Jennifer E. O'Brien - Sacramento, CA

I don't like to write one-star reviews. I've owned businesses myself, and I know how serious and impactful a public review can be. But my experience with Jennifer O'Brien fully warrants it, and I want others to be informed before trusting their case--or their savings--here. I was referred to Jennifer and her husband by someone I've known for many years. I paid a $5,000 retainer upfront, which was a significant amount for me as a graduate student--money I had saved over several years. I entered the process in good faith, expecting professional, competent representation. Instead, I spent an entire year with virtually no action taken on my case. For the first six months, I received no updates at all. When I finally did get a response, I was repeatedly told that the courts were "still mailing back" copies of my judgment. That explanation was given every time I asked for information. It never changed, even as the months continued to pass. Concerned, I eventually spoke with a different family law attorney--someone who kindly offered guidance because they felt bad about what I was experiencing. Without hesitation, they told me that the document this firm claimed to be waiting on typically takes no more than two weeks to receive. This contradicts the six-month timeline I was repeatedly given. And, based on what I later discovered in my documents, it appears that this firm never requested the judgment at all. Throughout the year, I was also asked for personal financial information that had no relevance to my case, and when I questioned the necessity of those requests, I was met with dismissive, gaslighting responses. Although they told me I could "ask questions anytime," every question seemed to frustrate them. The only action they appear to have taken over the entire year was sending a single, non-certified, non-served form letter to the opposing party--despite my telling them in our very first meeting that this person had ignored all previous attempts at communication and that formal legal action was necessary. No filings were made. No service was attempted. No court contact occurred. After twelve months of no real progress, I asked what needed to happen next. I was told I needed to pay an additional $5,000 to replenish my retainer--even though the first $5,000 had not resulted in any meaningful work. When I then requested an itemized invoice showing what my initial retainer had been used for, my requests went unanswered. Instead of providing an invoice, the firm abruptly informed me that they would no longer represent me--and claimed that I owed them additional money. It wasn't until my husband went to their office in person to collect my file and firmly insisted that an invoice was standard practice that they finally provided one. The invoices they handed over were dated the day before he arrived, despite the fact that I had been requesting them for weeks. When we reviewed my file, it became clear that the courts had never been contacted. There were no filings, no requests, no progress, and nothing that justified the retainer or the demand for more money. I paid $5,000--money I saved for years--for a year of inactivity, misleading information, and unprofessional treatment. I truly wish this review were different, but prospective clients deserve transparency. My experience was costly, stressful, and deeply disappointing. I would not want anyone else to go through what I did.