiring a mediation lawyer, consider asking the following questions:
-
What experience do you have with mediation cases like mine?
Ensure the lawyer has relevant experience in handling similar disputes. -
How do you charge for your services?
Clarify the fee structure and request an estimate based on your specific case. -
What is the likelihood of resolving my case through mediation?
Seek an honest assessment of whether mediation is suitable for your situation. -
How long will the mediation process take?
Inquire about the expected timeline and number of sessions required. -
Will you personally handle my case?
Confirm who will manage your mediation and represent your interests. -
Can we pursue alternative dispute resolution (ADR) if necessary?
Ask about other forms of ADR, such as arbitration, if mediation doesn't resolve the conflict.
How to Check the Credibility of a Mediation Lawyer
To ensure you're hiring a reputable mediation lawyer, take the following steps:
- Verify their bar status: Confirm with your state bar association that the lawyer is licensed and has no disciplinary history.
- Look for mediation experience: Review their website or professional profile for specialization in mediation and successful case histories.
- Read client reviews and testimonials: Check platforms like Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, or Google for client feedback.
- Ask for references: Request references from past clients familiar with their mediation skills.
- Check for certifications: Look for certifications from organizations like the American Arbitration Association (AAA) or the Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR).
What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?
To maximize the effectiveness of your initial meeting, bring the following:
- Relevant documents: Any materials related to the dispute, such as contracts, emails, financial records, or court filings.
- List of key issues: A detailed list of the main points of contention that need resolution.
- Timeline of events: A chronological account of events leading up to the dispute, including prior resolution attempts.
- Goals for the mediation: Be prepared to discuss your desired outcomes and areas where you're willing to compromise.
- Questions for the lawyer: Any queries about the mediation process, fees, or their approach to dispute resolution.
Being well-prepared will help the lawyer assess your case effectively and provide the best possible advice for resolving your dispute through mediation.
