This is an honest five star rating I am happy to give, with some length, for the benefit of those who are facing real legal situations that can have real long-term consequences:
I spoke directly with the chief attorney, Mr. Thurman Arnold himself, Feb. 1st, 2016. He gave me a second opinion on my legal case, divorce with children, discussing several aspects at some length, a case that has been protracted for coming on three years with numerous difficulties and anomalies. As is not uncommon in divorce, "Oh that I knew then what I know now." I was relatively new to California and certainly did not know which attorney to choose at the outset in 2013. Wish I had known at the outset about Mr. Arnold's law firm ... which is WHY I am giving this review and recommendation ... perhaps others searching the internet for attorney reviews can benefit from this and all the other reviews that paint a consistent (hard worked for) glowing review of this Law Firm, from experience. Had I been astute enough to check reviews of my former attorneys, I would NOT have hired them, but divorce is a dark tunnel so often entered with many pressures and much ignorance of the road ahead.
WEBSITE! I first have to say that I was already impressed with Mr. Arnold from his amazing website! Wow! Here is an attorney who not only is an obvious consummate professional with exceptionally broad and deep understanding of Family Law, but a man with ethics and perspective. I believe he even uses the word "holistic", which is to imply a perspective that Family Law deals with actual people, parents and children, adults, who have had a life before and will have a life after legal dissolution.
MEDIATION! His firm also offers "mediation", which I truly believe is the BEST route whenever possible, and that is a big whenever possible. Initial Mediation at the outset of divorce, at the worst: would educate parties to the law and options and typical outcomes in the real world, still leaving open the option to pursue adversarial litigation, trials, emotional and financial affliction [think about that option!]. At best, Mediation can resolve the entire matter in the most timely, least hostile and most cost-effective manner, preserving and mapping out considerate livable outcomes for everyone. I used to be a Real Estate Broker on occasion doing Mediation, and have raised many children and done plenty of mediation between spouse and Ex, (I am 57 yrs young), so I have some experience with the role. Most of us know there are cases where it is not possible to be reasonable, amicable or fair in dissolving a relationship that has all kinds of tangents to it, as in my case.
EDUCATION & PERSPECTIVE: Did I say Mr. Arnold has an amazing website? I have had two previous attorneys in my case, at the outset, then of necessity going self-represented ("Pro Per") for the bulk of time including two lengthy separate Trials addressing Custody/ Visitation & complex high finances. I am the "out-spouse" as Thurman calls it, the one without the money after separation, but a fairly well-educated pro per at this point of Appellate filings, extensive litigation with documentation in law and case-law studies, evidence and briefs, "blah, blah, blah" (as Thurman would realistically say). Mr. Arnold's website is loaded with so much valuable information it is outstanding among outstanding loaded websites, going FAR beyond a sales pitch, offering, FREE of charge, knowledge and insight that is incredibly useful and educational. I have used some of his shared knowledge already in my filings. Again, his 'holistic' approach is one of being strong to secure a decent lawful position in a dispute, but an approach that is sensible and cognizant of the big picture and what is realistically going to come from the rights and views of "the other side" in courts. His discussion with me reflected this in person, giving realistic while encouraging advice.
I wish you well, Sincerely, Doug H.
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