Lawyers Near MeCaliforniaSan Francisco CountySan FranciscoFinancial DistrictMontgomery Street
456 Montgomery St 17th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104, USA
If you must use this firm, I'd avoid Patricia Purcell. I received a letter from the State Bar of CA dismissing my complaint against her after a lengthy investigation due to the fact that she simply lied to escape discipline. They seem to have a stringent burden of proof to protect shady lawyers. I've escalated it to the OCTC. But, that's not why you should avoid her, it's bc she makes countless errors then wastes her own clients' money & time to correct them. My divorce was meant to be finalized 06/2021 -she ensured a divorce w no kids or debt dragged on for 2yrs to personally benefit by billing my ex-husband for those years while blaming me for delays she caused with her consistent failures to represent his best interest. Lacks regard for human decency yet expects people to bend over backwards for her inability to take care of her personal affairs which bleeds into her performance as a lawyer. I really wanted to end my marriage on good terms & would have accepted so much less when I was without representation - I didn't understand my rights. Thanks to her ineffective representation, her client paid significantly more spousal support than I would have settled for (I was clueless & scared-my priority was peace). I called Patricia when she was operating as Purcell Family Law in 2019 & asked her for advice about my immigration status. She advised me about COBRA. Then, she represented my ex & lied to the Bar about speaking to me despite phone records. She was unpleasant & gave me incorrect information. She asked for a $8000 retainer & told me her inflated fee. By representing my husband afterwards, she put him at risk of having to switch lawyers, but he was a good mark for her given his emotional state. I believe she took advantage of him. Initially, I was represented by R. Rathmell, another lawyer at Hersh who should have pursued the conflict of interest. In fact, most lawyers told me that it was better for me not to bc it would cost me & I'd risk getting a competent lawyer. They said Patricia was inept & would throw hissy fits/ cry in court. I offered to sign the papers for free. Patricia decided to charge my ex thousands of dollars to draft paperwork & hire a process server so she could lie to the court & claim I was evading service which didn't even end up helping her case as it was irrelevant. The judge saw through her. Ms. Purcell then began working for Lerner Poole in 2020. I wonder whether she was recently fired from this firm due to her exposing them to potential discipline because of her unethical actions? She couldn't manage on her own & couldn't stay at the last firm for a meaningful length of time /potentially caused issues for the other lawyers by not disclosing the consultation. Another lawyer didn't want to work with Lerner Poole bc she said they hire the type of lawyers who create conflict between clients to pad their billable hours. I asked her to clarify: she said that if she asked for docs they'd claim they couldn't get them, & if you were cooperative, they'd still disparage you to make it seem like you were being difficult to increase tension. Divorce is hard & the end of a relationship is such a fragile thing - you don't need a lawyer who delights in profiting from your pain. Patricia Purcell would create make work projects for my ex like forcing him to come and drop off $ instead of just leaving it in our account. She later claimed I was standing outside waiting for him, which I wasn't so, I suspect it was an attempt to create a situation where she could disparage my character & when that didn't work she simply lied. We negotiated the division of assets & she FORGOT multiple assets. She refused to take responsibility then didn't even draft the dissolution on time & my lawyer had to harass her. When I was without representation she initiated & sent me 100 unprofessional emails in the first 3mths of '22 Her client paid for emails that had nothing to do with the divorce, just complaining about her inability to do her work and adequately take care of her child. I could go on. Hire at your own risk
When facing sensitive and life-altering family law issues such as divorce or prenuptial agreements, selecting the right legal representation is paramount. Hersh FamilyLaw Practice, P.C., located at 456 Montgomery St, 17th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104, USA, is a firm that offers services in this domain to local users. They can be reached at (415) 788-2200 or +1 415-788-2200. While the firm appears in the "Lawyers Near Me" category, it is crucial for potential clients to be aware of significant negative feedback and serious allegations raised in online reviews regarding at least one of their attorneys, Patricia Purcell.
One extensive and highly critical review details a deeply troubling experience with Patricia Purcell. The reviewer recounts a protracted divorce case that was allegedly mishandled, leading to significant financial detriment and emotional distress. According to this account, a divorce intended to be finalized in June 2021 was allegedly drawn out for two years, purportedly to benefit the attorney through prolonged billing to the ex-husband. The reviewer alleges numerous errors made by Ms. Purcell, which then required further billable hours to correct, ultimately at the client's expense. The review also claims a lack of regard for human decency and unprofessional conduct that impacted the lawyer's performance.
The client further alleges ineffective representation that resulted in their ex-husband paying significantly more spousal support than they would have settled for had they understood their rights and received competent counsel. The review also details a prior instance where the reviewer sought advice from Ms. Purcell (then operating as Purcell Family Law) regarding immigration status but was allegedly given incorrect information about COBRA. Subsequently, Ms. Purcell represented the ex-husband, leading to accusations of a conflict of interest and an alleged lie to the State Bar of California regarding the initial consultation, despite phone records contradicting this claim. The State Bar reportedly dismissed the initial complaint due to a stringent burden of proof, a decision the reviewer is escalating.
The reviewer also mentions another attorney at Hersh, R. Rathmell, who initially represented them and allegedly should have pursued the conflict of interest issue. However, the reviewer states that other lawyers advised against this, fearing it would incur further costs and risk losing potentially more competent representation, allegedly due to Ms. Purcell's purported ineptitude and unprofessional courtroom behavior. The review further details allegations of Ms. Purcell creating unnecessary work, such as charging the ex-husband to draft paperwork and hire a process server to falsely claim evasion of service, which the judge reportedly recognized as irrelevant.
The timeline provided in the review suggests Ms. Purcell then moved to Lerner Poole in 2020, raising questions about the circumstances of her departure from Hersh and subsequent employment. The reviewer also shares concerns raised by another lawyer about Lerner Poole's alleged practice of creating conflict between clients to inflate billable hours, further adding to the negative portrayal associated with Ms. Purcell's professional network.
The personal conduct described in the review is also concerning, with allegations of unprofessional emails sent to the unrepresented former spouse, containing complaints about personal issues unrelated to the divorce, yet billed to her client. The reviewer concludes with a strong warning to potential clients: "Hire at your own risk."
Adding to these serious allegations, another review describes a negative consultation experience regarding a prenuptial agreement. The reviewer characterizes the attorney as "rude and ignorant," alleging that she accused their fiancé of not understanding marriage, causing emotional distress. The review further claims that the attorney provided rude and inaccurate answers to legal questions, deeming the consultation a "huge waste of time" that significantly increased stress related to the process.
Given these explicit and detailed negative accounts, particularly the serious allegations of misrepresentation, unethical conduct, and incompetence against Patricia Purcell, local users considering Hersh FamilyLaw Practice, P.C. for their family law needs should exercise extreme caution. While the firm is listed under "Lawyers Near Me," the available online reviews paint a concerning picture that potential clients cannot afford to ignore. The environment described is one where at least one attorney is alleged to have engaged in unprofessional and potentially unethical behavior, leading to significant harm for their clients.
The services offered by a family law practice typically include divorce proceedings, child custody and support, spousal support, property division, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, and other related legal matters. However, the quality and ethical standards of these services appear to be seriously questioned in the provided reviews concerning Hersh FamilyLaw Practice, P.C., specifically in relation to Patricia Purcell.
Features that one would typically look for in a family law practice include experience, expertise, a client-focused approach, effective communication, and a commitment to ethical conduct. Based on the detailed negative feedback, particularly regarding Ms. Purcell, these features appear to be significantly lacking, at least in the experiences of these reviewers. The allegations of lying to the State Bar, making numerous errors, prolonging cases for personal gain, providing incorrect legal advice, and engaging in rude and unprofessional behavior raise serious red flags.
There is no promotional information available for Hersh FamilyLaw Practice, P.C. However, in light of the severe negative reviews and allegations, any potential promotional claims should be viewed with extreme skepticism. Local users seeking family law assistance in San Francisco are strongly advised to thoroughly research and consider alternative legal representation with a more consistently positive and ethical track record. The potential risks associated with the conduct and competence of at least one attorney at this firm, as detailed in the client reviews, appear to outweigh any potential benefits of choosing Hersh FamilyLaw Practice, P.C.
456 Montgomery St 17th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104, USA
Get directionsIf you must use this firm, I'd avoid Patricia Purcell. I received a letter from the State Bar of CA dismissing my complaint against her after a lengthy investigation due to the fact that she simply lied to escape discipline. They seem to have a stringent burden of proof to protect shady lawyers. I've escalated it to the OCTC. But, that's not why you should avoid her, it's bc she makes countless errors then wastes her own clients' money & time to correct them. My divorce was meant to be finalized 06/2021 -she ensured a divorce w no kids or debt dragged on for 2yrs to personally benefit by billing my ex-husband for those years while blaming me for delays she caused with her consistent failures to represent his best interest. Lacks regard for human decency yet expects people to bend over backwards for her inability to take care of her personal affairs which bleeds into her performance as a lawyer. I really wanted to end my marriage on good terms & would have accepted so much less when I was without representation - I didn't understand my rights. Thanks to her ineffective representation, her client paid significantly more spousal support than I would have settled for (I was clueless & scared-my priority was peace). I called Patricia when she was operating as Purcell Family Law in 2019 & asked her for advice about my immigration status. She advised me about COBRA. Then, she represented my ex & lied to the Bar about speaking to me despite phone records. She was unpleasant & gave me incorrect information. She asked for a $8000 retainer & told me her inflated fee. By representing my husband afterwards, she put him at risk of having to switch lawyers, but he was a good mark for her given his emotional state. I believe she took advantage of him. Initially, I was represented by R. Rathmell, another lawyer at Hersh who should have pursued the conflict of interest. In fact, most lawyers told me that it was better for me not to bc it would cost me & I'd risk getting a competent lawyer. They said Patricia was inept & would throw hissy fits/ cry in court. I offered to sign the papers for free. Patricia decided to charge my ex thousands of dollars to draft paperwork & hire a process server so she could lie to the court & claim I was evading service which didn't even end up helping her case as it was irrelevant. The judge saw through her. Ms. Purcell then began working for Lerner Poole in 2020. I wonder whether she was recently fired from this firm due to her exposing them to potential discipline because of her unethical actions? She couldn't manage on her own & couldn't stay at the last firm for a meaningful length of time /potentially caused issues for the other lawyers by not disclosing the consultation. Another lawyer didn't want to work with Lerner Poole bc she said they hire the type of lawyers who create conflict between clients to pad their billable hours. I asked her to clarify: she said that if she asked for docs they'd claim they couldn't get them, & if you were cooperative, they'd still disparage you to make it seem like you were being difficult to increase tension. Divorce is hard & the end of a relationship is such a fragile thing - you don't need a lawyer who delights in profiting from your pain. Patricia Purcell would create make work projects for my ex like forcing him to come and drop off $ instead of just leaving it in our account. She later claimed I was standing outside waiting for him, which I wasn't so, I suspect it was an attempt to create a situation where she could disparage my character & when that didn't work she simply lied. We negotiated the division of assets & she FORGOT multiple assets. She refused to take responsibility then didn't even draft the dissolution on time & my lawyer had to harass her. When I was without representation she initiated & sent me 100 unprofessional emails in the first 3mths of '22 Her client paid for emails that had nothing to do with the divorce, just complaining about her inability to do her work and adequately take care of her child. I could go on. Hire at your own risk
Apr 20, 2024 · Mina CRude and ignorant. Had a consultation about drafting a prenup. Accused my fiancé of not understanding what marriage is. Made her cry. Gave rude and inaccurate answers when asked questions about the law and what we need. Huge waste of time. Significantly increased my headaches around the process.
Aug 24, 2023 · A AOne of the most prestigious family law firms in the bay area.
Oct 31, 2024 · Brian Cain
217 Leidesdorff St, San Francisco, CA 94111, USA
465 California St #5th, San Francisco, CA 94104, USA
217 Leidesdorff St, San Francisco, CA 94111, USA
505 Montgomery St # 11, San Francisco, CA 94111, USA
505 Montgomery St 10th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94111, USA
505 Montgomery St, San Francisco, CA 94111, USA