Michelle has guided me through an extremely complex custody case and made progress at every step. She has an amazing memory, recalling details from months earlier and using them when they mattered most. She's also excellent on the spot, quick to adapt and make strong decisions in court. She is the most empathetic lawyer I've ever met - and is so safe to reveal anything to. Another outstanding trait is her integrity -- when she had a medical procedure, she made sure my child was protected by referring me to the best lawyer to stand in for her. Michelle is both ethical and effective, and she turned my case around 100%. read more

I worked with Paul Thorndal and wholeheartedly recommend him. I received surprise contact from my ex and was overwhelmed with how to handle our assets. Paul was understanding, calm, and kind and gave me such confidence that we could figure out a solution. We were able to resolve matters quickly and my stress melted away knowing I had someone great on my side. read more

If you are considering accessing legal expertise for family law matter, Amanda List is 100% who you need. Before writing this, I read the reviews that are already here. I am not at all surprised to see that everyone who has worked with Amanda (or her firm) has had an incredible experience. I agree with everything positive that is already in the reviews. I was initially referred to Amanda nearly a decade ago when she stepped in to support my child custody case. Unfortunately, the last decade of co parenting has not gone well so when it was time to go back to court, I reached out to her. Amanda is absolutely brilliant. She knows the Bay Area court systems well and she knows family law inside and out. As a person who has read Strengthfinder, I would describe her as a learner. Amanda is always learning, researching and observing in service of sharpening her skills so that she is prepared to win every case. Amanda is incredibly organized, which serves as an anchor for the entire case. Amanda is also funny. Most people looking for a family law attorney are in the most stressful chapters of their lives, and she has the special skill of bringing much needed levity to challenging moments. Amanda is also discerning. She has a knack for looking at the pile of facts and drama and pulling out just what is needed for a strong case, and then tossing out the rest. The tossing out part is crucial because in stressful family law experiences, I think we all benefit from letting go of physical and emotional stuff. While she doesn't tell you to do that, or offer therapeutic advice, watching her discernment helped me become more discerning as I navigated a very long and very drawn out legal experience. I am infinitely grateful for Amanda's expertise. If you work with her, you will not regret it. read more

I hired Amanda List back in 2017 to handle my very sticky divorce. She was truly amazing. My ex-husband had a tough attorney and Amanda handled him with ease and poise. I made the mistake of marrying again (I know), and as much as I would love to retain her for this divorce, unfortunately, I can't afford her. However, I highly recommend her, especially if your divorce is a hellish one. I mean they all are, but, Amanda is a shark! I love her! read more

My review is for Michelle Jacobson-Kwok of LJT Law Group. She represented me on a custodial/support case from 2018-2021. After researching several family law attorneys, I was fortunate to meet Michelle who took my case. She became a tireless advocate for my son and me at a very difficult time post-divorce. In a perfect world, former spouses would work together for the benefit of their children. But when that doesn't happen, you need an experienced attorney and advocate like Michelle. Throughout it all, she was so patient with me and never promised false hope but laid out the facts and the next steps clearly. Having previously participated in many mediations and court as a designated real estate broker, that was a cakewalk compared to the minefields Michelle navigated me through in family court. Michelle has an amazing ability to recall key facts and timelines that are relevant to the case. Over time, she impressed me with what she recalled from something I may have only mentioned once. She's also an excellent presenter in court, on zoom, or on conference calls. She treated opposing counsel and judges with respect and made her points concisely and convincingly. When there were times that a motion needed to be filed, I could always count on her to prepare the draft, have ample time to review it, and then submit it by the deadline. I always felt like she had my son's interests represented and she took great care to always explain the law and how my requests would be interpreted by counsel. read more

If you're here, chances are you were in the same place I was in. This review is for AMANDA LIST. I am not being compensated or given any type of discount to write this, I was not asked to write this-- this is 100% my own words. I have had the chance to work with Amanda for almost two years. Here's why I think she is THE BEST: 1) Amanda specializes in divorce. She has done this for decades. She has seen EVERYTHING under the sun. Nothing surprises her. She knows divorce law inside and out, and she remembers EVERYTHING. 2) Amanda tells you like it is, she does not placate. She will be straightforward with you as to what is reasonable and not reasonable, and she isn't afraid to tell you her opinion. 3) Amanda is strategic and calm. She does not blindly do what you say or is reactive to the other side-- she is ALWAYS thinking 5 steps ahead. She has been doing this long enough she knows when and how to strategically drop the breadcrumbs. It is like watching someone build a mosaic out of random pieces of glass. In the moment, you do not know what they are doing...but over time and when you step back, you realize they had a clear vision all along. 4) Initially when I worked with Amanda, she advised I hire her as a consultative attorney. I did not think my divorce was going to be high conflict, and truthfully, I was a little turned off initially by her company bio. I was afraid of hiring someone who may promote litigation. This was FAR from the truth. Amanda made it clear with me the importance of trying to work things out with my STBX directly, as it will be the least headache on everyone. Unfortunately, while I did not anticipate or want a high-conflict divorce, it was something that happened. With someone like Amanda, if things start to flare up, you can always switch from a consultative attorney to a representative attorney (it's sort of like an insurance policy). You WANT someone in your corner like her. Unfortunately not every divorcing couple is able sing koombayah and hold hands with "unconscious uncoupling"--it takes two willing people to do that. 5) I interviewed many divorce attorneys (even after I started working with Amanda). And I always came back to Amanda. For example, my divorce case was in San Mateo, our family resides in Dublin, and she is based out of Oakland. Amanda has been around long enough to know the peninsula very well. She immediately knew the Parental Coordinator that was recommended to me by my ex. She also knows the judges in the bay area. 6) Yes, Amanda is more expensive than some east bay attorneys. I thought about going to other attorneys who charged less, but I also found they took 2x time to complete tasks. I have never felt Amanda was overly charging me. She gets to the point, and she does it quickly BECAUSE she does NOT want to waste your time. She is not in the business of running up tabs...I truly believe she is in the business of advancing divorces with the maximum amount of efficiency possible. Amanda's background and specialty makes her the "whole package." 7) Unlike large firms who farm out the majority of work to inexperienced attorneys within their firm, Amanda is on your case 100%. Yes, there is specific types of work that Amanda outsources to keep costs down for the client, but she stays VERY close to the case. I find this to be a benefit of partnering with Amanda over the large divorce firms. 8) Amanda is very responsive. I get responses from her less than 3 hours whenever I email her, and I am able to get a meeting with her within a couple days. I don't know how she does it, because she is in court A LOT. 9) Finding a good attorney is hard. Its often a crap shoot. You don't know if they're "good" until you start working with them. Over the course of time and a series of decisions, you begin to build trust. I not only trust Amanda with my own life, but with my CHILDREN'S lives. 10) Amanda WAS a single parent. She put herself through one of the best law schools in the nation (UC Berkeley Boalt) WHILE raising a young son. She gets it 100%. I was not able to find this information anywhere--- I found this out about her over the course of several conversations. It was never something she used as a "selling point," which makes her even more of a badass in my eyes. 11) Amanda does not take any client- she interviews YOU. She chooses clients she believes in. I am so grateful and thankful she chooses to work with me. 12) Amanda has a sense of humor. When you have to share some of the most intimate details of your marriage with a person who feels like a stranger, the humor does help. :-) If you've gotten to the end, and if anything I am saying resonates with you, please give her office a call. I wish the process of divorce on no one, but here we are. You're also welcome to DM me, and I am happy to share any in info. Good luck. read more

I called regarding a custody case and the person I spoke to on the phone this gave me a list of fees that they would charge me. When I asked why I should retain them and not someone else she got upset and said it's probably not going to work then. I need a lawyer who will fight my case like it's their own and this law firm from the start seem like a waste of time and just someone who wants to take advantage of people. read more

If you find yourself here, as I did last year, chances are you're going through some major life changes. Whether it be financial or emotional, divorce can be extremely scary. Sadly, I am no exception. Last June my wife told me she wanted a divorce after 10 years of marriage. After the initial shock, sadness, and reflection, I realized it was for the best, we were not happy, even after a couple years of therapy. I now needed to get to the business end of this divorce and hire an attorney. After interviewing two other attorneys and not feeling confident, a friend of mine referred me to Michelle Jacobson-Kwok and I can't put a price on that referral! Michelle has been a Godsend. My wife, now legally my ex, had a favorable financial position, in terms of assets, and emotional leverage, having a stronger bond with our nine-year-old daughter and a good chance of winning more custody. We were both amicable, for the sake of our daughter, but the underlying concerns were the financial settlement and shared custody. Michelle was attentive, professional and gave me a sense of calm and confidence through the nine-month process. Since my ex and I were amicable, Michelle recommended mediation rather than going to court. This not only saved us tens of thousands of dollars but also minimized the emotional toll that litigation can bring about. I don't know if this would have been the best option if my ex and I were not amicable, but it was the best option for us. A big reason why I retained Michelle was the fact she gave me a sense of confidence if we ended up litigating. It was always the last option but an option nonetheless if my ex became unreasonable. Michelle was always apathetic to my future financial and custody concerns and confidently explained my position if we were to litigate. I NEVER felt at a disadvantage with Michelle on my side and confident there would be a favorable outcome, if we did litigate. I can not THANK Michelle enough for her competency, professionalism, and "human touch" she brought to my case. I would, without hesitation, recommend Michelle to anyone who finds themselves needing a family law specialist. read more

Amanda List is the GOAT. She represented me through a difficult and complicated divorce and was a complete savior during the darkest years of my life. There is no ease in the divorce process and by the time I found Amanda, I was an absolute wreck and her sensibility positioned me immediately to deal with the matters at hand. She's direct, wastes no one's time and never misses. Divorce is a vulnerable time, and with so much at risk, good attorneys don't always prevail. Amanda is incomparable, her brilliance and practice ensured preparedness and anticipation that provided the most optimal outcome for me and my children every single time (too many court appearances and negotiations to count). I owe her more than she'll ever know, and Amanda is forever a hero in my story. After representing me in court for my divorce and child custody hearings, she was my consulting attorney on a subsequent child support case. I don't wish divorce on anyone, but if you find yourself there, better call Amanda. read more

This review is of Michelle Jacobson-Kwok. Michelle represented me in a fairly complicated custodial case from 2011-2012 and again in 2014-2015. I cannot emphasize how amazing she is! She was good in 2011-2012, but when she represented me again in 2014, it was obvious that her skill set had exponentially increased! Michelle was not only professional, but she was quick to respond to my questions and concerns, including on weekends when the firm was closed. I always felt like she cared about me personally and not only as a client. She definitely got the job done and was direct in her communication with opposing counsel. Additionally, she was always very upfront and honest with me about costs, outlook of the case, and what her best advice is for our given situation. She exudes confidence and experience in both her pleadings and during trails. I highly recommend Michelle to represent you in any divorce or custodial proceedings you may have! Thanks Michelle! read more

When the tail-end of custody negotiations with my son's mother began to go sour, I was referred to Michelle Jacobson-Kwok by my attorney who couldn't continue with my case because a personal health issue. I'll spare the details of the case, but suffice to say, time was of the utmost essence. She took my call late on a Friday, and agreed to take my case with the stipulation that I'd be at her door Monday morning with my documents and retainer. Being an anxious mess through the weekend, I took the opportunity to email her all of the .pdfs I had regarding the case, and was pleasantly surprised when I met her on Monday morning to realize that she'd actually taken her personal time over the weekend to review them, and was already pretty well-versed in the particulars. Our first meeting was efficient and productive, and after an hour and a half, she'd formulated a very concise course of action. The following month of proceedings went smoothly, without mud-slinging or needless posturing, and the judgement very much acceptable to me. Though lawyers are a necessary evil when dealing with such emotionally charged issues, I found Michelle's savvy balance of tough advocacy and personal realism refreshing. At one point when I found myself beginning to feel punitive towards my ex (which can happen even to the best of people), she quickly and compassionately steered the ship back towards the real argument... what is best for the child. And that is what she ensured. She is smart as a whip and tough as nails when she needs to be, but both are tempered by an obvious true moral compass. She under-promised and over-delivered. Michelle, I can't tell you enough how much I thank you for your good work! read more

Amanda List is the Angel of Mercy of Divorce and everyone at LJK Law Group are amazing! Amanda is exactly what my bully/alcoholic Narcissistic Ex needed! She was my personal mute button I needed for years. Amanda guided me, kept me calm, defended me and kept my son safe. I knew the minute I met her she was the ONLY lawyer for me. Her straight forward take no prisoners style was exactly what we needed and thanks to her I NEVER saw a courtroom, mediator or evaluator. We hammered out the settlement and the judge stamped it! Done deal thanks to her. We got it done in 6 months and my ex was no picnic, but Amanda handled him like a Warrior and kept him off my back. I did not have pay spousal support, she help me protect my son from a life of dysfunctional abuse and I got full custody both legally and physically! I carry a stack of her cards in my purse to refer her any chance I can. Everyone going through a divorce should be as lucky as I was to have Amanda fighting for us. Amanda List is Best in class and it is an honor to work with her and know her. It was the first time in my life I felt like someone was looking out for us and the Angels sent us to her. I finally found someone who truly cared about our quality of life and got it done without the horror stories you hear about from others. I owe her my life for allowing me to stand my ground and restoring the peace in my world. Amanda will forever be in our hearts for the outstanding person she is and what she did for our family. read more

This review is for Amanda List. Amanda is an excellent attorney who I highly recommend to anyone, and especially anyone going through a high conflict divorce.  Amanda helped me successfully conclude my divorce, with all important matters decided in ways acceptable to me.  Before Amanda took over my divorce that did not seem like a likely outcome.  As soon as she took over the case, first I stopped losing ground, and then I started winning. For context, I had a different lawyer in this case before Amanda, and that lawyer was entirely competent as a lawyer, and wrote very well in all the court filings.  That lawyer might have been good enough for some other divorce, but not for a high conflict divorce like mine. Even in comparison to a good lawyer who I worked with for over a year, Amanda is significantly better.  She was able to handle the very aggressive behavior of my wife's 2nd attorney, both in terms of negotiating with him in settlement conferences, and by defeating him in the courtroom repeatedly.  She is quick on her feet and very persuasive in the courtroom.  If not for Amanda's demonstrated skills, we probably wouldn't have been able to reach a fair settlement, and I would probably still be in legal battles today. I also appreciated that while Amanda was willing and able to go to court and successfully fight over the disputed issues, she wasn't trying to encourage a fight or to prolong the process.  I never felt like she was trying to increase her billings.  From my experience she is the ideal professional lawyer that anyone would hope to have on their side. read more

This review is long overdue, and Michelle, if you are reading this, I apologize :) I had another attorney prior to Michelle. I was extremely frustrated with my case dragging on and going no where, and had felt that I was being over-billed without a reasonable explanation. My divorce was already finalized after two long years (ridiculous since this was a long-term marriage with adult children). There were a few post-divorce issues such as 401K split and long-term spousal support (which I was challenging). Ultimately, I came to the realization that I had hired a charlatan and it was time to fire him! I found Michelle through a web site when she was at another firm. My case was assigned to Michelle and I was immediately impressed with her sharp tact and professionalism. Soon after Michelle became my attorney, she started her own firm, LKJ Law Group, LLP. There was no question in my mind that I would retain her as my attorney. Michelle was always on top of her game, and always gave my case top priority. Michelle explained to me later that it was important to her to make all her clients feel important and as if they were her only client. When the opposing side would play their delay tactics to prolong the high support I was currently paying, Michelle's aggressive deliberation would kick-in, maintaining a high level of professionalism at all times. Michelle was never intimidated with the other attorney, even though he was well-established in the business. I should mention too that Michelle was always responsive to my emails or available to meet in person. She was always very fair in resolving any billing issues as well. In the end, my case (post-divorce!) was headed to trial, and Michelle kept the pressure on the opposing side. Ultimately through Michelle's tactful negotiation techniques, I was able to attain a buy-out and avoid the costs of a trial. It was a win-win as far as I am concerned. I have no doubts that if my case had gone to trial, we would have won :) I would absolutely recommend Michelle to anyone wanting a caring, compassionate and attentive attorney. Don't take a chance on hiring a charlatan :) read more

I can't say enough about the performance of Amanda List in my divorce. I brought her on a few months after my case started and it changed the whole tenor of the proceedings. I appreciated the fact she didn't sugar coat things - she gave me the straight story. And like a lot of of people - my case was terrible. But she got me thru it - and in the end, we came out on top. Something that never would have happened without her. If your looking for a tough, but fair attorney to represent you - Amanda should be ur choice! read more

I am a gentleman that filed for divorce back in August of 2013. I immediately sought counsel from Amanda at LJT Law Group to get me through a nightmarish episode in life. "Nightmare" barely defines some of the hardships that were encountered: Drug and alcohol abuse, child custody, restraining orders, constant police intervention and brutal counter legal hurdles! If you want to describe "ugly," I was living it! Through the process and that arena, I was quite lucky that Amanda was on my team. She was my "quarterback" and she never flinched! We went to battle and in the war of divorce; there really never is a winner, but we won the battles... The final outcome was beyond good with all considered. As a single man, with full custody here in lovely California I would say the impossible was achieved. My assets are on the mend and life goes on thanks to LJT Law Group... read more

Amanda List was my divorce attorney and she is fantastic. If your future former spouse is belligerent, evasive, slow to move on the case, and unwilling to accept reality, Amanda is the best attorney you can ask for. She is a consummate professional in interactions with the other side but can also be very tough when necessary. She was always forthright with me about my rights as well as responsibilities, and she has excellent command of the procedural pathways to get her clients their due. In negotiation she gave great advice about when to take a deal and when to push for more. She was always quick in getting back to me, usually by email. The office is well run and she is very fair in billing; I know there were many times she could have billed more but didn't. I started my process with a mediator, and that was a huge mistake in my case. When I turned it over to Amanda, she ran with it and got me what I wanted. read more

Finding someone who you feel can confidently defend you in rocky, messy situations is not easy. I interviewed more than five attorneys before I met Michelle and I decided within two minutes of stepping into her office that she was going to represent me for my custsody proceedings. Unfortunately, my situation was not so negotiable, so we had to go to court more than three times...but let me say, Michelle was up against a snarky, experienced(20+years), nasty, charicature of an attorney who had absolutely no scruples about saying inappropriate, nasty things about me or copiously spending my ex husband's money.... Michelle, however, never went to the well to dredge up ugly stuff or insult my ex. She stuck to the facts, remained calm always, and was constantly reading how the judge was reacting to the details that were being presented. She was astute, fair, thoughtful, and careful about really keeping things concentrated on the legal arguments. Realistically, I should have spent far less time e-mailing and talking with Michelle, as she had it all under control, but the nerves of the situation prevented me from always staying cool. I don't know how you express gratitude to someone who helps you keep your family intact and gives their all to being your ally in the most contentious, ugly, unnessary battle of your life....Yes, she got paid, but it isn't something I equate in financial terms....She was an ally who helped me endure something that was almost unbearable at times. She never made any promises, she wasn't afraid to call me out on my bull#@*!, and she never went more than 24 hours without returning a communication. I consider her to be a stellar attorney, but also a compasionate, thoughtful, reasonable, and lovely human being. I was honored to have her help....and, yeah, it all worked out worked out just fine. Whew!! Thanks, Michelle, truly.... read more

Amanda deserves a special yelp stars score on her own. She is in my opinion an incomparable leader in family law. Amanda helped me get an excellent custody and settlement agreement under difficult circumstances even when my dealings with my ex got extremely complicated and in less than one year I was divorced .... She worked very hard to have all my previous attorney's mistakes corrected and thanks to her remarkable knowledge and efforts the settlement was reached before court date so that I could avoid the aggravation and expense of going to trial. Throughout the entire process Amanda made sure I understood and agreed to every aspect of the settlement and when needed, she steered me away from pursuing trivial requests or issues based on emotions specially around my child's custody agreement terms. Amanda is not only smart, understanding and passionate but she's also that extremely sharp and fierce advocate you want in your side when confronting non-reasonable people. I am forever thankful to Amanda and her whole amazing office team for their hard work and support through the past tough times. I still actually can count on them and request their advise and help whenever a financial or custody issue arises with my ex and they are always there for me. Amanda you are SIMPLY THE BEST! read more

I reached out to Michelle recently for advice on a potential child custody issue. My knowledge of the process was limited to some internet research and advice from friends. I called on a Monday afternoon and was assigned a 9 am appointment the next day. I met Michelle at her office and spent one hour where we covered just about every scenario I might encounter. I left so much smarter and confident that I wouldn't be steamrolled by the system. The advice I received proved critical in standing up for my rights and ultimately forcing a reconciliation with my partner who was threatening to move out of the area and limit access to my daughter. I was impressed with Michelle on a number of levels; she is an expert on family law with years of experience but has real empathy with her clients and puts you at ease right away. I didn't get told what I wanted to hear, I was told how the law works. We looked at all possible outcomes from worst case to best case scenario. Michelle and her team have a very flexible structure when it comes to fees and services. They will allow you to process your own case and be there to advise or they can do the full service including court representation. The fees are market rate but flexible and they won't nickel and dime on every small correspondence. I have kept Michelle's email on file just in case I need to use her services again and though we didn't take this all the way my best instincts told me I was in safe hands if I needed a quality family lawyer to get the best results. Top marks - highly recommend! read more

I met with Amanda List for a custody modification case. I found her attitude to be condescending, flippant and completely unsympathetic. She didn't bother to read my court documents and after 15 minutes of discussion she told me I had no case (I have since been told by 2 other lawyers that I have a very strong case) then proceeded to try to sell me a $10,000 custody evaluation service provided by her professional associates. No other lawyers have suggested or discussed this type of service. I walked out of her office feeling demoralized and shocked at the treatment. If I could give her no stars, I would. read more

I kind of owe my life to Amanda (and my sanity). Trust. Value. She is worth her weight in gold! Sharp. Whip-smart (understatement). Reasonable. Fast. Trustworthy. Level-headed. She commands her presence. Even the most confident opposing attorneys fold under her powers. Why? Simple. She knows the law and doesn't hesitate to reveal that. I spent waaaaay more money with the 3 previous attorneys I hired that had a lower hourly rate. They made no progress!!! If you're lucky enough to find her with room in her schedule for you, don't hesitate. You WILL save money in the long run. I was lucky to find her. Thank you Amanda!!! Thank you so much!!!!!!!! ~Your client with the "divorced AF" t-shirt. read more

I am soooo lucky to have found Michelle. I was looking for a new divorce attorney after my retainer on the first one was virtually gone with nothing to show for it - no spousal support or child support four months after my ex had filed for divorce...and I was unemployed at the time! Fortunately, an inheritance helped me manage but I needed to save ever dime of that inheritance to try to buy my ex out of the family home. My ex made it clear that I had to buy him out or he would force the sale of the family home - even though our daughter had another three years to before graduating from high school. He was not willing to wait and sell the home after she graduated. Based on the Yelp reviews, I contacted Michelle. I initially hired her as a consultant at a far lower cost and acted as my own attorney of record. As I neared reaching a general framework for a divorce agreement and buyout of the family home arrangement, I changed my contract to one where Michelle became my attorney of record. It was great to have the flexibility in the legal representation and it saved me a lot of money. What I specifically liked about Michelle are these traits: - Straight-shooter (will not candy coat reality) - Speaks in layman terms. (The difference in communication style between me and my previous attorney led to many misunderstandings and missed deadlines) - Practical, Practical, Practical. My previous attorney advised me to hold off finishing the minor construction that was left on a rental unit attached to the home because it would increase the value of the house and possibly make it harder for me to buy my ex out. But I needed the cash flow to help preserve my inheritance. Michelle said better to finish off the work and get the rental cash, especially since most of the construction work was already done and it would be factored into the appraisal of the house anyways. - Financial whiz in figuring out how to put together spreadsheets to divide assets. (But, potential clients, you need to have the traceable financial documents in order for her to do her job. Fortunately, I had most of the records that I needed, except those that went back further than 7 years and the banks and financial institutions don't keep them that long) -Keeps your legal costs down. At every turn, Michelle would try to help me keep my legal costs down by having me handle those aspects of the legal process I felt comfortable with. After a hearing were the final divorce settlement was submitted, she said I could stay behind to make sure the judge signed off on it later that morning as he had promised to do and I could pick up a copy of it , OR, I could pay her to sit with me waiting for this to happen. I told her to leave. She said she was a phone call away if any questions came up,. My ex's attorney and the attorney's associate all stayed to wait. In the end, I was able to buy my ex out of the family home and through the rent proceeds will be able to afford to pay the mortgage and related costs going forward. The buyout means so much to our daughter, who has lived in this home since she was an infant and it provides the needed stability to do well in school. Michelle absolutely rocks! read more

Amanda List from LJK is a ROCK STAR! I have been battling my ex for 5 years now. We have been through hearings and full blown trials in two counties - Contra Costa and Alameda. I have seen him go through 3+ attorneys, and I have used and consulted with gosh...at least 6 of my own. I have sat in the court room and seen MANY attorneys fight their battles before 10+ different judges, and I have a number of divorced friends with their own attorney experiences. EVERY friend I have WISHES they had Amanda! After 5 years of battling and going through numerous attorneys, I found Amanda! She has been a life saver! My case couldn't possibly be more complicated. My life is a made for TV Lifetime movie (not literally, at least no yet). Amanda picked up my case late one night and began representing me the very next morning in court! And yet, she GOT IT! She took over and blew me away and my ex outta the water! She's extremeley bright and DRIVEN! She's like a dog with a bone! Seriously, if you are an attorney and you're up against her, good luck to you! :) I am an educated doctoral candidate myself. I did my research! There is no better than Amanda! She may be a bit rough on the edges (crass, not a mom who's going to coddle you), but THAT's NOT what you need or want in an attorney. You need a DRIVEN, DEVOTED, SMART, person who knows the system, knows the administration, and knows people. THIS is her! Oh, and she has a great sense of humor! She's SUPER funny - just when you need the lift! I could go on and on...but the bottom line is: I wouldn't trust ANY ONE else to fight for the future of my two precious children! I am a super protective Mama Bear who will fiercly protect my cubs! Amanda's the best protection I've ever found! read more

I originally didn't need counsel for my divorce as it was uncontested, but it quickly became contested with disgusting allegations of abuse and myself being unstable to care for my children. I quickly obtained Amanda as counsel. She was on my side every step of the way, told me like it was, offered up ways to save me money and in the end, I got more than what I even asked for. I honestly cannot explain how amazing Amanda was, and how knowledgable she was on every aspect of the divorce proceedings. My ex quickly realized that when it comes to lawyers at least in the divorce court, you get what you pay for, and by the time he figured this out, it was already to late for him as Amanda not only crushed him in court with facts, but also crushed opposing counsel. I cannot emphasize enough, if you need counsel, Amanda is your woman. read more

Life wasn't fair when it gave me an abusive husband or a long awful divorce. The only thing that was fair was that God gave me Michelle. Michelle Jacobson-Kwok handled my restraining order and divorce years ago when she worked for another company, although the company she worked for was nice Michelle was the gem. So, when my restraining order expired and the ex tried to contact me again, there was no hesitation on who to go to even though now Michelle opened up her own office. I knew I would go back to her no matter what. And I did. She was still quick at giving me options and plans on how to continue on. But most importantly she remembered me and my case and I did not have to rehash old memories that I've tried to forget during these past years. Along with her kind and caring nature and her desire to help me and not just for the profit alone, this is what I think makes a wonderful lawyer and person. read more

Michelle Kwok of KJK Law Group is one of the best attorneys I have ever worked with. She is incredibly sharp and intelligent, never misses a detail and is kind and thoughtful at the same time. Aside from her work ethic and abilities which above and beyond, she cares. I would highly recommend her to anyone. read more

12-5-10 I recently used Michelle Jacobson Kwok in my custody case and I found her to be very fair compassionate and intelligent. I started out with another attorney who I fired halfway through my case because I felt that he was giving me bad advice and he was billing me without any explanation for the charges. Michelle was very upfront and honest with her analysis of my situation, she didn't just tell me what I wanted to hear. She was very patient and professional in responding to my emails and phone calls in a timely manner and explaining the strategy that would obtain the best results. A lot of the final agreement was done in negotiations outside the court with the opposing council, Michelle was determined, chose her battles carefully and was never intimidated by the opposing council. When we finally went to court she was very well prepared and her arguments made the difference in my not having to pay my ex wife's attorney fees and having my family support greatly reduced. I guess the main reason I would recommend her was because she actually listened to what I had to say, she didn't have a pre conceived outcome in her head and I knew that she cared about the welfare of my children. I found the whole experience gut wrenching and a lot of the people I dealt with, my first attorney, the evaluators and Psychologist were only interested in lining their pockets and could not care less about my children. Michelle is a warm, caring individual and a breath of fresh air in a very stale system and I am happy to recommend her. She works with The LJK Lawgroup, 2101 Webster St, Oakland, CA 94612, Phone 510 302-6600 or email michelle@ljklawgroup.com Seamus Collins read more

Amanda List and everyone at LJK Law Group are exactly what is right and good in the legal profession. Amanda is direct, honest, and a fierce advocate for me. The office staff, Anjulee, is awesome, friendly, and always happy to answer my questions. Amanda takes control and gets things moving, even if they have been dragging on for years. And she always takes the time to explain the law and the options so I could make the right decision. She cleared my case like a dr cutting out a cancer. My only regret is not having found her sooner. read more

Amanda rocks!...after being screwed over as an unrepresented individual, Amanda stepped up and took control of the situation. Amanda was always upfront with me. If I was being unreasonable, she explained to me the law and the consequences of being unreasonable. In contrast, if I was giving in to easily, she discussed the consequences of my actions. While giving me confidence of her abilities, she always made feel like I was in-charge of the final decisions. Amanda guided me well and helped me achieve a resolution to a very difficult family situation. I recommend Amanda List!!!! You will not go wrong. read more

I am so incredibly thankful for the wonderful support and representation I received from Amanda List. She was recommended by my financial advisor, as she had helped other people she knew. Amanda is brilliant, no-nonsense, and made a very difficult situation resolve quickly and (relatively) painlessly, after having had dragged on for years (years!!!) before seeing her. The settlement was fair, even-handed, protected my child, and freed me from being afraid of my ex. She got my ex "handled", he cooperated, and it all settled quickly. And her staff- Anjulee really is kind and angelic, and Kathy was always helpful and professional. If you are a "super-nice, always giving" person who could use a straight-shooting advocate who will be on YOUR side, then run don't walk to see Amanda!! read more

I was extremely concerned about finding a good divorce attorney, as my ex was being very aggressive regarding our impending divorce. I was in a vulnerable financial situation,as well as a fragile mental state, to say the least. Enter Amanda List (sound the trumpets!). Amanda took care of everything, continually assured me that all would be well, was a bulldog when required, and was always on top of her game and the situation. This is an "A" type of gal, that likes to get things done and totally knows her profession. She does whatever she can to mitigate your expenses, and make you aware of things that you can take care of to save money. Amanda saved me from totally being taken advantage of by my ex, and I was able to receive a just and fair settlement after 23 years of marriage. You will not find a better divorce attorney than Amanda J. List. If you have to spend money for a divorce, make it with someone that you can have complete confidence in - start to finish. read more

I contacted LJK based on yelp reviews and was put in contact with Michelle. I had some relatively simple divorce issues I needed legal advise on. She was able to address my issues quickly and professionally via a scheduled phone conference. Her answers were practical and she seemed very knowledgable about my issues. Definitely worth the consultation. read more

I used Michelle Kwok's services in a very difficult custody battle involving mom taking my daughter out of the country. I was very impressed with how prepared and on top of things she was during the entire trial. If I needed something or had a question she was on it. She working with me on stradgey and made feel as if I was able to help and contribute instead of just sitting ther. I would recomend her services to anyone who wants to win! (We won custody btw). read more

Amanda List is the greatest!!! She's my down to earth, no holds bar SHERO!!! She helped me with my child support case. I highly recommend her. She's sharp and she know's law. I was and am so proud to have her as my attorney. read more

Amanda List has been my divorce attorney for approximately one year. By far, my divorce has been the most difficult and frustrating experience I've ever had. I faced financial, legal and personal challenges that could have resulted in my loss of job and home. Throughout the process, Amanda was a rock. She is intelligent, thoughtful, ethical and clearly well versed in divorce and custody law. She is able to formalize inventive action plans that leave little room for opposing counsel to refute. She is good at gauging the judge and opposing counsel during interactions and can effectively communicate to her client how things are going and when a different tack should be taken. On occasions when I was so discouraged I felt like giving up, Amanda was emotionally supportive, reminded me of what I was fighting for (my child) and encouraged me to look at the global picture to see the light at the end of the tunnel. My ex-wife and her attorneys were less than scrupulous. Many untrue and nasty allegations were flung at me during the divorce. I am happy to report that because Amanda kept a level head, stuck with the facts and had my back, I was able to "have my day in court." At no point did I stoop to the same level as my ex. This was noted and commented on by our judge, as was Amanda's competence. Amanda and I prevailed; my final judgment was fair and appropriate. I never would have finished this process had it not been for Amanda. PS - Bonus points to LJK Law Group's amazing staff. Thanks to Anjulee, who is a rock star! read more