Domestic Violence victims have certain basic needs from their attorneys: trust, communication,…read morerespect (not being referred to as "problem client" behind their backs), and attorney experience to aggressively defend against abusers (waivers of mandatory face-to-face mediations, filing criminal charges).
Also, a good attorney would not measure a case's progress solely by how much money the client has left (refusing to take an offer to opposing because "discovery" isn't complete, yet waiting until the client is broke to recommend that same settlement--discovery never having happened.)
A little coaching and advice would also be helpful; for example, telling her not to cash out her IRA or her kids' college funds to pay attorney fees, which would have been untouchable by the opposition. This firm failed me on each of these
I recommend to anyone, hire a divorce coach first before committing to an attorney, or join a support group and make a legal plan in addition to your DV escape plan. Attorneys won't tell you, but once they are hired, everything is set in motion and you cannot legally transfer assets to assist your escape, lock an abuser out of your home, pay to move somewhere unknown to him, dispose of his weapon, or personally serve a restraining order on him. You can't even legally clean up his unhealthy mountain of garbage in a cluttered fire-trap house for the sake of your kids. You are apparently not allowed to touch or change anything for the months and years the divorce is underway.
If anyone is being abused and wants to avoid some of what I went through, I recommend consulting attorneys that are referred through a support group. Those attorneys were unable to even speak with me once I hired someone else, so I don't even know what I missed. I thought hiring an attorney immediately would protect me. It didn't. Knowledge and planning ahead is what will protect you. The support group I attended was "Peace Over Violence". I cannot vouch for their attorneys, but I suspect every one of them would have been better than this firm, at the time, which failed me on all counts.
The worst thing was, I felt victimized a second time. I failed to write this review for many years for the same reasons I failed to leave my ex: dependence, fear, and a desire to forget. Dependence on the attorney for the future in case my ex returned, fear of reprisal at work because I got an entry-level job and the firm was its client, and my desire to forget the whole thing replaying in my mind, just like every time I had to go to court (reliving it), which made me feel ill. It takes some courage for me to write this review, and although it did happen years ago, I want to help others avoid the hell I went through.
This firm apparently lacked members with Domestic Violence experience. They never communicated with me the potential for criminal charges; didn't seem to believe I couldn't "just leave" describing abuse that wasn't physical (imprisonment, threats against kids, killing pets, violent destruction of property) or perhaps because of my wealthy status; didn't respect me (called me their "problem case" behind my back). They didn't pursue my claims of hidden money, ignoring my repeated requests over the years for them to file a subpoena on the bank, and they did not protect me from mandatory face-to-face mediations with my terrifying ex (they looked at me like I was crazy when I asked, but I now know these face-to-face court meetings could have been waived - and they aren't even his kids!) Finally, they never considered my ability to survive financially (age 52, no resume, 2 traumatized children), continuing their wastefulness at my expense and to their enrichment.
They billed me for my "free consult" and billed me for the call asking about it, while "passing the message along". I should have heeded the red flag during my "free" intake meeting Simpson: "You'll soon stop micromanaging the expenses." Also the psychological toll of them dragging my case along - prepping repeatedly for numerous court appearances (with PTSD) only to find out in court they were requesting continuances on my behalf. Each continuance required new file reviews at my expense (as did the hours of file review when they shifted my case back and forth between attorneys). And of course I paid for the filing requesting the continuances for their vacations. I paid for scanning of the paperwork they INSISTED I provide in hard copies, despite my offering electronic versions numerous times, they billed me to re-scan everything back to electronic form. When I called again to try to offer my thumb drives, my concern "passed along" and they continued scanning, and I paid for that call as well.
On a good note, however, Stephen Calwetti, who finally was assigned my case, is a gem, and did make me feel heard and safe, in spite of all these other issues.