Independent legal advice
Consulting Attorney Services
Sometimes you don't need someone in the middle — you need someone in your corner. As a consulting attorney, I advise you individually about your California divorce, without taking over your case or putting you on a litigation track.
What a consulting attorney does
A mediator is neutral, and that neutrality is what makes mediation work. It doesn't mean the mediator stays silent about the law. As a mediator I can explain how California law applies to your situation, walk both of you through what a court would likely consider, and tell you when a proposal is outside the range a judge would find reasonable. What I can't do is advise either of you individually or advocate for one of you. I'm working toward an agreement that holds, not toward the best possible outcome for one spouse.
A consulting attorney fills that gap. I represent you — not both of you — and give you legal advice from your perspective. That can mean helping you figure out what a fair outcome actually looks like before you're sitting at the table, preparing you for a difficult negotiation, or telling you plainly when a proposal is worse for you than what you'd likely get in court.
How much involvement you want is up to you. Some clients have one substantial conversation early on and never need another. Some check in after each mediation session. Some want me reviewing proposals as they develop.
What I ask is that you bring me in early enough to be useful. I don't take on cases where the only task is reviewing a completed agreement the night before signing. By that point the negotiating is over, and if something in the document is a problem, your options are to sign it anyway or to reopen a deal your spouse believes is finished. Neither is a good position, and it isn't what you're paying a lawyer for. If you want legal advice on your divorce, get it while it can still change the outcome.
Who this is for
- You're in mediation with another mediator and want independent advice
- You and your spouse are negotiating directly and want to understand your rights first
- You're partway through a process and want to know whether what's on the table is fair before you agree to it
- You're not sure what California law means for your situation and want a straight answer
Scope
What's included: Legal advice about your California divorce, negotiation preparation, review of proposals and draft agreements as they develop, voluntary discovery, and help understanding your rights and options.
What's not included: Court appearances, litigation preparation, contested motions, or formal discovery. This is deliberately out-of-court work. If your case needs a litigator, I'll tell you that and refer you to one.
One important limit. I can serve as your mediator or as one spouse's consulting attorney in a given case, but never both. If you're already working with me as a mediator and want individual legal advice, I'll refer you to another attorney. The neutrality only means something if it's absolute.
Pricing
Consulting attorney services are billed hourly. Contact me for current rates and to discuss what your situation would likely require.