James L English

From the get go Mr. English was rude and off putting. We had set up a consultation to ask questions about legal custody, and seeing we were not there to discuss divorce legalities he was instantly disinterested. Attempting to ask direct questions constituted being subjected to conveluted responses ...that ultimately went in circles. This is an individual who enjoys hearing himself speak, and if you have the pretension of also joining the conversation, he becomes annoyed. Avoid the frustration, there are many other good lawyers out there.

I was former military when I first hired Mr. English. I actually discussed my case with him from Afghanistan while deployed and began my divorce proceedings while overseas. I first met Mr. English while on R&R and felt comfortable with him immediately. I realized that I didn't like everything he had ...to say, but he was being honest and upfront with my situation. He kept me up-to-date with meetings as well as fees. He even allowed me to set up a direct deposit with him since I couldn't pay him all at once. His Legal Assistant, Roberta, rocks! She speaks with you like you are one of her own and keeps you in the loop as well. I find that I have spent more time talking to her than with Mr. English just because I enjoy the conversation. Let's be honest, divorce sucks, but it is not so bad when you know you have a lawyer that you can trust and doesn't make you look stupid.

After wasting my time with another lawyer who charged $175 for an Initial Consultation, during which she danced around my questions and jabbered through my entire hour interrupting me with her own personal stories, without giving me a modicum of pertinent information during the whole thing, (Lynn Lan...dis-Brown, if I’m allowed to give her name), I was absolutely dejected because I felt like I could even “buy” an answer to a few preliminary questions even for $175! Then I kept thinking about the yellow sticky note on my desk upon which I had jotted “James L. English” and I finally gave him a call. Although he also has a fee for the Initial Consultation), it was only $50 and it goes toward your first bill if you retain him. Anyway, he was SO much more helpful in answering the questions I needed answered regarding my Sworn Financial Statement and if I was "Filing" the right paperwork with the courthouse, etc. He really seemed to be the expert on my particular situation, as far as my ex being retired military and having other retirement plans that I didn’t even realize I was partially entitled to after a 20-year marriage, and we have two teenagers together, so there’s the matter of child support. He answered enough of my questions in the Initial Consultation, I felt comfortable putting down a retainer with him. Even though my divorce ended up costing me $10,000 in attorney’s fees, I still think I came out ahead. I my ex hadn’t been so bullheaded about not splitting everything 50/50, we could have both saved a ton of money using some kind of mediator. But because his attorney tried to talk him into going for 50/50 custody of the kids (which was NEVER going to happen), we both spent way more than we needed to. I know for a fact that his attorney fees came to two or three times the amount mine did, because he used Cordell and Cordell. They are much more expensive, far less efficient, and constantly sent me HUGE duplicate mailings that were totally irrelevant! I think my ex got screwed over. I have an entire box full of paperwork from them that is so stupid. If I hadn’t had Mr. English on my side, they could have really steamrollered over me. At least when I had to provide copies of documents, such as three years tax records, Mr. English’s assistant, Roberta, said they had no problem at all with me making all sets of copies myself and dropping them off, rather than having them do it for 20 cents/pg. Believe me, even that can add up! She helped me save money where I could. If I can say one more thing, Mr. English accepted my decision when I decided not to try to continue on a long battle for more Spousal Support. I still had friendship feelings for my ex and had no desire to spend more and more time and attorney fees (and possible end up fighting it out in court) to get more money from him when I knew he was pretty strapped as it is.