Jillian Hansen

This review is not a personal attack on Jillian Hansen — she’s a kind person and clearly very knowledgeable in divorce law. However, this is an honest account of my experience working with her on what should have been a straightforward divorce case that became unnecessarily complicated. To start, ...I reached out to 20–25 divorce attorneys and heard back from none of them. Jillian was a friend of a friend, so I was able to get connected through that channel. If I could do it all over again, I would continue searching until I found a male attorney. That’s not a knock on women — it’s just based on my experience. I paid top dollar for representation at State 48, while my ex was represented pro bono, and yet her attorney fought harder and more effectively than mine did. Jillian is incredibly book smart. She knows the law well — there’s no question about that. But legal knowledge is only one part of what makes a strong divorce attorney. You also need someone who’s strategic, assertive, and knows how to navigate the gray areas. Unfortunately, I didn’t get that with Jillian. I would ask for her professional opinion and too often she’d just put the decision back on me. When I did follow her advice, it ended up being wrong — I paid for things that, in hindsight, I should not have. It left me wondering whether she was truly advocating for me. Communication was one of the few positives — she was generally accessible. But at $450+ per hour, I expected more than just availability. I expected results. In the end, the entire case cost me over $45,000. I could have handed over everything to my ex and still come out ahead financially. Throughout the process, I repeatedly told Jillian that my ex was attempting to drain me of both time and money. Instead of taking measures to slow things down or protect me from this, she allowed drawn-out negotiations with opposing counsel that ultimately drained my resources further. This dragged on for a year and a half. The only person who seemed to benefit from this was Jillian. I was a good client — I paid every invoice on time, even referred her a new client while my own case was still ongoing. I went above and beyond, obtaining professional reports from CPAs and real estate agents. None of these were ever used during mediation. Speaking of mediation — it was another disappointment. I found myself sitting in a room with five women and no real advocate on my side. Jillian was mostly silent. I ended up doing most of the talking. That moment solidified for me that while she may understand the law, she lacked the presence and assertiveness to fight for me when it mattered most. Bottom line: If you’re struggling to find an attorney, don’t settle for the first one who answers. Keep digging. Ask questions. Look for someone who combines legal knowledge with practical, strategic thinking and a willingness to fight for you. I hope this review helps someone else avoid the costly experience I went through.