I hired this firm for what I thought an easy and a straight forward task but my experience was very frustrating. They don't respond to emails, they don't pick up the phone when I call, and they don't respond to text messages. When they do, it usually happens 10 days later. This was a very frustrating... experience dealing with ghosts and I don't recommend this firm to anyone.

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.

Horrible experience. As I told James I felt like it was a scam they were running. They kept delaying the process. I find myself do doing part of the work trying to help them get it done. There was a period of almost 4weeks they ignored my calls, text and emails. Was difficult getting invoices from th...em. The judge would ask for documentation. Including affidavit. I typed up myself and submitted to James and his team. They didn’t even bother showing up with it like the judge asked. Of course no ruling again. After the hearing they looked at it and even told me it was a good affidavit. Never once where they able to meet a dead line. Causing them to keep charging me for their mistakes. Horrible experience. Don’t use them. Don’t let them fool you like they did me. I felt scammed because they did everything they could to delay and jack up the cost vs get the job done.