Michele Mary Bernard

I would not recommend Michele Bernard based on my experience while she represented me at O'Mara Law Group. I retained her for an urgent family-law matter and personally supplied extensive documentation and prepared the substance of a proposed settlement communication. My hearings were continued, t...he proposal was declined, and my underlying emergency legal concerns remained unresolved. Following her departure from O'Mara Law Group, I requested a meeting and a clear explanation of the proposed legal strategy, team and fees before deciding whether to continue with her at her new firm. Instead of addressing those questions, she sent me a separate email thanking me for electing to stay with her. I had not agreed to do so or signed a new retainer. I was dissatisfied with the communication and the handling of this transition during an urgent legal matter. I decided not to retain her at her new firm.

My wife was represented by Michele Bernard in a family-law matter. Based on our experience, I would not recommend her. During the case, a Motion to Stay was filed and no opposition was filed on my wife’s behalf. After the stay was granted, my wife repeatedly asked what order governed her timeshari...ng and specifically asked Michele to seek clarification from the trial court. Michele stated that she was unsure of the stay’s effect and directed my wife toward appellate counsel, even though my wife was asking about the immediate impact of a trial-court order on her parenting time. That lack of clarity had real consequences. The stay disrupted the timesharing structure my wife had been relying on and created renewed conflict over scheduling, communication, and access to her daughter. My wife was trying to get a clear answer about what order controlled and what could be done in the trial court, but she did not receive timely guidance. Michele later filed a contempt motion containing factual statements that my wife says were inaccurate, including allegations that the father had refused all timesharing and contact. My wife specifically corrected those statements in writing. Michele then asked her for a more accurate and detailed rundown so the motion could be redone, which my wife provided. Despite that, the motion was not corrected. That was particularly concerning because the inaccurate allegations led to opposing counsel reporting that the father was accusing my wife of lying about the timesharing facts. My wife was then put in the position of having to defend her own credibility over statements she says she had not provided to her attorney in the first place. Another issue that concerned us was how the representation was handled after Michele joined O’Mara Law Group. Michele had previously told my wife that she was taking her case with her to O’Mara. She later told my wife not to contact O’Mara Law Group and said she was not an O’Mara client. At the same time, court filings in my wife’s case used O’Mara Law Group’s name, address, email addresses, and firm contact information. That inconsistency was confusing and concerning. Communication was also a major problem throughout this period. My wife sent follow-up emails asking whether the motion would be corrected, whether a hearing would be requested, whether Michele intended to continue representing her, or whether she should withdraw so my wife could make other arrangements. At the time of writing this review, more than three weeks have passed without any substantive response from Michele. In my opinion, going more than three weeks without responding to a client who is asking about urgent, substantive issues involving her child and pending court matters is extremely unprofessional. These are the reasons for my review. I am describing our personal experience and documented communications and court filings. In my opinion, the lack of communication, the handling of the stay, the failure to correct an inaccurate filing after being notified of the problems, and the overall lack of follow-through were unacceptable.

Michele Bernard has lied and set false expectations of getting my support adjusted . After the hearing she didn’t bother to follow up with me not even after that meeting . She took my money and ran off offering no assistance that she told me she could help with . She coerced me into paying for her se...rvices making it seem as if it was do or die and have not came through with anything and I’m still stuck at square 1 with no true guidance, a jacked up fee in support and no custody order and parental planning in place …… ROBBERY !!!!!!

I hired Michele Bernard for a military divorce and an injunction case. She was paid $12k in advance. If you want to give away everything and have an attorney that doesn’t defend you then hire her. She’s by far the worst attorney in the state for military law. She knows nothing about military law and ...will suggest that you give away all your rights and entitlements! I fired her! I didn’t get any money back even though she was hired to do a job that she just simply couldn’t do. I would never recommend her for anything. I did all my own paperwork and had to pay for notary expenses. She won’t see you in person nor will she answer your phone calls. She’s a ripoff! I don’t know how she is even considered an attorney! I definitely wanted a full refund but completely out of the question when you deal with a shady attorney! Holistic attorney! Ha! She doesn’t know the first thing about being holistic or caring for her clients in such a manner. She’s a fake and hope you choose someone else if you are looking for a good attorney that can provide results!