Buchanan Law Group

Nearby Lawyers Illinois DuPage County Downers Grove Warren Avenue

(117 reviews)

Contact Info

Location 1121 Warren Ave #240, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA
Phone +1 630-866-8303
Website https://www.rbbfirm.com/downers-grove/

Reviews

I'm really disappointed after spending over $10,000 on a simple custody and child support case. I had high expectations based on all the positive reviews and their hourly rates. Unfortunately, after two years of minimal progress, I decided to withdraw from the case. I initially worked with attorney Ross, but was reassigned to Chelsea Herring and paralegal Kelly. Kelly was efficient and caring, but I raised concerns about the slow progress of my case, especially since we had a lot of evidence against my ex. After I pointed out that the opposing counsel lied to the judge and Chelsea didn’t correct it, Kelly was replaced by Holly, who was the worst paralegal I’ve ever dealt with. My financial affidavits were never presented to Chelsea, which led to a court hearing where she asked for more time, claiming I hadn’t submitted mine. I had submitted it and was even charged for Holly to “block out my account number.” After two years and $10,000, my custody agreement remained unchanged and child support was never established. It feels like a complete waste of time and money. I will like to also add that they wanted to charge me $1,400 after I told Holly to filled for withdrawal. Once I brought up the error to Jessenia in billing, she was happy to tell me that the amount old was in fact, $1,170 and that she will waive the rest as a form of courtesy…. No ma’am that was your firms mistake not a courtesy to me. I recommend checking out the negative reviews to see that this seems to be a recurring issue.
Attorney Meg has great communication and was extremely helpful during the time we spent together. She’s also very knowledgeable and always go to the point quickly without leaving out important details. I also had an enjoyable experience with the staff.
I interviewed many attorneys before I made my decision on who would represent me and I felt that Brooke was very compassionate and gave me honest and realistic answers. She did not pressure me into signing a retainer and gave me space to make a very difficult decision.
Chelsea Herring with the Buchanan Group shepherded me through a painful divorce (as I assume all divorces are) with compassion and solid advice. I was not always the most responsive client, but she bore with me and explained what was happening or might happen at every decision point in the process. Her advice was always clear and always on the nose. If you find yourself in a similar situation, you could not find a better person to help you than Ms. Herring.
I would love to thank my attorney Rebecca and my paralegal Bonnie for all their hard work they did! Being young and having no understanding of this change in life, Rebecca has been very patient with me and helped me understand the process every step of the way and was able to work with me throughout my crazy schedule! Bonnie also stepped in a couple times while my attorney was busy and was able answer all my questions and concerns instantly! These ladies are amazing!! They know their stuff! I also can’t forger Erika for her assistance and understanding with payments and scheduling appointments when I needed them. She also has been very supportive during this stressful time! I would recommend this team for whoever is in help!!! THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK!!!

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About Buchanan Law Group

For local users in Downers Grove, IL, and the surrounding areas seeking legal counsel within the "Nearby Lawyers" category, Buchanan Law Group offers services in family law. Situated at 1121 Warren Ave #240, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA, the firm provides a local presence for individuals navigating complex family legal matters. Their contact information, phone: (630) 866-8303 and mobile phone: +1 630-866-8303, offers direct lines of communication for inquiries.

While specific details about the interior environment of Buchanan Law Group are not publicly available, the nature of their practice in family law suggests an environment designed to handle sensitive and often emotional cases. Being located in a suite within a commercial building in Downers Grove, the office likely maintains a professional and confidential setting for client consultations. The firm's ability to attract clients based on positive reviews suggests that, at its best, the environment fosters a sense of trust and care. However, concerns raised by some clients about communication and efficiency might indicate areas where the firm’s internal processes could impact the perceived client experience, regardless of the physical setting. Objectively, clients would expect a discreet space to discuss their personal legal challenges related to family matters.

Buchanan Law Group appears to specialize primarily in family law, with a strong focus on child custody and child support cases. Based on the provided reviews, their services include:

Child Custody: Representing clients in disputes and negotiations concerning the allocation of parental responsibilities and parenting time. This involves working towards establishing or modifying custody agreements that are in the best interest of the child, and addressing complex relational dynamics between co-parents.
Child Support: Assisting clients in establishing, modifying, or enforcing child support orders. This involves navigating financial affidavits, calculating support obligations, and ensuring that children receive the necessary financial provisions.
General Family Law Matters: While the reviews specifically highlight custody and child support, it is common for family law firms to handle a broader range of related issues, such as divorce, spousal maintenance, property division, and post-decree modifications.

The firm’s approach involves working with clients to gather evidence and present their case, whether through negotiation or litigation, to achieve desired outcomes in these emotionally charged legal areas.

The features of Buchanan Law Group, as conveyed through client reviews, present a mixed but insightful picture.

On the positive side, Attorney Meg is highly praised for her "great communication" and for being "extremely helpful." Clients find her "very knowledgeable" and appreciate her ability to "always go to the point quickly without leaving out important details." This suggests an attorney who is efficient, direct, and effective in conveying legal information. The positive review also mentions an "enjoyable experience with the staff," indicating that certain members of the support team contribute positively to the client experience. Furthermore, paralegal Kelly was described as "efficient and caring," which points to a team member who was attentive and competent in her role.

However, a more detailed negative review highlights significant concerns regarding the firm's overall service delivery. Key issues raised include:

Slow Progress and Lack of Resolution: A client reported spending "over $10,000 on a simple custody and child support case" over "two years of minimal progress," ultimately withdrawing without the custody agreement changing or child support being established. This raises questions about case management efficiency and the firm's ability to deliver tangible results in a timely manner.
Inconsistent Attorney and Paralegal Assignments: The client’s initial work with attorney Ross, followed by reassignment to Chelsea Herring and then a switch from paralegal Kelly to Holly, suggests potential internal inconsistencies or lack of continuity in case handling. The negative experience with Holly, described as the "worst paralegal I’ve ever dealt with," further amplifies concerns about staff competence and consistency.
Internal Communication Breakdowns and Misinformation: The most critical issue raised is the alleged failure to present financial affidavits to Attorney Chelsea Herring, leading her to claim in court that the client hadn't submitted them, despite the client having done so and even being charged for paralegal Holly's work on it. This indicates a severe breakdown in internal communication and potentially impacts legal representation in court.
Billing Discrepancies and Lack of Transparency: The firm attempted to charge an additional $1,400 for withdrawal, an amount that was later corrected to $1,170 with the remaining amount "waived as a form of courtesy." The client rightfully disputed this as a firm mistake, not a courtesy, highlighting concerns about billing accuracy and transparency. The reviewer also suggests that checking negative reviews reveals this to be a "recurring issue."

These contrasting experiences suggest that while individual attorneys like Meg may provide excellent service, there might be systemic issues within the firm concerning case management, staff consistency, internal communication, and billing practices that can lead to significant client dissatisfaction.

In terms of promotional information, Buchanan Law Group's marketing efforts would likely emphasize the positive testimonials, particularly highlighting Attorney Meg's expertise and communicative approach, and perhaps the efficiency and caring nature of paralegal Kelly. They would aim to position themselves as compassionate and knowledgeable "Nearby Lawyers" for family law matters in Downers Grove, stressing their accessibility and understanding of local legal needs. Their contact information, phone: (630) 866-8303 and mobile phone: +1 630-866-8303, would be prominently displayed. However, any objective promotion should also be mindful of the negative feedback that points to challenges in case progress, internal communication, and billing. While the firm might promote its commitment to client care and effective legal solutions, potential clients are advised to also consult the more critical reviews to gain a comprehensive understanding of potential challenges they might encounter. The firm might also highlight their location and ability to serve the local community efficiently for family law cases, aiming to attract clients seeking a local and specialized legal resource.