Batoul
Collected on:
Extremely Disappointing and Unethical Legal Representation
I had an extremely distressing and traumatizing experience with Equity Law Solicitors and specifically with Nicola Pascoe, who handled my family court case from Dec 23 – Jun 24 . Below are the significant issues I faced:
1. Lack of Communication and Responsiveness: Despite my repeated requests for written communication due to my hearing impairment, Nicola rarely adhered to this, causing unnecessary stress and confusion. She rarely responded to my written emails and messages.
2. Severe Delays and Mishandling of Court Orders:
Nicola failed to provide critical documents, including court orders, in a timely manner. For example, I waited months to receive a draft order, which significantly differed from what we had agreed upon during the first hearing. When I objected to the court order, Nicola confirmed that she went to the notes received by email from the barrister Nadia Zaman and she confimerd that she addressed my concerns to the court in a written email. Nicola offered inconsistent justifications for the delay, such as citing a bereavement involving the barrister, Nadia Zaman, and claiming she had contacted Romford Family Court to address the discrepancies. These delays caused unnecessary stress and ultimately led to the judge trying to penalize me for late submissions. It felt as though these delays were deliberate, leaving me in a vulnerable position in front of the court.
3. Misleading Information and Poor Legal Advice:
Nicola suggested that I bring my mother as a witness. However, I later discovered that the court does not accept witness statements from close relatives, making this advice not only misleading but ultimately unhelpful for my case.
4. Missed Deadlines and Mishandling of My Case: My statements, witness arrangements, and other critical tasks were either delayed or never completed. This caused serious setbacks in my case, leaving me unprepared for hearings.
5. Refusal to Cooperate with Other Solicitors: When I sought alternative legal representation, Nicola refused to cooperate with my new solicitors, further complicating my case.
6. Manipulative Behavior and Disrespectful Handling of Witness Arrangements:
Nicola advised me to bring my mother from abroad to act as a witness. Once she arrived in the UK, Nicola arranged several appointments with an interpreter at her office, but each time, she canceled the appointment on the same day while we were en route, citing that the interpreter felt the Legal Aid rate was insufficient. Despite my repeated follow-ups for a new appointment, she continued to cancel without providing an alternative. Nicola promised to write to the court to request an extension for submitting the witness statement, but this never happened, putting me in a critical position before the court.
7. Manipulation and Unethical Behavior by Hiring Barristers: For the first hearing session in January, Nicola hired a barrister named Nadia Zaman from 3 Bolt Court Chambers. Instead of focusing on the child arrangement case, the barrister intervened inappropriately, suggesting I reconcile with my ex-husband and even discussing unrelated personal matters, like showing me photos of her teenage son. This behavior was highly unprofessional and distressing.
8. Misleading Information to the SRA: After I filed an official complaint with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), Nicola misrepresented key facts in her response.
Their unprofessionalism has caused me significant distress and allowed my ex-husband to manipulate the court process further, falsely blaming me for delays and requesting the court to penalize me. As someone with a hearing impairment, I felt unsupported and disrespected throughout the process.
I cannot recommend this solicitor to anyone seeking reliable and professional legal representation. My experience has been deeply traumatic, and I hope this review helps others avoid similar hardships."
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