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David James Steele

4.5
Rating: 1.0

Licensed for 22 years

Divorce and separation Lawyer at Indianapolis, IN
Practice Areas: Divorce & Separation, Family, Child Custody, Child Support

3021 East 98th Street, Suite 105, Indianapolis, IN

This lawyer was disciplined by a state licensing authority in 2015
See Details

About David

Practice Areas

4

Practice Areas

Divorce and Separation 25%

For the past decade, I have handled some 1,500 cases, including everything from divorce to child custody matters, child support, post dissolution matters and anything else related to family law. Please see my profile for a complete listing of reviews from former clients. That will aways be the best way to judge an attorney. I return every phone call, I push every case aggressively and I will never overbill a client. Period.

23 years | 1,500 cases

25%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Free Consultation

$0 first 60 minutes


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

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Licenses

Licensed in Indiana for 22 years

State: Indiana

Acquired: 2003

Disbarred

Lawyer disciplined by state licensing authority in 2015

Location

Steele Legal Group

3021 East 98th Street, Suite 105, Indianapolis, IN, 46280

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The Avvo Rating explained

David James Steele's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

4.5 /5.0

47 Client Reviews

Showing 31 - 35 of 47 reviews

Posted by Jeff | January 17, 2013 | Divorce & Separation

A Man of His Word, Brilliant Attorney

It was immediately clear that David's main concern was winning. It was not money. Every other lawyer I called only talked money. This was my first time using the legal system and I was nervous and clueless. David couldn't have been more patient and I doubt he could have been more knowledgable. I...t was very obvious he has been doing only this for ten years. He got everything possible for me out of my divorce which wasn't exactly amicable. He did it while keeping everything friendly and never charged me a dime over my initial retainer. He could have run my bill up but instead, he kept doing things without charging me. I mean, he seriously did not charge me for about every other phone call or email. He said in the beginning that he would respond to every email and every phone call. I did not expect him to be quite that serious. Every single time I called, he called back. Every time I wrote an email, he wrote back. Every time something happened, he called to tell me. It honestly got to the point where my now ex-wife called ME to find out what was happening because she knew my lawyer told me immediately and she could never get a hold of her lawyer (who she paid more for, by the way). God, that was satisfying! I just can't recommend David enough. And judging by the other reviews I read, neither can any of his other clients.

Posted by anonymous | December 03, 2012 | Child Custody

Custody

I contacted David to help me with a custody arraignment. He spent a great deal of time talking with me, and explained everything in detail. David was very knowledgeable on the custody laws, and helped me understand what my expectations should be as the non custodial parent. He was always available... when I called, even giving me his cell phone number. He even returned a call to me after he had dental surgery. David also gave me a discount with the retainer, which helped me tremendously. He cares about his clients, not the money. I am very happy with the work David did for me, and wouldn’t hesitate to contact him in the future.

Posted by Mark | November 13, 2012 | Child Support

Mr. David Steele Awesome Attorney

I contacted Mr. Steele to represent me in a child support issue. I left his office after about a 1 hour long meeting , I felt very confident that I was in good hands. Mr. Steele was knowldgeable on family law, returnd my phone calls promptly and kept me up to date on the progress of the case. Mr. St...eele gave me his cell phone and told me that if I ever had any questions to contact him day or night. I would not hesitate to contact him in the future and I would also highly recommend him to anyone.

Posted by mndewar17 | November 12, 2012 | Child Custody

HIghly recommmend

David Steele is the only attorney who showed compansion for me during my time of need. Steele helped to explain the custody laws, visitation guidlelines, and child support process for me. Steele is a hard worker and always available to his clients, even on the weekends. I am very satisfied with case ...and the work Steele has done for me.

Posted by Ashley | November 08, 2012 | Child Custody

Outstanding Knowledgeable Lawyer! He's a winner!

I contacted David Steele along with probably 20 other lawyers about a child custody case. I couldn't get hardly ANY attorneys to even email me back with even a direction on where to go with my case without paying at least $1000 before even talking at all. Not only was he one of the ONLY attorney...s to contact me back, he emailed me at 1am on his own time explaining EVERYTHING that had to do with my case. Along with emailing me, I also talked to him via phone where he gave me his personal cell phone which lawyers just do not do unless they truly care. We emailed back and forth almost 30 times before I ever agreed to even come in to meet with him and he never asked for a dime for all the free consultations. After agreeing to meet with him, he didn't charge me at all for the whole in person consultation either. He told me absolutely everything I wanted to hear when it comes to being a mother fighting for a child. He gave me a great discount as far as a retainer & he has done everything in his power to save me money. I almost paid a " cheap " attorney that I had found which he talked me out of because he knew it was someone trying to take my money and nothing else. He absolutely fought for everything that I wanted when it came to custody, visitation, child support, etc,. and of course he won. He didn't agree to sign anything or take the easy way out to be lazy; he absoutlely worked his butt off to get me what I wanted. It was all about making ME happy. I have had NOTHING but wonderful experiences with Mr. Steele. He's VERY personable & he kept me up to date almost daily on my case whether it was through email, phone, or in person. I absolutely adore him and have referred him to many others. I'd go back to him for any issue that I have. Any amount of money that I paid was WELL worth it and the amount I did pay was absolutely reasonable. He spent so much time and effort on my case, making me happy, & winning. I'd never use anyone else! If you're looking for a winner, David Steele is absolutely your man!

See All Client Reviews

David James Steele's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse David
Justin Thane Bowen headshot
Justin Bowen

Litigation lawyer | Sep 06

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"Having worked with Dave Steele on several matters, I can attest to his intellect and legal accumen. Although I have not personally observed him in the court room, he is without question one of the most outgoing and approachable people I have ever met, and I am certain this translates into great results with both his clients and in front of the court. I am certain Dave would be a fine choice as a litigator on any matter. Congratulations on your success Dave!"

Kristin E. Hobbs headshot
Kristin Hobbs

Divorce and separation lawyer | Nov 27

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. David J. Steele is a top notch attorney. His responses in public forums such as AVVO showcase his experience, expertise, and a deep understanding and knowledge of the law. Any person in need of an attorney will be greatly served by this superior attorney."

Carol A. Lawson headshot
Carol Lawson

Divorce and separation lawyer | Dec 02

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. David is a true and passionate advocate for his clients."

Peter Joseph Lamont headshot
Peter Lamont

Divorce and separation lawyer | Dec 02

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. He has earned the respect and trust of fellow lawyers and clients."

Jacob Shad Mason headshot
Jacob Mason

Divorce and separation lawyer | Dec 02

Relationship: Other

"I endorse this lawyer."

Ronna L. DeLoe headshot
Ronna DeLoe

Divorce and separation lawyer | Dec 01

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I wholeheartedly endorse this lawyer. He is an excellent attorney in the matrimonial/family law field."

Florian Eqrem Tabaku headshot
Florian Tabaku

Divorce and separation lawyer | Nov 30

Relationship: Other

"I endorse this lawyer. Mr. Steele provides clear and helpful advice. He is knowledgeable and cares about his clients."

William Thomas Schemmel headshot
William Schemmel

Divorce and separation lawyer | Nov 28

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. His AVVO answers demonstrate significant experience and expertise in family law."

Gilbert Richard Hoy Jr headshot
Gilbert Hoy

Divorce and separation lawyer | Nov 28

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Attorney Steele is a superb divorce lawyer. Excellent reputation and results."

Joseph Franklin Pippen Jr. headshot
Joseph Pippen

Family lawyer | Nov 27

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Attorney Steele has a superb rating on AVVO and is a credit to AVVO and the legal community for his volunteer efforts helping the community understand legal issues."

Jeremy Judson Cobb headshot
Jeremy Cobb

Unknown lawyer | Nov 27

Relationship: Other

"I've carefully reviewed Mr. Steele's qualifications and answers. He breathes insight and compassion into a profession that badly needs both."

Matthew Thomas Majeski headshot
Matthew Majeski

Divorce and separation lawyer | Nov 27

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse Counsel Steele. He provides valuable and helpful advice to the Avvo community and would make a great choice for family law situations."

Tolulope O. Kuteyi headshot
Tolulope Kuteyi

Unknown lawyer | Nov 27

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Benjamin I. Hirsch headshot
Benjamin Hirsch

Unknown lawyer | Nov 27

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. David Steele's advice on this site has been spot on. It is to the point, easy to understand and he clearly grasps the issues."

Chong Hae Ye headshot
Chong Ye

Unknown lawyer | Aug 22

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Tatiana Kadetskaya headshot
Tatiana Kadetskaya

Unknown lawyer | Jun 28

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Excellent lawyer. Well respected."

Matthew Erik Johnson headshot
Matthew Johnson

Divorce and separation lawyer | Nov 10

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Outstanding lawyer in the community."

Brian Brenn headshot
Brian Brenn

Divorce and separation lawyer | Nov 09

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"David is a wonderful attorney, very talented and client-driven. I would highly endorse him."

James P. Frederick headshot
James Frederick

Divorce and separation lawyer | Nov 07

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Mr. Steele and I do not practice in ANY of the same areas of law. We somehow crossed paths on a particular Avvo question and have communicated a couple of times, since. What I have noticed in my interactions with David is he is not your typical lawyer. That is a good thing, because people often despise "typical lawyers." If you review David's profile, his philosophy and his client reviews, you get a sense that not only is David not typical, but he is exceptional, in who he is and what he does. The kind of work that he does is difficult. He is often meeting with people who are at their very worst. You can tell from the reviews that David not only helps them through that, but that he also gives them a whole new outlook on lawyers and the law. How many lawyers can you say that about? For these reasons and because I really admire the man's philosophy and his bio, I am very happy to endorse David and his services. James Frederick"

View All Endorsements
Peter Joseph Lamont headshot
Peter Lamont

Unknown lawyer

Jacob Shad Mason headshot
Jacob Mason

Unknown lawyer

Ronna L. DeLoe headshot
Ronna DeLoe

Unknown lawyer

Florian Eqrem Tabaku headshot
Florian Tabaku

Unknown lawyer

William Thomas Schemmel headshot
William Schemmel

Unknown lawyer

Matthew Thomas Majeski headshot
Matthew Majeski

Unknown lawyer

Jeremy Judson Cobb headshot
Jeremy Cobb

Unknown lawyer

Joseph Franklin Pippen Jr. headshot
Joseph Pippen

Unknown lawyer

Gilbert Richard Hoy Jr headshot
Gilbert Hoy

Unknown lawyer

Tolulope O. Kuteyi headshot
Tolulope Kuteyi

Unknown lawyer

Benjamin I. Hirsch headshot
Benjamin Hirsch

Unknown lawyer

Kristin E. Hobbs headshot
Kristin Hobbs

Unknown lawyer

Carol A. Lawson headshot
Carol Lawson

Litigation lawyer

James P. Frederick headshot
James Frederick

General practice lawyer

Burton A. Padove headshot
Burton Padove

Car accident lawyer

Matthew Erik Johnson headshot
Matthew Johnson

Criminal defense lawyer

Brian Brenn headshot
Brian Brenn

Discrimination lawyer

Justin Thane Bowen headshot
Justin Bowen

Divorce and separation lawyer

Experience

Rating:  1.0 (Extreme Caution)

Professional misconduct

This lawyer was disciplined by a state licensing authority in 2015.

Disbarment issued in IN, 2015

updated on 12/01/2015

This is the most serious penalty for a lawyer. If this attorney is currently practicing law, you should contact the the Indiana State Bar to understand the reasons for this disbarment.

Interim suspension issued in IN, 2015

updated on 11/19/2015

This means the attorney temporarily lost his or her license to practice law while the State investigates whether the attorney should be disciplined. The suspension typically expires when the investigation is resolved.

Honors

2006

President, Howard County Bar Association

Work Experience

2011 - Present

Owner, Steele Legal Group, LLC

2009 - 2010

Attorney, Nice & Steffey, LLP

2005 - 2009

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, Howard County Prosecutor's Office

2005 - 2009

Owner, Steele Law Office

2003 - 2005

Attorney, Russell, McIntyre, Hilligoss and Welke

Associations

2006 - Present

Indianapolis Bar Association

2003 - Present

Indiana State Bar Association

2003 - Present

Indiana Trial Lawyers Association

2009 - 2011

Indiana State Bar Association, Legal Ethics Committee

2003 - 2007

Howard County Bar Association

Past President

Sample of Legal Cases

David Steele

Receiving $1.2 million settlement in January

David Steele

$350,000 settlement

Dental Malpractice

Received $235,000 settlement

See More Legal Cases

Education

2003

University of Denver Sturm College of Law

JD - Juris Doctor

1998

Ball State University

BS - Bachelor of Science

Activity

Avvo Rating

Our Rating is calculated using information the lawyer has included on their profile in addition to the information we collect from state bar associations and other organizations that license legal professionals. Attorneys who claim their profiles and provide Avvo with more information tend to have a higher rating than those who do not.

What determines Avvo Rating?
  • Experience & background Years licensed, work experience, education
  • Legal community recognition Peer endorsements, associations, awards
  • Legal thought leadership Publications, speaking engagements
  • Discipline
    This lawyer was disciplined by a state licensing authority in 2015
    Disciplinary information may not be comprehensive, or updated. We recommend that you always check a lawyer's disciplinary status with their respective state bar association before hiring them.
Avvo Rating Levels
10.0 - 9.0 Superb8.9 - 8.0 Excellent7.9 - 7.0 Very Good6.9 - 6.0 Good5.9 - 5.0 Average4.9 - 4.0 Concern3.9 - 3.0 Caution2.9 - 2.0 Strong Caution1.9 - 1.0 Extreme Caution