Danielle Elizabeth Giannola

My Personal Experience Working with Four Divorce Lawyers After two years of navigating my divorce, I’ve learned a lot about what makes a lawyer the “right fit.” I hope my experience helps others starting this process. In the beginning, I didn’t know where to look beyond online reviews. One key... lesson: know which county your case will be filed in—it’s usually where you’ve lived for at least six months. This affects who you can hire and how much it may cost. Lawyer 1: John Conniff John was my first attorney. I didn’t work with him long, but I found the costs high—mainly because he had to travel nearly 30 miles to attend court, and I was billed for that time. In hindsight, hiring someone familiar with the local court would’ve saved me a lot. Rating: (2 stars) Lawyer 2: Barbara Morton Barbara’s firm helped move my case forward, which I appreciated. My situation included international and immigration elements that I felt weren’t fully understood, but the staff was generally responsive and listened when I needed them to. That helped ease some of the anxiety. Rating: (3 stars) Lawyer 3: Jessica Naples (Sterling Hughes) After two previous attorneys, I was cautious and spoke with Jessica a couple of times before hiring her. She seemed understanding and confident. Unfortunately, once the flat-fee representation began, my experience changed. Initially, the structure seemed convenient compared to hourly billing. But in the first few months, there was little momentum, and I struggled to get timely updates. Communication dropped off, and the tone felt different from our earlier conversations. I no longer felt heard or supported, and at times, it seemed the goal was to close the case quickly, even at my expense. I felt alone and overwhelmed—my anxiety reached its peak during this time. This was the most difficult part of my entire legal journey. Personally, I wouldn’t work with Jessica or this firm again. Rating: (0 to 1 star) Lawyer 4: Daniel Giannola I spent more time researching before connecting with Daniel. After speaking with her a few times, I hired her firm—and it was the best decision I made in the entire case. Daniel and her team were supportive, clear, and strong in their strategy. For the first time, I felt someone was truly advocating for me. She was sharp, stood her ground during negotiations, and didn’t require constant reminders or explanations. Her office staff was courteous and responsive, and the billing was transparent and accurate—a huge relief after earlier experiences. Thanks to Daniel and her team, my divorce finalized quickly with a fair outcome. Rating: (5 stars) (Also 5 stars for billing and support staff.) Final Thoughts More than the case itself, having the right attorney made all the difference in managing the stress and emotions that came with it. I hope this helps someone else make more informed choices from the start.