The Law Offices of James L. Arrasmith

I hired The Law Offices of James L. Arrasmith and paid a $6,500 retainer. Before my January 12, 2026 settlement conference, I received no preparation. Mr. Arrasmith did not speak with me until the evening before court. He appeared unfamiliar with the extensive records I provided, discussed no meaningful strategy, and never told me he planned to appear remotely. The next morning, while I searched for my attorney at the courthouse, his staff—not Mr. Arrasmith—eventually told me he would appear remotely. I was left frightened and without guidance. After court, I asked Mr. Arrasmith to speak with me. He did not respond or call. I contacted the office the next day. His assistant apologized for the communication failures, but Mr. Arrasmith did not respond. My January 15 email went unanswered for 11 days. Only after I followed up did John Bequin confirm Mr. Arrasmith had received my emails. Instead of answering, the firm asked me to schedule another call and warned that the call and file review would cost $600 per hour. After I terminated the firm, my $1,897.84 unused-retainer check was mailed to the wrong address without confirming it with me. When I reported the error, the firm said it would wait 15 days before stopping and reissuing the check. I received it in late March. The firm also emailed me financial and business records from an unrelated client matter. I challenged the charges through Mandatory Fee Arbitration. I kept my records, represented myself, and won. The arbitrator disallowed all clerical charges, found a legal secretary’s work was billed at the $240 paralegal rate, disallowed all of Mr. Arrasmith’s attorney time, and found his $600 hourly rate unconscionable. The arbitrator determined that the fees and costs that should have been charged were $0 and awarded me $5,125.74. Clients have rights. Keep all records. A law firm’s bill is not automatically valid. Do not give up. I documented what happened, fought for my rights, and won.

Even during my initial consultation, I could tell this firm was different. James patiently answered all of my questions without rushing me and provided practical advice that helped me understand my legal options. I left feeling informed and confident about how to move forward.

James represented me during a divorce and child custody matter, and I couldn't have asked for a better attorney. He was compassionate when I needed support and aggressive when it came to protecting my rights and advocating for my children's best interests. Every phone call and email was answered promptly, and I always felt informed about what was happening in my case. His dedication, honesty, and professionalism gave me confidence throughout the process, and I would gladly recommend him to anyone needing family law representation.

Working with James was one of the best decisions I made during my family law matter. He treated me with respect, kept me informed every step of the way, and genuinely cared about achieving the best possible outcome for me and my family. Even when things became complicated, he remained calm, professional, and focused on protecting my interests. I always felt like I had someone in my corner, and I'm grateful for everything he did to help me move forward.