Nicholas John Saranto

I was contacted by this attorney after being referred through a State Bar referral service. Initially, the voicemail and introduction were professional and gave me a positive first impression. Unfortunately, the call quickly went downhill. Very early on, the attorney claimed to already understand ...my case without asking several key questions that would reasonably be expected in a family law consultation. When I attempted to clarify or provide context, the conversation turned into what felt more like a lecture than a consultation. Comments such as “whoa,” “pump the brakes,” and repeated interruptions made it difficult to get a word in. The tone became increasingly dismissive, with statements like “no, no, no — this is this type of case,” despite limited fact-gathering. I ultimately let him speak uninterrupted, at which point the conversation abruptly shifted to billing. I was told the case would require a $12,000 fee, framed as reasonable because “it’s not $10k and other firms charge $15k.” There was no clear explanation of scope, strategy, or why that number made sense for my situation — just a comparison to higher numbers elsewhere. I then raised reasonable concerns about publicly available information: mixed reviews, limited time practicing in California, and lack of specialization in the specific area of law I was seeking help with. I asked how he would address those concerns and explain why hiring him would make sense. The response was dismissive, characterizing negative reviews as coming from “a few angry or upset people,” followed by the comment that this was not “sh*t on Nick day.” At that point, I ended the conversation and thanked him for his time. Overall, the experience felt unprofessional and overly familiar in tone, rather than client-centered or consultative. If this is how communication is handled with potential clients, I would be concerned about professionalism in higher-stakes settings. Zero stars if that were an option. I would also caution others that a State Bar referral does not appear to vet for professionalism or communication style. Only licensure i suppose.