James L. Arrasmith

I hired James L. Aerosmith for a landlord-tenant matter that had become increasingly stressful and complicated. From our very first conversation, he demonstrated a level of professionalism, knowledge, and responsiveness that immediately put me at ease. What stood out most was his diligence and com...munication. Whenever I had questions or concerns, he returned my calls promptly and kept me informed throughout every stage of the process. It's rare to find an attorney who is both highly skilled and genuinely attentive to their clients, but James consistently delivered on both fronts. There was a point during my case when I felt overwhelmed and uncertain about my options. James took the time to explain everything clearly, laid out a practical strategy, and handled every issue efficiently. His attention to detail and commitment to achieving the best possible outcome gave me confidence during a difficult situation. If you're looking for an attorney who is knowledgeable, responsive, hardworking, and truly cares about his clients, I highly recommend the Law Offices of James L. Aerosmith. I am extremely grateful for his representation and would not hesitate to use his services again.

I reached out to the Arrasmith firm due to a stressful tenant landlord conflict. It was difficult to find a firm that specialized in assisting tenants, as most firms I contacted work exclusively for landlords. I paid for a consultation call for which the consulting attorney (Mr. Benavides) had cl...early prepared in advance. He had clearly read everything I had supplied to his legal secretary and came to the call with a ready game plan. He informed me of my tenant rights, the landlord’s legal obligations and constraints, and the options at my disposal. He went over what the firm could do to achieve any number of goals in alignment with my needs and preferences. After the call I chose to contract the firm for representation. I am really glad that I did. Mr. Arrasmith and his team of paralegals worked on my case continuously for several months, communicating on my behalf and running interference when my virulently spiteful landlord attempted to exact revenge for dare being asked to fulfill her basic professional obligations without wilding out like a feral goblin. While I was bracing for a protracted and costly court battle, the legal team successfully avoided that expense by engaging direct communications with the landlord’s lawyer, striking a professional but strong tone appropriate for the situation. It turned out to be an effective style. The landlord ended up retracting her retaliation attempts and the situation seems to have settled now for the last few months. Some reviews note that costs can run up quickly, and this is true so I recommend clear communication with the legal team and billing department from early on. Legal fees are a usual concern with any attorney representation, especially with a bigger firm. The firm was flexible with me and updated me promptly with transparent billing. I found the paralegal team to be really responsive and explanatory. Mr. Arrasmith himself was quick to respond, even off hours. I think it is really important for tenants to have strong advocacy in their corner because some landlords try to throw their weight around and overextend their power simply because they can – or they think they can. It is good when firms like Arrasmith can get involved to remind overreaching landlords that they are not above the law just because they have petty inflated egos. I would contract this firm again if I needed legal representation in the future.

DO NOT RECOMMEND. Zero transparency as to what will be invoice. I never once received any indication of what work would be done prior to being invoiced. Retainer paid on 09/03. Termination on 10/06. Total Cost $3,420 for 5 days where I received 0 documentation, just a questionnaire that I never answe...red. I hired James L Arrasmith to assist on a case that involved wrongful eviction and domestic partnership on 09/29. Prior to this I paid $240 for a 30 minute consultation that was rescheduled multiple times because the attorney was not available. No where near the scheduled time and at my place of work, Arrasmith calls and starts the consultation. The call was very disorganized but I was given assurance that I have a case to be won. I paid the $5,000 retainer and by 09/30 I received a follow-up questionnaire by associate at the firm. I DID NOT respond to the questionnaire as it required a lot of bandwidth on my part to gather the information needed to answer the questions (billing statements, messages, photos, etc.). In the process of gathering the information and developing answers to the questionnaire, I decided to go a different route for how I would proceed with the case. 10/04 I received an invoice totaling $990 for work leading up to that date. 10/06 I sent a letter of termination of representation. (I receive 0 acknowledgment that this has been received). 10/24 I am given "Conclusion of Legal Services". 10/25-10/28 - I make multiple calls to check in on the refund of my retainer and all documentation associated with my case. I am told that I will receive final invoicing 30 days after the letter of termination was submitted. 11/06 - I receive final invoice that includes that initial $990 invoice from 10/04, but now an additional invoice from 10/01 that is for 4 hours of work totaling to $2,430. The itemized description included nothing of value beyond the information that was provided on the consultation call! It noted "Comprehensive review" "Analysis" "detailed legal research" "documented legal basis" "prepared comprehensive legal memorandum" - nothing was provided or justifies the 4 hours of work that just reiterates the information from the consultation call. Again, I did not respond to the questionnaire. I did not provide text messages, photos or anything of the such that would require a deep analysis to which this was billed. What makes it more interesting is that per the agreement, should the account fall below 40% of the retainer amount, the client is required to replenish the account to the full amount. By this math my account was below this threshold on 10/01, and no one in the office called to tell me that my account needed replenishment for 7 days. Completely unethical and I will move forward with filings with the California State Bar, BBB, and consumer fraud units.

I needed legal assistance evicting a tenant. I found this firm using a Google search and saw that the Google reviews were positive. I reached out for an initial consultation and provided all of the relevant facts. Based on these facts, I was provided with an estimate for drafting a three day notice t...o quit (for eviction), serving the notice and filing for eviction proceedings with the court. I was told that the actual costs from the estimate could vary a bit and if the firm’s appearance in court was required, this could cost more. This seemed pretty standard, so I immediately paid the estimated cost as a retainer so we could move forward. The firm requested I write down the relevant facts that had been discussed during our consultation, which I also provided promptly. After this, I heard nothing from the firm for weeks. I started calling and emailing to request updates. Responses received were generally lacking in detail and reflected very little progress. I threatened to terminate the relationship and only then was I provided with a draft of the three day notice to quit which was a pretty standard three day notice to quit with some of the written facts that I had provided incorporated. I immediately reviewed the draft of the three day notice when received and asked when it could be finalized and served. About this time I also received an invoice detailing charges for a little less than half of the original retainer / estimate. While I felt like that was a lot for just the draft three day notice that had been provided, I was eager to just get it finally served to the tenant as it had been over 6 weeks since I’d originally engaged the firm at this point. But again, despite calls and emails, the firm was not providing any updates. Frustrated with a lack of progress, I provided notification that I was terminating the firm’s services. A few days later, I received another invoice that essentially used up the remainder of the original retainer / estimate. I understand that the original estimate / retainer could vary based on actuals, but I do not understand how the firm managed to blow through the entire retainer when they only drafted a pretty standard letter. There was no serving and no filing eviction documents with the court. I am left to wonder if the firm provided a low-ball estimate up-front just to hook my business, or did they inflate actual costs after I terminated service in order to avoid providing a refund of the remaining unused retainer? I reached out to the firm to review their billing and they insist it is accurate. Upon research, I have found reviews that suggest I am not the only customer that has had these types of issues with this firm. I urge you to do your homework before engaging with this firm.

I had an excellent experience working with James L. Arrasmith and his team. As a landlord dealing with a difficult tenant situation, I was feeling overwhelmed, but James provided clear guidance and expert legal advice. He was responsive, professional, and always took the time to explain my options in... a way that made sense. Thanks to his help, I was able to resolve my case efficiently and with minimal stress. If you're a landlord or tenant looking for a knowledgeable attorney who truly cares, I highly recommend James L. Arrasmith. He knows landlord-tenant law inside and out and will fight for your best interests. Situation: I had a tenant who stopped paying rent and refused to vacate the property. James helped me navigate the eviction process smoothly, ensuring everything was done legally and fairly. His attention to detail and expertise made all the difference!