Shiela Renee Sweat

DO NOT HIRE THIS FIRM. I ignored the bad reviews and hired Sheila Sweat for a paternity case because her firm does payment plans. I was told that after my initial deposit was paid they would get to work on my case and as long as my payments were paid on time every week, they would continue workin...g my case. I was told only if my payments did not come through would they stop working on my case. However, they never started my case. I paid them the deposit and after we got off of the phone i did not hear anything from them. However, the $300 weekly payments were still being taken out. i've hired a lawyer before so i know you're not in constant contact with the lawyer but the fact that they never called or emailed about the details of my case, my goals, or any next steps raised red flags. so after 3 weeks i called and the receptionist told me i had to leave a message. so i did and i waited a few days. no call back. so i called again. Again the receptionist told me to leave a message. so i asked to speak to COLLIN, the office manager. the receptionist told me she wasn't allowed to transfer me to him and told me yet again, to leave a message. I let her know when Collin took my original payment he told me i could call and talk to him any time. she responded, well i'm not allowed to transfer you to him so leave a message. so after this i emailed Shiela expressing my concerns about the lack of communication. She responded saying she was in a hearing and would get back to me. I waited two days and did not hear anything from her so I emailed her again requesting discontinuing representation and a refund. Anita, the Associate Attorney from her team, emailed me back with the INITIAL DOCUMENTS. I hired them July 2 and I was finally receiving the INITIAL DOCUMENTS July 30; AFTER multiple calls and emails. I responded requesting termination, a refund and I stopped payments. Coincidentally enough, right after i get the notification that the payment to sweat law was declined Ms. Shiela herself called me. in this call I understood her to say that work on my case had not yet begun and she tried to say its typical for it take almost a month for INITIAL DOCUMENTS to be sent over. she then proceeded to send me the WELCOME EMAIL. almost a MONTH LATER and i was just receiving the WELCOME EMAIL. I emailed that i still wanted to terminate their services and requested a refund. i had to request a refund a second time to get a response from Collin saying that my refund would be processed in 30 days and that they were deduction fees from the work that had been done on my case. BUT REMEMBER SHIELA JUST TOLD ME ON THE PHONE THERE WAS NO WORK DONE ON MY CASE. so i requested an itemized accounting of the work performed. this was Aug 20. it is oct 1 and i still have not received a penny back from Sweat Law. Do not go with them because they are cheaper. you will end up spending more money because they're just going to take your money and disappear. Now, i'm out of the money i already paid them and have to fight for back. EVEN THOUGH SHIELA ADMITTED TO NOT STARTING MY CASE!! but i had to spend even more money to hired a new lawyer. this firm has no moral or ethical code. DO NOT LET THEM TAKE YOUR MONEY AND WASTE YOUR TIME.