Over 55k and no resolution
I paid this firm over 55k for a simple custody modification that never reached mediation or a final trial. Nothing was resolved, and I had to change counsel. They were completely ineffectual.
Communication was bad from day 1. My attorney cold-called me in the middle of my work day hours before the scheduled call. No direction was given with regards to submitting documentation. It took 3 emails to get instructions for the client portal. I was told I didn’t need to attend a proceeding, then called frantically day-of and told I did. Calendar invites never came, no emails recaps or timelines. Sloppy.
I knew my attorney was junior and was ok with it. I hadn’t violated my decree and it should have been simple to resolve. I needed competent, not a Hollywood divorce lawyer. When I raised concerns, the firm’s answer was to add a second attorney, which came up more than once.
Temp orders hearing - My ex received a Tuesday visitation. My attorney’s order came back with 5 material errors; additional rights not granted, medical insurance obligation shifted to me, the wrong day of the week for visitation. I sent back revisions twice and she sent the final to opposing counsel w/out my review My ex caught another error in the timing of visitations. Due to this, he refused to sign, sending us back to court and resulting in an additional ~8k. The managing partner swooped in (again), reassuring me. Mediation was soon, why change now?
Mediation - Despite my ex cancelling & the mediator confirming the case was off the calendar, I was told to appear anyway because it would “look good”. This accomplished nothing but more billable hours.
Final trial - I provided a written list of outcomes I would accept. The day before trial she kept bringing me offers nowhere near it, conferring with opposing counsel, and billing every exchange. The offers got progressively worse.
Trial day - Although my ex requested a district judge, my attorney didn’t confirm the setting until the day before. It had not been set, and we could not proceed. Another fumble resulting in a reset and more billable hours.
Staffing model - The cost driver. A weekly internal meeting billed 3x; paralegal $205, associate $350, managing partner $525.. Over $1000/hr for the firm to talk to itself. The managing partner appeared on substantive entries. The firm calls it “supervision”, from where I sat, it was cleanup of work I had already paid for.
Billing dispute - The managing partner hired the associate whose work I was questioning. She bills on the matter and controls the billing. There is no neutral party and defending the work is in her best interests. I submitted a formal billing review that was flatly denied without a single entry addressed. Withdrawal was threatened more than once after asking billing questions, usually with a key date approaching.
Strategy - None presented, I had to press my attorney to get actionable feedback and was told to trust the process. Unfortunately, no strategy or proactive measures were taken, just reactivity and a complete lack of accountability. I saw no evidence of anyone picking up the phone to manage opposing counsel or move the case forward - just billable conferring. When I raised this, I was told, verbally and in writing, that billing is for “work done and not an outcome”. Not what any paying client wants to hear.
I attempted to escalate my billing concerns to another party in the firm, detailing the itemized issues. I received a copy-paste response using the exact language the managing partner had used previously denying it.
After I withdrew, they continued to bill me more than $2,000 over the next 7 weeks , including more of the 3x meetings, to discuss a routine filing.
While MFL certainly enriched themselves by my situation, these practices aren’t sustainable. I would urge anyone evaluating counsel to look elsewhere. The lawyer I moved to got the job done quickly and effectively.








