Legal Question in Legal Ethics in California

Lawyer Problems

in nov 05 I hired a lawyer for my uncontested childless divorce and paid $2800. This was the only day I met with her or spoke to her personally. from then on it was communication through her paralegal/secretary. my calls are never returned, in 2 years i have spoken with someone no more than 10 times. I have cell phone logs to prove all my multiple outgoing calls and no imcomming calls returned but these few. This summer I found out attorney is ineligible to practice law as of aug 07 and as of today still is ineligible. The lawyer dragged this case out for 2 years for no reason other than neglect. The internet shows divorced finalized nov 07. I have called multiple times since Nov 07 and written for statement of what fees I was charged and itemization of fees incurred. But have not been responded too. I feel i am owed money back. never received a bill or statement. feel like i have been taken and deceived. I hired a lawyer not a paralegal and how do i get the money back that was unearned or unjustified if i have nothing, no contract, no bills. just a canceled check i wrote and a copy of what documents they filed for my divorce. what do I do?


Asked on 1/17/08, 2:20 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Robert F. Cohen Law Office of Robert F. Cohen

Re: Lawyer Problems

Write a complaint to the State Bar. You can also file a request for arbitration with your County Bar Association or, if it doesn't have the fee arbitration program, then the State Bar would have one.

Frankly, I don't think $2,000 is unreasonable for a divorce. The filing fee is just under $300. Preparing the paperwork probably took the paralegal an hour or so. Preparing the order and appearing at the hearing probably took about 2-3 hours. Add photocopies and postage, and they probably exhausted the deposit. Just my 2 cents.

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Answered on 1/17/08, 5:28 pm


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