Melanie Stepp Lane

I was referred to Melanie Lane for help wrapping up a conservatorship case that is being transferred to New York. She had great reviews for fighting to get justice for those who have been denied justice. I was sold, plus the case is wrapping up with only one or two hearings. The complete opposite of ...what she portrayed in her bio, Melanie was very demanding, drilling me on what attorneys I had worked with, insisted on reading the entire 25-year case file and demanded an up-front $12,000 retainer (which she broke down to $350 an hour—$50 more per hour than her maximum fee advertised online). I begged her to be reasonable and ethical in her demands since we were talking about a one or two hearing wrap up on a transfer, but she said “Those are my terms—take it or leave it.” Don’t throw away your money on this anti-client lawyer.