1 /5 Prue Marinelli: My disappointment with this law firm is unfortunate. Initially, I was assigned to a Senior Lawyer, who provided excellent service; however, she left the firm for reasons unknown to me. I was then given to another lawyer who I initially mistook for a receptionist due to her lack of empathy and understanding of my case The opposing party frequently inundated her with harassing emails and bullying tactics. I felt compelled to express my concerns and warn others by leaving a review, to which she responded that my actions were inappropriate and reflected poorly on me. I questioned how it could be perceived negatively when my ex & his lawyer were intentionally harassing us through emails. My previous lawyer recognized the unreasonableness of such tactics.
I find it troubling that some lawyers can represent individuals who engage in violent behavior. I believed it was the responsibility of lawyers to advocate on behalf of their clients, which I had requested her to do. Instead, she fabricated an excuse, claiming I had not responded when I had. When I inquired whether she understood my case, I suggested that perhaps I needed a different representative but would be happy to move forward with her or someone else in the firm. Unfortunately, she began to ignore my calls, messages, and emails, failing to clarify her understanding of my situation as her client. This lack of communication is highly unprofessional for a lawyer.
Moreover, I was left without adequate representation for an interim hearing scheduled for March 18th, just three weeks away, leaving me with no time to secure another lawyer. I felt dismissed regarding my concerns about a Family Violence Intervention Order (FVIO) during my court appearance with the registrar Jenkinson. The treatment I received was unjust by her even at one point saying I was a bad mother how dare she! This has adversely affected my orders and the safety of both myself and my son. I had believed that the courts prioritised the best safest interests of the child, rather than placing them in harms way in cases of family violence. I strongly advise against engaging with this firm, as they tend to ignore clients and dismiss their concerns, particularly those on Legal Aid. I sensed that she would frequently expect me to guide her on what to say or how to respond to the opposing counsel. The purpose of your role as my attorney is not aligned with the funding provided by VLA, which is intended to support you in executing the necessary work and communication. A single response should have been sufficient she then lied and used the excuse to cease to act for not responding when I had tried getting in contact with her & left multiple messages with reception uncalled for behaviour!
It is unfortunate, as my experience could have led to a positive review had I been treated with the respect I deserved! Or this would have been different if she had of acknowledged my feelings.