I am so grateful for Brook Meakins and her practice because now I finally know what my my options are, what I need to do, where to go, and what to expect after letting my divorce papers hang in the balance for the last 7 years. I waited so long because I was embarrassed and ashamed of a "failed marriage" and I was the one who wanted out. I felt so much guilt that I filed on my own and asked for nothing. I met Brook through yoga and later discovered she was an attorney specializing in family law through her non-profit organization. It took me a year to reach out to her and she responded so promptly with so much heart and compassion that I felt completely at ease to tell her my story. Now I feel empowered about my predicament and I owe it all to Brook and her support. I give her and her team the highest recommendation. Thank you, Meakins Law. read more

This review is long overdue as I have wanted to share my wonderful experience since the day I chose the Meakins firm. Now that my divorce is coming to a close, I am so grateful I found a firm that handled my case with such integrity and professionalism. I felt comfortable from the initial consultation with my lawyer David and he truly listens to the client. In my case he was able to negotiate with the opposing party amicably while getting me the best settlement possible. David was very accommodating of my work schedule by arranging phone calls or handling things electronically when allowed. This saved me much time and hassle, but he was always happy to meet if I ever needed any face time. The staff has been great as well, patient and quick to respond. The firm is up front and very transparent about everything. Also fair and flexible with the fees. They made life a lot easier by allowing customers to handle things electronically, from paying invoices online to providing a link to access all your case files. Aside from their expertise in family law, I felt like more than just a client. Brook has personally made me feel like family during a very difficult time, always checking in to not only see how my case was going but how I was doing. I respect Brook and David both personally and professionally. I feel lucky that I had the Meakins firm as my advocate and could not recommend them more! read more

If you are reading this review - Congratz, you are half way saved from whatever miserable/difficult situations you are trapped in right now. And you are so close to get yourself fully saved by contacting Meakins Law and praying that they will have the bandwidth to take your case. I was very unlucky to suffer from multiple bad attorneys before I found Meakins Law. As soon as I had my initial consultation with Brook, I knew immediately that this was a genuine and extreme knowledgeable law firm based on how patiently and carefully Brook listened to me and how strategically she was able to quickly spot the problems and provide me few directions for the next step. Then I was lucky enough to have Meakins Law take my case, hold my hand and walk me through the dark, difficult and nasty process ("thanks to" the horrible, idiotic, dishonest, unprofessional opposite counsel & opposite party who exits by making endless troubles and delaying the court) step by step towards the reasonable and fair end which was the ultimate goal I was looking for. David was my day-to-day attorney who worked on every detail of my case from handling every form, email to attending every hearing and eventually settled the case in a reasonable and victorious way. David is a super knowledgeable, ethical, strategic, persuasive, analytical to be able to read people and the case, dedicated and fearless attorney who will never give up on fighting for your best interest no matter how difficult the situation is. Brook was copied on every email of our conversation so both of them were fully aware of every detail of my case. This model is very unique, totally worked and financially efficient to the client. Unlike other law firms who may have a full house of staffs "work" on your case and show on your bills, in fact, nobody really knows what's going on with your case as all the works have been diced and layered to multiple people who don't even know you and your story. That's why David and Brook's good reputations are out there for so many reasons. Anyway, I can keep this review ongoing as I truly appreciate David and Brook for their professionalism and expertise in Family Law to save me from a difficult case. I also admire David and Brook as integrity, ethical and intelligent human beings who could always win people's hearts in the case because they ARE the good people & attorneys who have golden hearts and souls to help read more

Brook is amazing and this review is long overdue. To make a long story short, I was in the worst employment situation ever. I wanted to leave my job and start my own business but I had a million questions about my legal rights since I signed a no compete agreement. I only had a matter of days to quit my job and start my company, so I needed legal advice pronto. Brook put my worries aside and was able to help me in a matter of hours (on a Sunday actually!). She also sent me a certificate for two free cupcakes for her 2nd anniversary in business. How nice is that!?! I highly recommend her. She is smart, efficient, professional, and has made me take back every negative thing I have ever said about attorneys. Thanks again Brook! read more

Brook is truly a caring attorney. She loves her clients, her employees, and most importantly, her job! I've never seen someone as enthusiastic about helping her clients in difficult times. Her energy and positive outlook are like a ray of sunlight on a cloudy day. read more

In a pinch and in a hurry and not blessed with a fat wallet?? THIS IS YOUR GIRL. She got a motion cranked out in 2 hr

I discovered Brook on YELP and based on the great reviews decided to contact her. I'm so glad that I did. My first impression of Brook was that she was too nice to be an attorney but during our initial meeting the claws came out and I thought that I would NOT want to sitting across from this woman in court. I immediately hired for a civil matter and subsequently hired her for a family matter. Whenever I communicate with her, I never feel as if I'm being billed in 15 minute increments. She cares about her clients and their welfare. She gives a lot of herself to her clients and it's obvious that she really cares. I can't say enough about her and will continue to hire Brook for any matter that may come up. read more

Words cannot express the pleasure I had working with Brook. I was thoroughly impressed with her work. She kept billable time low while doing all the necessary things to be effective. She also kept me informed during all phases of the work. First, I was a little bit skeptical because I knew attorneys bill for their time. However, I was very surprised that my total bill was less than what she originally quoted! Brook definitely exceeded my expectations! She's an A+! Thanks Brook! read more

I went with my friend for a consultation on her situation. Brook was so warm, caring and professional . She took my friend in early than her appointment time. She listened to my friend and gave helpful suggestions. She also encouraged questions from my friend and I. As a professional myself, I can tell Brook is an awesome attorney that you can share your heart and life stories. She will support you when you need that right person to go down a journey that is not so pleasant. Thank you for your time Brook! read more

Like most people who find themselves needing to contact a lawyer I was frustrated, angry and offended and felt like I had to get someone in my corner. Thanks to Yelp, Brook was that person. Not only was she sympathetic to my situation, but she answered every single question I had (and there were many, many questions) without hesitation. She was very prompt in responding to my emails and informing me of days she would have to delay her replies. Those delays were few and far between and her effort to go out of the way to let me know these small details reminded me that she was just as motivated as I was about finishing my case. Keep in mind that money-wise, my case WAS NOT the type of case you would expect this kind of "special effort." In summary, this was my first experience with an attorney and I am so glad to have chosen Brook. Without hesitation I recommend her to anyone in need of legal advice. read more

I had a wonderful expereince with Brook and David! They produced the desired results! Only one word I can say to sum up everything, awesome! I highly recommended them to my friends, and also you who are reading this review. The reason why I highly recommend Brook and her lawfirm is because they produced the desired results through their passion to help others, their ingenuity to adapt in different situations, and their experience to litigate effectively. They also enjoy interacting with people, have a really comfortable office in a very nice area, and tailor how they do business according to your goals and needs throughout their clients' cases. My problem: I had filed a motion to modify my child support in September 2017, which the custodial parent and I had made an agreement on, so I could pursue my masters. However, DCSS's lawyer didn't sign off on it, so the judge couldn't sign the agreement into an order, thus accumulated child arrears of $15,000. On top of that, my dad passed away and I came to the US to take care of my mom until she was better, and was unemployed due to not being able to renew my passport becasue I'm pursuing a masters overseas. Solution: I went to the self help center twice to find out why my agreement wasn't being enforced. They researched it and the judge told them DCSS needed to sign the modification, then she could sign it into an order. So I went to DCSS's office 3 times, talked to them on the phone 4 times, and emailed them 2 times about my case, but it kept going around in a circle. I would answer the same questions, and kept filling out an income and expense report. This went on for more than 6 months, and DCSS rejected my stipulated agreement 14 months after I filed it. I didn't know what to do. *Effective* solution: I decided to give Meakins Law a call because their Yelp and Google reviews were great. My thoughts were if I was going to make a substantial investment, I should go with the best, so that's what I did. I contacted Brook who set up an initial consultation with me. She was very professionally and relaxing to talk with. Brook prefers to meet clients in person, but because of my circumstances, we had to talk over the phone. After getting the background of my case and my goals/what I wanted to achieve, she told me my goals were realistic, giving me a few options of what her lawfirm could do for me. I decided to retain their services. Brook was really cool about the payments. She understood I was borrowing money from my mom, and my mom is old fashioned, liking to use checks as payments. I asked Brook if using checks were ok, because my mom is old fashioned. Brook told me old fashion was fine. Thanks Brook! David was assigned as my lawyer. He was great! He's a really calm, logical, and ingenuitive. He set up a phone call to clarify what my goals were, as well as the background of my case. He also told me to let him know if the case was going the way I wanted it to go, and if I wanted to make changes at any point when working with him, just let him know. So I told him my goals and it happened! My goal was to get my agreement retroactively honored, and be able to renew my passport so I can continue my studies and work, then David got it to happeb. David effectively communicated with DCSS, and creatively litigated my case. He did this by supporting arguments and any counter any potential rebuttles (which there were none) through exhibits (facts based evidence) that my agreement should be honored, and the delay in getting my agreement honored was causing me a lot of hardships. I wanted to say that, but David was able to deliver that point in a proper, legal way, which only great lawyers like David could do. Thanks again David! Even though Brook and David worked with many other clients, they listened to everything I said, both in a professional and personal level. I never felt rushed. David worked during his lunch to prep me for a court appearance the next day, and Brook told me to keep her updated on my travels (something I enjoy) after my case was closed. If you need lawyers to help you attain the results you want or need in family law, then talk with Brook and her team. They will help you attain those results. You will not regret retaining their services. Brook and David, thank you both so much! I can get my life back on track thanks to you guys! read more

After a couple of years of trying to resolve my divorce through mediation I had to come to terms that I needed to hire a lawyer. I was already going through an emotional time and trying to help my children also move forward, the last thing I wanted to or had the energy to do was research a lawyer. After meeting with several firms, I was referred to Meakins Law. From the moment I met Brook and her team I knew that Meakins was the right firm for me. They were interested in my priorities, my values, and moved through the process with me. I was kept informed and I made the choices of how I thought best to move forward. This was important to me. Brook and her team understood that I was and intelligent person going through an emotional time and treated me as such. To this day I still reach out to Brook for referrals for friends and family and she has not steered me wrong. The company you keep says a lot about a person. If you're looking for a firm that will guide you, treat you like a partner, and most importantly support you through one of the hardest human experiences do not hesitate to set up a meeting. You will immediately see for yourself why I have given Meakins 5 stars. read more

Brook is so so easy to work with and extremely friendly. She is able to explain the law to her clients as if she were your friend rather than a stuffy attorney. She's extremely down to earth and a pleasure to be around. She's quick, efficient, and very knowledgeable about the law. I would trust her fighting for me in any and all lawsuits imaginable. read more

It doesn't get any better than Brook Meakins! Kind, considerate, and intelligent; Brook is the attorney you want in your corner. Brook is willing to go above and beyond your standard legal assistance and provide you with a holistic 360 degree approach to your problem(s). Don't mistake her kindness as a sign of weakness because she will get the job done no matter what. Brook, thank you very much for your help and I hope to send everyone I know with legal issues your way! read more

I discovered Brook through a friend who knew I was in need of a lawyer regarding employment law. Brook listened to my complicated case and helped me come up with inventive ways to come to a resolution - all the while avoiding great costs and lengthy court processes. She is affordable, inventive, attentive, detail oriented, and best of all, extremely patient. I was not the easiest customer. Working with Brook and her level of expertise helped me to breathe, and feel confident that what I was doing was right, and with the right people! With Brook, I feel I've gained access to a very competent lawyer, to advise me to situations and trust in her opinion and again, trust her impressive expertise and creativeness. It really helped me, and continues to help me because I know she's there to provide expert help when I need it, and she is PROVEN great for me. I highly recommend Brook! read more

I've never worked with a lawyer before Brook...and now I never want to work with anyone but her! She made all of the scary stuff not so scary and was exceptionally responsive, articulate and understanding. She has become an invaluable resource for me and my company. I really can't say enough about how fabulous my experience has been. read more

Brook is absolutely wonderful! I highly recommend her! She's held our hand through the entire process of our lawsuit with great compassion and competence! read more

My small business outsources all of our contract and legal work to the Law Office of Brook Meakins. Her professionalism and willingness to help is a welcomed change. When we needed help resolving a contract dispute, Brooke's invaluable legal insight allowed us to win the case. She was amazingly helpful and resourceful. I would highly recommend Brook for any of your legal needs. read more

I found Brook on Craigslist. I said, well for an affordable price, there's not much to lose. What surprised me is that her knowledge, is far beyond her years-I think it's intuition, too. Don't let the baby face fool you. She's also very tough and shows it for her client. Next, I thought there was going to be a problem for billing-no-she gave me a discount below her already low billing rate. I can't say in words how satisfied I am. Don't think twice, just call her. She knows how to filter information, too. I called others in her industry and they couldn't figure what she did in an instant. Anyway, I'm a regular and can't count how much people I referred her, too. read more

About 4 years ago, Brook helped with my case. She was great. She was friendly, supportive, hard working, helpful, and understanding. I used her employer for my wife's wrongful death lawsuit. We did settle before going to court. I would recommend her to anyone. Regards, Cliff read more

Like the unicorns fantasy, I did not think an honest lawyer existed. She was able to negotiate a $8000 settlement from the insurance company that was giving excuses on why they would not settle, that went on for five months. At that point I figured I had nothing to lose because I wasn't going to get a dime from the insurance company. Because of this lawyer I am able to put more money in my pocket than I originally thought the whole case was worth. read more

I work for a mortgage company based in Walnut Creek and from time to time we need to consult a family lawyer to assist our clients in their mortgage process. It doesn't get any better than Brook and her team! Brook is extremely kind and generous with her time. She is also incredibly responsive. In an industry where service can suffer, Brook sets the bar high! read more

Nice Lawyer. She helped me to fix my passport issue among other stuff including family problems

I am really surprised by the number of favorable reviews that Ms. Meakins has received. My experience was greatly different. It seems that she was willing to meet with her other clients, but she refused to meet with me in person or respond to my phone calls. If she didn't want my case, she should have withdrawn. Unlike the other attorneys with whom I have experience, she did not go over the fee agreement with me and explain the terms including her whopping $2500 non-refundable retainer. So if she settles your case with a phone call, she makes $3000. WOW! I should have gone into law instead of public health. One should never assume that a client understands a contract and an attorney should make herself available to explain such matters in person as opposed to email. You are charged either way. Thus, what difference does it make? There is such a thing as ethics. Ethics are the things that you should do. Laws are the things that you must do. What does it say about a person's character if they only do the things that they must do as opposed to the things that they should do? read more

I've been working with David for the length of whole divorce process and he's guided me every step of the way. I have always felt great deal of support and patience with which David has explained things to me and navigated me thru this new and dangerous world of family law. Brook Meakins was always there to help, too, should a secondary expert opinion be needed. I am glad I have come to their office and would highly recommend Meakins Law to anyone looking for help during divorce, or any other family law related questions. read more

I had a contract to review, Brook was professional, timely, and worth every penny! With her insight into the contract, we were able to avoid some pretty serious pitfalls, saving us headaches and money in the future... Thanks Brook! read more

Brook Meakins was professional, easy to communicate with and gave much more than she was expected to give. I run a very small underfunded non profit and she really saved the day for us. She is kind, trustworthy and helpful. She is wise and worth every penny! read more

Brook is an amazing lawyer. She always made sure to contact me quickly, and talked to me like a person who isn't a lawyer (the previous lawyer I had talked to me like I'd also gone to law school and I was usually confused). She helped me understand my options and was there to support me every step of the way. read more

This is honestly the first review I've ever written - but I needed to take a second and let everyone know how helpful Brook Meakins was with my problem! Fast, friendly, considerate - I would recommend her to anyone! read more

If you're looking for an attorney who is extremely diligent, punctual and thorough, I would highly recommend Brook Meakins. Although I live in the Eastbay, Brook came to my home to assess my legal situation. Then, during the following several months, she was in extremely close contact either by phone or email. All her correspondence was extremely clear and concise. I felt I had found a true advocate. Now that the original problem is resolved i(n my favor,) I am soon going to have Brook Meakins re-do my will and some other related matters. I think you will find Ms.Meakins a remarkably intelligent and intuitive legal representative. Unfortunately they don't allow a six star rating, so I will have to use the five- most enthusiastically. read more

Brook is excellent! I had a contract to review and she did a fantastic job. She was professional, courteous, honest, and fair throughout the process! read more