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Originally Posted by grammadidi

Shiran, Forget the criminal lawyer that you emailed. He's only after your money too! :) Call that Legal Referral place. BE HONEST above all else. You don't have to tell us everything but you should tell the lawyer everythinng. A lot of good lawyers will give you a free 1/2 hour consultation to discuss your case and tell you whether they think they can help you and how much it will cost. You CAN talk to a few of them to make a well informed decision. While the Lawyer Referral Service will give you a name and number it doesn't stop you from calling a lawyer and asking if they can give you a free 30 minute consultation. Visit with 2 or 3 of them and make a decision on your next course of action based upon what they say. Otherwise, I think you should just kiss your money goodbye and try to learn something from the experience. If you did nothing illegal and your money was stolen then in my opinion you should pursue it, even if things get a little tense for you. I hope you let us know what you decide and the outcome.

Good luck!

Didi

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This is a legal board and we take great pride in our answers. I don't like to see anyone "slam" an Attorney without good cause. Emailing Attorneys is a very foolish idea. I don't see that the Attorney is "only after [OP's] money." You don't know that.

Going Attorney to Attorney for free "30 minute consultations" is called Lawyer shopping. Fewer and fewer are offering these consultations. Visiting 2 or 3 Attorneys and taking some sort of poll on how to proceed is a waste of the Attorneys' time. OP should get a recommendation from the Bar Association and use it.

If OP had that kind of money stashed in a locker he has money to pay for a consultation.

Until OP posts the entire situation (and I am very sure that all of the issues are not posted here) it is impossible to give him any additional advice.

JudyKayTee, I respectfully disagree. I didn't suggest he go to 10 lawyeres. I suggested he meet with 2 or 3. There is nothing wrong with meeting with 2 or 3 lawyers for a free 30 minute consulatation to see what they recommend, whether they think they can be of help to you and, if so, to determine which one you feel most comfortable with to represent you. I would do the same with a doctor. I have the right to make sure we connect and I have the right to ensure that the advice given by one lawyer as to my rights and options are is consistent. If I don't get at least a second opinion then I'm sure not doing myself any favours. If I was buying shoes I'd try on more than one pair first.

Things may be different in New York, but in Ontario there are still a large number of lawyers that will do this. It's not about shopping for the cheapest lawyer, it's about finding the one you feel will work for you the best and to see if you are getting the same story from both. If I go to 2 lawyers (or doctors, for that matter) and they are both saying 2 different things then you can bet your bottom dollar that I would go to a third. The Lawyer Referral Service will give you ONE name. You should not use them again to obtain a second name for the same legal issue. HOWEVER, if you don't feel comfortable with the lawyer that you spoke with, or you question his ability to adequately represent you then you sure don't have to use that lawyer. You shouldn't/can't use the Referral service for another name, but that doesn't stop you from contacting another lawyer and asking if they offer a free half hour consulation.

A half hour consultation to discuss a case is not long. The lawyer will inform the potential client what his legal rights are, how to use the law to solve his problem, what he might expect to pay for the lawyer and how long it might take.

Whether you agree with me or not doesn't mean that I don't take pride in my answer. I have lived where the OP lives for over 50 years. I know that my answers to him were filled with good advice. As far as my 'slamming' an Attorney without just cause... as you said, emailing an Attorney is a very foolish idea. No, you are right, I don't specifically know that this lawyer is truly after his money. The point was really that emailing a lawyer for such advice was a bad decision. I do believe that I added a smiley face, but even if I didn't, there is no need to take things so nastily.

As for the OP having that kind of money stashed in his locker and that being the reason he can pay for a consultation... I feel that's a ridiculous assumption. Or, did you miss the point that his money is missing?

{Mod note: Edited-<>}

At any rate, I stand behind my advice. You got to do what you got to do.

Didi