Legal Question in Employment Law in California

You need to check with the Federal government how attorney fees are handled. If it is done the same as in California, which I suspect it is, then the attorney is forbidden from getting paid until the WC Judge awards a specific sum to the attorney, which normally happens at the end of the case. If that is the situation and the two attorneys should have known it, report them to the Ca. State bar. If you think it was an innocent mistake on their part [they should have checked the law before demanding any type of fee, so they are dumb or bad], tell them so they do not do it to another potential client. In any case, you can not trust them so do not use them.

You will likely not get a pro bono attorney unless you case would effect several similar cases. You need t keep on looking for attorneys; go down to the Federal Office were the hearings are held and ask to look at the calendar of appearances and you will see a list of attorney names who handle such cases.