Speaker Law Firm, PLLC

The attorneys at Speaker Law are writing experts. I don’t handle my own appeals because I know my clients are in the best hands with Liisa, Lisa, and Jordan. I haven’t personally worked with Jennifer or Liz, but based on the quality of the family law appeals I am confident they would be equally fantastic.

Review of Speaker Law Firm – Mishandling of Appeal in Conservatorship of BJH (COA 369128)

If you are considering retaining Speaker Law Firm or Liisa Speaker, I urge you to read this carefully. What I experienced was not just legal negligence — it was a betrayal of trust, professional abandonment, and outright misrepresentation.

After paying over $20,000 to Speaker Law Firm to handle my mother’s probate appeal, I was shocked to learn — the night before oral argument — that Liisa Speaker, the attorney listed on my appellate filings, would not be arguing my case. Instead, a newly licensed attorney, Krysten Hergert, who had passed the bar less than one month before the Application for Leave was filed, was substituted in without my knowledge or consent.

When I objected, Speaker’s response on the morning of the hearing was chilling:

“We are not rescheduling argument. Krysten has always been the main attorney assigned to your case.”
— Liisa Speaker, Jan. 7, 2025, 7:51 AM

This was a lie. The brief was signed by Liisa Speaker — not Hergert — and Krysten was not even licensed when the appeal began.

Throughout the case, I don’t recall ever speaking to any attorney. All communication was filtered through their office manager, Mark Forsythe. Liisa Speaker later admitted this was their policy:

“My intention in limiting attorney-client communication is to save clients time and costs.”
— Liisa Speaker, Jan. 9, 2025

This is unacceptable. For $20,000+, I was entitled to speak with a licensed attorney. Instead, I was assigned someone unqualified and kept completely in the dark.

I had provided them clear, documented evidence that:
• The court’s judgment was based on a an outdated Guardian ad Litem report,
• The transcript they filed misstated key facts (e.g., falsely stating I paid $40/hour to a caregiver instead of $20), The transcript they filed was not filed in the lower court
• The accounting relied upon had already been denied by the probate court, and
• My own attorney, Michael Caine, had submitted corrected accountings with full documentation.

Despite this, Speaker Law refused to supplement the record or correct the fraud. Their justification?

“We are not at all persuaded that the things you are jumping up and down about will make any kind of difference.”
— Liisa Speaker, Jan. 16, 2025

They even threatened me:

“If we withdraw and you file documents and lose the appeal, that will be 100% on you.”
— Liisa Speaker, Jan. 16, 2025

After the appeal was lost, a completely new attorney, Elizabeth Parker, emailed me for the first time — without ever having participated in my case — to say they were closing my file:

“We are closing our file and will be taking no further action.”
— Elizabeth Parker, April 14, 2025

I had previously warned Speaker Law that they were facilitating a fraud on the court and cited MCR 2.612(C)(1)(c)-(d) and MRPC 3.3(a)(3). They ignored it.

Their final response?

“We believe we have complied with all ethical and legal obligations.”
— Elizabeth Parker

No, they did not. They lied, abandoned their duties, and allowed a fraudulent record to destroy my appeal.

This wasn’t a mistake — it was malpractice.

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Avoid Speaker Law Firm. They will smile, take your money, and leave you alone in the courtroom. If you’re facing serious legal stakes — especially involving your family or estate — this firm may cost you everything.

Cynthia Mifsud

Unfortunately Speaker Law Firm could not assist me at this point in the process, however, I spoke to Cody on the phone and he directed me to numerous places that could. I greatly appreciated it as it can be challenging to navigate these matters on your own.

I had a positive experience working with The Speaker Law Firm. Their team demonstrated professionalism, deep legal knowledge, and a strong commitment to their clients throughout the process. Communication was clear and consistent, and I always felt informed about the status of my case.

What stood out most was their attention to detail and strategic approach. They were patient in answering questions and helped me feel confident in the decisions I had to make. Whether you’re navigating a complex legal matter or need strong representation, The Speaker Law Firm is a trustworthy and capable option.

Highly recommend to anyone seeking legal expertise with a client-centered approach.

When I was ready to give up on a 3 year custody battle, I reached out to Speaker Law. After thoroughly discussing my case, they connected me to Lisa Schmidt. She was not only thorough, but passionate about my case. The team kept me updated through the daunting process of appeals. Finally, when the day arrived, I sat in the courtroom watching the cases before me. Lawyers fumbling through and (in my opinion) literally not doing their clients justice. Then, my case was called. Lisa Schmidt was decisive, poignant, and eloquent with the points she wanted to make. When asked questions, she was confident and it was evident she knew my case inside and out. Not only did I receive custody of my child, it was IMMEDIATE custody. Very rarely seen. She not only won our case, but possibly saved my child’s life. As anyone knows that has been in a custody case, you are often left with mixed emotions about lawyers. When I think of Speaker Law and Lisa Schmidt, there are only feelings of immense gratitude. Deciding to appeal is a difficult one. You feel beaten up and emotionally and financially drained. I would not (and have not) hesitate to recommend their services. They helped us get through the legal battle so we could focus on healing. Thank you, Speaker Law. Thank you.