I cannot recommend Shelly Ingram. Throughout my divorce, I was fighting two battles: one against…read morethe opposing party and one against my own attorney's pressure to settle for less than I deserved. My experience was defined by two major failures in advocacy: Custody: Despite my children living with me after their mother moved out of the home, my attorney insisted I accept a 5/14 (every other weekend) schedule, claiming it was the Maryland standard. When I secured text evidence from my ex agreeing to 50/50, my attorney was hesitant to use it, stating "it might hold up in court." I ignored their advice, went to court, and the judge awarded 50/50 custody specifically citing the texts my attorney wanted to downplay. Financials: At our Pendente Lite (P&L) hearing, the judge ruled that no alimony was necessary for my ex. Despite this, when the opposing party asked for alimony again during asset division, my attorney pressured me constantly to pay it simply to reach a quick settlement. I had to act as my own advocate to stop this firm from giving away my parenting time and assets. If I had listened to their advice, I would be seeing my children significantly less and paying unnecessary support.

Shelly Ingram and her team are the absolute best. I went to her for a modification of custody and…read moresupport. I was awarded an increase in support. Shelly takes the time to really hear me and understand my case. She is thorough and organized. She is very responsive to emails and makes sure I understand what is happening every step of the way. Her communication is top notch! Highly recommend!

I was looking for an attorney when I came across EmClara Law and Ms. Melissa Bright, Esq. on Yelp…read more She actually came up as one of the top 10 attorneys in the area, so I decided to take a chance and give her a call. I was pleasantly surprised when she answered the phone herself. I explained my situation to her, and she spoke to me as a human being first, before even treating me as a client. I'm a newer entrepreneur building my business, so I really appreciated that Ms. Bright works with entrepreneurs who are in the early stages of their journey. I was dealing with a contract that I needed legal advice on, and she helped me take a step back and separate my emotions from the situation so I could make a more informed decision. She was incredibly pleasant, understanding, honest, and real throughout our conversation, and that conversation gave me the clarity I needed to take the next step. I also really love that EmClara Law is a woman-owned firm. As a newer entrepreneur, I found Ms. Bright's extensive experience working across big law, tech startups, and global corporations especially valuable. Her background gave her a perspective that felt very relevant to the situation I was navigating, and I really appreciated the knowledge and guidance she brought to our conversation. I would definitely work with Melissa Bright, Esq. again in the future for any legal matters concerning my business. I truly appreciate having someone like her in my corner as I continue on this journey. I highly recommend reaching out to her if you're an entrepreneur looking for an attorney who will take the time to listen, understand your situation, and give you honest guidance.

I went to Emclara for a legal matter and was very happy with how they handled my case and the…read moreoutcome. Ms. Bright was the lawyer who handled my case, and she was professional, gave me detailed explanation, and executed the law well. She even received a public accolade from the Judge for her preparation and knowledge of the law during a motions hearing. I recommended Emclara to 2 of my friends/family, and they were also happy with their interaction with this law firm. I recommend Emclara and would not hesitate to use them again.

I am really disappointed by Krystal's lack of professionalism, her lack of attention to detail and…read moreher lack of responsiveness. This is a shame to me, because we really connected during our initial consultation and she gave me her word that I could trust and rely on her during my divorce process. Nothing could be further from the truth, though. I'll start with the most recent incident that caused me to fire her as my legal counsel. She neglected to read many of the important documents that I sent her pursuant to my case, and it resulted in a default against me. She admitted in writing that she dropped the ball on this earlier, yet when the default actually happened she tried to blame me, state that "she doesn't read all emails and attachments," and several other lame excuses. During this situation, she tried several times to engage in a text war with me, when I just wanted to be done with her and recoup the remainder of my retainer fee. That's when I really discovered her uncouth and unprofessional she was. That was over a week ago and she has still failed to issue my refund and provide final closure on the end of our business. But that's ok, because my credit card company has copies of all her emails and texts where she agrees to refund me. I hired her in mid August, and almost from the start she took 3-4 days to respond to emails, she prioritized other clients over me by stating that she "was too busy" to get back to me on urgent items because of this and that. I found myself having to repeat things to her several times via email, which showed me that she was not reading my emails or paying attention. She even mispelled my name several times and misrepresented my wishes in her draft divorce decree, and I believe this is because she simply doesn't pay attention or take pride in her work. She obviously doesn't care about her clients. She also was not well versed on current DC law or filing protocols. I found myself having to educate her on items like child support calculators, electronic issuance of service which is now allowed in DC, and some other things. The judge in our case had to reprimand her for trying to communicate with the court on my without filing an appearance. (This is the stuff that 1st year law students learn.) I have strings of emails where she drops the ball, gets defensive about it after not responding for 3-4 days and then apologizes for her behavior thereafter. After 2 months of this, I just got tired of the shenanigans and now I'm done. It's a slight burden, because now I am representing myself until I can find another lawyer. But anything is better than Krystal. I would caution anyone with an important matter, and who does not have the time to micromanage their lawyer to stay away from Kyrstal D Wilson, JD. She's just not capable.

I obtained the legal services if Ms. Wilson to review some contracts and other documents pertaining…read moreto my start up company. She was extremely helpful, informative, and timely with returning emails and or phone calls. She took her time and explained everything to me in detail so I could fully understand in layman's terms. It's a breath of fresh air when you can trust and be fully confident in someone that they have your best interest in mind. Not only that but she gave me other useful ideas for my business plan.

Roxan Kerr is an amazing attorney! I highly recommend her firm for all of your legal needs. She…read moretakes the time to explain the pros and cons of every decision so the client can make an informed decision. Her knowledge and expertise is commendable. She is thorough, diligent, and consistently prioritizes her clients' best interests. Roxan Kerr's approach is both professional and personable, making her an outstanding choice for anyone in need of legal services. Whether you're facing a complex legal issue or just need straightforward advice, you can trust her to guide you with clarity and integrity. Her dedication to her clients and her deep understanding of the law truly set her apart in the legal field.

I had a great consultation with Attorney Kerr. She has a lot of experience with landlord and tenant…read morematters and real estate in DC. I would recommend her as an attorney.

Ms. Robinson has been nothing less than an absolute God send. She has been working tirelessly on my…read morecase, working Sundays, late nights answering all my questions and keeping me calm. She is truly an angel!!

Attorney Robinson is a shinning example of what all attorneys should aspire to be. I was in one of…read morethe worst positions in life. Ms. Joy cast aside my fears and went above and beyond to ensure my case was handled quick and efficiently. Her kindness and professionalism made the process painless. I highly recommend Ms. Joy and her firm for all your bankruptcy needs.

I cannot say enough incredible things about Shirley Chim at Safi, Duran & Chim. I came to work with…read moreher after reaching out to the Lawyer Referral Service through the Fairfax Bar Association, and I truly am so grateful for the chance referral that has led to top-notch representation since I first met her around May 2024. Through a protective order hearing, emergency hearings, a full day trial, and two settlements, Shirley always made me feel heard and has helped me see the bigger picture of the long-term. She is a mother of three herself and very attuned to concerns that mothers have, particularly when dealing with substance abuse and high-conflict individuals. I worked with three other attorneys prior to her in my custody matters involving my children, and I am truly blown away by her knowledge, empathy, and commitment to her clients. The difference in representation was immediately clear to me. Whether it was in Arlington or Fairfax, JDR or circuit court, Shirley has always gone above and beyond for me in two intertwined and complex custody cases. Shirley is exceptionally well-versed in family law and understands not only the legal framework, but the strategy behind it. She is thoughtful, thorough, and incredibly prepared. What sets her apart, though, is her ability to combine sharp legal skill with genuine compassion. She listens carefully, validates concerns, and then goes above and beyond to advocate effectively. Throughout my cases, I felt supported, informed, and confident that I had someone in my corner who truly cared about achieving the best possible outcome for my children. Her work ethic and attention to detail are unmatched. If you are navigating a complex custody situation and want an attorney who is brilliant, strategic, and deeply dedicated to her clients, I highly recommend Shirley.

I've heard horror stories about lawyers who disappear the second you pay a retainer, but Shirley is…read morethe exact opposite. From day one, her responsiveness and accessibility were incredible. Divorce and custody battles are inherently stressful, but never once did I feel like I was navigating the Virginia court system alone. Shirley is incredibly sharp and doesn't waste time on fluff. She gave me realistic expectations right out of the gate, telling me exactly what was achievable rather than just telling me what I wanted to hear. That upfront honesty saved me a massive amount of time, money, and unnecessary anxiety. When it came to litigation and dealing with opposing counsel, she was an absolute powerhouse. She was able to see what I wasn't able to and her attention to detail in our discovery and filings was so helpful. She cuts right to the heart of the matter, and protects your interests without dragging out the drama. If you want an attorney who is highly efficient, completely transparent, and executes a case with total precision, Shirley is the only person you should call. She wrapped up a brutal chapter of my life with an excellent result, and I cannot thank her enough.

I would not recommend Pare & Associates based on my experience. I felt that I was misrepresented…read morethroughout my case and the service I received was both overpriced and poor. My first attorney, Lisa quit halfway throughout my case because she was overwhelmed. She was unprepared for my pendente lite hearing and set my case on a downward trajectory from the start. Another attorney later took over and was more competent, but I felt he did not want to take the case to trial. Because of that, I am now facing the consequences of bad advice. Overall, I did not feel supported, and I regret placing my trust in this firm.

Before entering into any agreement with this law firm, make sure you are not paying a flat rate…read more Unlike other reputable law firms that take retainers and then send billable houses, Pare/Alice Law charges a flat rate and then concludes there is no more work to be done. Complete lack of transparency in billable hours and no results.

The best part of my experience, and the highlight of the entire experience was the initial…read moreconsultation with Soo. She gave excellent direction and fully explained all options available. After this, I was assigned to another attorney within the firm. The representation itself was fine, but I did feel that there was unneeded back-and-forth at times, with each message being billed at a rate of 6 minutes, it all adds up. The tipping point was when I emailed asking if we could reach out to the other party's representation and also asked if there were any strategies to move toward a resolution. I received a response stating "It is good to hear from you. It probably makes sense for you to reach out to [other party regarding my question] and the need to reach a resolution. If you are able to reach an agreement, then we can help you to memorialize its terms." I was surprised when I was charged for this, and when I asked if I was being charged, I was ignored. Finally, when I asked to end my relationship with the firm and requested a refund of my retainer, the amount billed for the aforementioned email response was deducted. While it was only ~$40, my question was not even answered. I was offered a 15 minute consultation at a later time, but since I'm no longer a client, asked if that was something I would even be able to use. A week later and I have not received a response. I would be cautious of this firm if your situation is not cut and dry and to whom you are assigned. In my experience, Soo Keithley is fantastic, but others may leave you wanting for more.

I had a long relationship with Soo and her firm for representation in my divorce issues. I…read morerecommend you look elsewhere. Let's just say I have experience now with other divorce attorneys in the area, and it's worth your time to keep looking because you can do much better. A lot of the other posters' negative experiences with Soo and her firm are very familiar and similar to my own. In my opinion, professionalism is a huge issue with this firm. Ultimately and I cannot emphasize this enough -- this firm became just as, if not more, stressful to deal with than the high conflict divorce I was embroiled in. And that is not a feeling you want with your attorney who is supposed to advocate for your interests.