In a divorce that has turned to dissipation. Legal fees over 100,000 in the past 8 months and no end in sight. Need a non-bias legal opinion on were my case stands and possible solutions. Looking for attorney that is willing to be paid for advice only and look over my case.
With legal fees of over $100,000 I understand why you would want another option. The attorney that you select to review should charge you on an hourly bases. Be sure to get in writing an estimate of what the review will cost. I suggest using an attorney in the same area because he/she would be familiar with the judge and be in a better position to give an opinion.
I agree with the other attorneys but might focus on "efficacy", "value" and "strategy" rather than proving or disproving "malpractice". It would be hard to define what "malpractice" is in this situation, unless it is deliberate overbilling ("churning the file") or totally incompetent representation that some other theoretical superior attorney would have been totally able to avoid and have produced the desired results.
It's a divorce case, with apparently a lot of money on the table in terms of a community property division, and possible spousal maintenance or child support. Obviously, you both have a lot of money to spend on this, and I presume millions of dollars is at stake. It takes two to tango, and it's clear that both sides want to fight a protracted and bloody war over this. You may or may not have different results with any attorney, given the marching orders that each of you seems to have given to your attorneys so far.
But, sure, for that kind of money, I'd certainly get (and pay for) a second opinion with someone going through all the papers to date and interviewing you in depth. Prepare to pay a lot for the service. And keep in mind that the reviewing attorney may be wanting to get the work (you should probably agree if he finds your attorney wanting, he will not take the work but will suggest other attorneys who might do a better and less expensive job...there's an inherent conflict of interest here, just like certain car mechanics in my town known for always finding fake "problems" caused by other mechanics they bad mouth so they can do expensive and unneccessary repairs).
Possibly the best advice you can get here is whether your overall strategy is amiss, and whether you should think about other approaches such as mediation and concessions to your position, as hard as they are to "swallow" to "get to yes" and get this divorce behind you if continued strife is only going to make the lawyers rich.
This is a Q&A forum. If you are looking for a second opinion concerning fees, you could click on the Find a Lawyer tab at the top of the page and locate a number of attorneys who might be able to give you a second opinion about your case. You will have to consult in person, and you will need to bring all your paperwork with you. There are many fine attorneys in your area. Select one who is experienced in complex family law matters.
get a photo copy of your entire court file from the court clerk. get a copy of all discovery requests by both spouses and answered by both. find a lawyer. give that lawyer all this material to review and then meet with you to discuss the case.
If you are interested in an opinion, I would be happy. However, if you are not happy, you should look for an attorney that can give you a plan on what needs to be done. I would consult with a couple of attorneys and find a good fit. Look at my Web site to see if I can help.
