This law firm will steal all of your money blatantly with no remorse. Beware!!!! I was promised that my case were simple domestic violence and divorce would take $10,000-$15,000 max they started out with Miss Dost who was professional kind, caring, and attentive to the case and the billing was so minimal as time progressed in the beginning and then here comes the bait and switch the main Attorney steps in and sees that I actually have money to pay for my attorneys fees. All he did is ask me questions about my financial position and getting to know me and that is when I saw him start to go to work on me not my case. I got an email from a lady in the law firm demanding an additional $5000 so I looked at my bill and saw that Paul had reviewed my case for strategic planning and execution November 4, $3000 charge out of my account which I thought was very steep, and what did he do to charge that amount of money was a question to me. In December we where to have a phone conference which he postponed for a later date and I accepted, but when I spoke to him about my case he knew absolutely nothing about the case, none of the details and then tells me that "he didn't have my file in front of him", and the phone call kept dropping and trying different method to communicate which he was still charging me Before. I immediately wrote an email to the whole entire law firm, expressing my concerns about the lack of knowledge and preparation in a detailed itemized list, then reflecting back on what he charged me for a month prior was "strategizing and reviewing the case". So I asked Paul the question how could you charge me $3000 and then 30 days later you know nothing about the case?? He assured me, (Paul) that he likes to get familiar with the case right before the court date that way it's fresh in his mind and do not worry I will not double charge you. Not only was he still not prepared at the court date he was studying in the hallway and jotting down notes. He then was delivering to the court and to my ex-wife false information that I had to correct him on in the courtroom. While questioning me on the stand he also asked me questions to clarify dates and he had the dates wrong in his questions that I had to clarify on the stand. At the end of all this he charged me double again!!!! When I confronted him about the double charge, (because they requested an additional $15,000 which would put me at $30,000 and we still haven't even finished the domestic violence) He had his Hinchman bill collector office lady call me demanding the funds and said, "well it's your right to have representation and if you don't want it come pick up your things or I will mail them to you"! Paul finally got on the phone after a week or two of me demanding his presence and an explanation for these charges. He argued with me and said "I don't even remember your ex-wife's name right now, we are guaranteed to forget, so if I charged you for it back then and I forgot...... it's legal services that I provide and I'm not giving you any money back". As a business owner I replied to him... "can you imagine if I told you that I put in an air-conditioning unit at your home and it's guaranteed to not work, but I'm going to charge you for it anyways. I was dumbfounded by his response!! All of the email responses that were supposed to go over to my ex and her lawyer, when I received all my documents nothing was communicated only three responses at the beginning of the case they prolonged the case along with Joanne Scheinberg law firm to exploit myself and my ex-wife and misappropriate the funds. One of the court appearances Paul said so loudly "this law firm (speaking of Joanne Scheinberg) are crooks!. All they want to do is want to take your money". I think the judge heard him!! He said it so loud and the Attorney for Johnn Steinberg smirked and looked at Paul as they locked eyes. I'm going to spend a lot of time and effort and energy to expose this law firm along with Joanne Steinberg. It is criminal what they are doing. I fired Next Leagl and represented myself the next trial. They didn't even give me my documents to the day of my hearing in the morning. They have no regard for you as a person. All they want is your money do not fall for the bait and switch this Attorney comes to court even in a dirty suit, uncut hair and bad breath, it was the worst experience of my life. And I deal with many attorneys in my day-to-day business. This is by far the worst law firm ever. And they will be exposed. Anyone with questions or validation of these claims. Please reach out directly and I will provide all documentation so you can see the truth for yourself run from this law firm protect yourself from this scam. read more

After the case had concluded, I won most of my family law issues. Contact them for a consultation to get a good foundation where to start.

I had a lot of anxiety and stress going into my case, and I ended up hiring Zelikha last minute. From the moment she took my case, she acted quickly and got straight to work. She was professional, focused, and made me feel supported during a really overwhelming time. Zelikha handled everything efficiently and helped me stay calm and prepared. Thanks to her hard work and dedication, I was awarded primary physical custody of my child, which means everything to me. I'm truly grateful for her and would highly recommend her to anyone needing a strong, reliable attorney who genuinely shows up for their clients. read more

Never received a call back. After leaving several messages. Looking for a divorce attorney and no one reached out to me. Very disappointed. read more

I whole-heartedly recommend working with Zelikha Dost and Savannah Rogers at Next Legal. My case was extremely complex, acrimonious, and involved a very combative opposing counsel. After 2 years of struggles and 2 previous lawyers, I finally switched to Zelikha and my case immediately turned around. She helped us reach a settlement even though I had entirely lost hope of avoiding trial. She truly cares about the people involved, especially giving thought to what is best for the children, which I appreciated so much. Unfortunately this doesn't seem to be as common as one would hope in the world of family law. Savannah Rogers handled many of the logistical issues during my case and I found her to be meticulous, extremely responsive, and friendly. Having previously worked with attorneys that handled everything themselves, having Savannah on the team both saved me money and gave me a contact that was available to help much faster than my previous attorneys. read more

One Star - Deeply Disappointed by Legal and Ethical Failures I originally left a five-star review for Next Legal because I genuinely hoped we were entering into a fair and respectful agreement: $2,500 for limited scope representation, clearly defined and confirmed. I was open, transparent, and prompt in delivering all required declarations and documentation well in advance of my court date. Unfortunately, what followed was a disturbing and harmful pattern of legal and ethical malpractice. Despite receiving everything they needed to file my property control motion--including my declarations, evidence, and specific legal strategy--Next Legal failed to submit the motion correctly and made no meaningful representation on my behalf in court. They never raised the controlling Family Code §3044 issue, despite my declarations that were more than sufficient to rebut the presumption. Instead, they stood silent during the hearing, failing to advocate, explain, or clarify a single issue of importance--wasting valuable time and derailing my case. Worse still, they failed to file proper proof of service of a USB drive containing critical video evidence of abuse--something I had instructed them to handle. This procedural failure allowed opposing counsel to misrepresent in court that I personally handed over the USB drive, which is factually false and legally dangerous. I had explicitly asked their attorney, Giselle, to update me with a proof of service and invoice before exceeding the $2,500 scope. That never happened. After the hearing, I formally disengaged from their services on June 11, 2025--and I have email documentation confirming this. Despite that, their office continued to misrepresent to the court that they were still my attorneys, effectively preventing me from accessing the self-help window to move my case forward pro se. This obstruction directly harmed me and delayed my ability to secure custody and property rights. To add insult to injury, they later sent me an invoice requesting a $3,750 trust replenishment--well beyond the agreed-upon limit--and have continued to harass me with follow-up billing messages despite my clear documentation of disengagement and failure to perform. They have not acknowledged their misconduct or the consequences of their misrepresentations to both the court and to me. As a 100% disabled veteran representing myself in an extremely complex family law case, I was counting on ethical support--not fraud, neglect, and obstruction. Their actions have not only set me back financially but undermined the integrity of my case. I have already reserved my right to report this firm to the California State Bar and other regulatory authorities, including the Judicial Performance Commission, for their mishandling of my case and repeated misrepresentations. If you're looking for a firm that respects its scope, acts ethically, and fulfills its obligations--look elsewhere. What I experienced here was not just disappointing; it was devastating. --Mary Simms read more

Next Legal - Divorce & Family Law Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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My legal representation by Zelikha Dost of Next Legal was extremely effective and a joy from start to finish. I was grateful for Zelikha's supportive, intelligent and knowledgeable approach to understanding my point of view. Complex topics that I couldn't always state clearly were quickly restated by Zelikha to capture exactly what I wanted to say, explaining the options available. My legal needs were communicated to other counsel using a cooperative demeanor with clear, concise logic that at times made potential other party refusal seem to make no sense. As a result my needs were usually met without delays. Work was carried out efficiently and accurately. I believe that my outcome was the best available in the circumstances. I recommend Zelikha Dost of Next Legal most highly and without reservation. read more

I'm so thankful for Zelikha Dost and Savannah Rogers! They helped me through a very difficult divorce with care, honesty, and professionalism. Zelikha treated me like a person, not just a client, and Savannah was always responsive and kind. They fought for what I deserved and gave me peace of mind in the end. Highly recommend this amazing team! read more

I was going to go to a hearing by myself, but I hired Next Legal and worked with Mandy and Zelikha, and I am so glad I did. From the moment I had their support, I felt less alone in an incredibly stressful situation. Being kept from my son after the adjusted court order was making me physically ill. With their guidance, I was able to go to court confidently, knowing my attorney Zelikha was fully prepared and truly knew my case. After the new order was put in place, my body finally relaxed, I could breathe again. Thanks to their hard work, I now have a much better child custody order, and I am beyond grateful. Thank you so much, Mandy and Zelikha at Next Legal, for fighting for me and my son. read more

Overall, it was a bad experience. Their team was working on my case, which means everyone needed to be aware of the status, and I was paying each of them. I submitted a form that needed to be delivered to the other party. After two months, they still couldn't deliver it. In the end, I had to use a process server myself to deliver the document, which cost only $75. However, they still charged me over $1,000. In some months, even when there were no activities, I was still charged over $2,000, their invoice shows they were reviewing my case. I have to cancel the service. read more

I worked with a few different attorneys before I got assigned to Zelikha Dost on my divorce and it was the best thing that happened. When I was assigned to Zelikha, I felt taken care of, and she really fought for me. I really appreciate her guidance and her taking the time to help me every step of the way. I cannot recommend Zelikha Dost and her office enough! From the moment I walked in, I was treated with kindness and professionalism. Zelikha is incredibly knowledgeable in Family law and made a stressful situation much easier to navigate. She was always available to answer my questions and kept me informed every step of the way. The office staff was equally amazing--efficient, friendly, and supportive. If you're looking for an attorney who genuinely cares and delivers outstanding results, look no further! Her team is great at Next Legal! read more

In my experience, I don't know whether the attorney was just overloaded or incompetent, but I know they didn't like being called incompetent. After 9 months of delays and my pushing them to act, they finally got a financial discovery response. When I told them the ex was hiding a lot of money, they told me they did not care about it but were more concerned about the date of separation. After we parted ways, in the first month with my new attorney, he found several bank accounts with balances over $250K and a $500K lawsuit settlement that wasn't included in the ex's discovery response. Obviously not insignificant amounts to me. IMO they did not properly represent my interests and am glad we parted ways, but I am still unhappy about the amount of fees they burned through for inadequate representation without any meaningful results.. read more

I worked with Zelikha Dost and Mandy Griffin on my divorce and I am very happy with my choice. There were some delays on the other side, but in the end, Zelikha and Mandy were able to push it over the finish line. I appreciated their patience and consideration, clear explanations on the process and the law, and prompt follow up. Thank you to Zelikha and Mandy for making this happen! read more

Cielo was very attentive to my billing concerns. Thanks for the help and attention to this matter

Rather than completely removing this review since it's not advised by Yelp, I will add that I was able to work with Zelikha specifically to resolve what we could. She was diligent in addressing this matter and quick to reflect on what could be done to improve the client experience. My communication with her directly demonstrated she had the skills I'd initially hoped would be indicative of the Next Legal team. read more

I posted a more detailed review on the Next Legal Palo Alto's Yelp Page. It's the same group just apparently two locations. I would offer the same review/advice on this page, look elsewhere for Legal help. I felt this group was unprepared at times for my case, and we as the Petitioner were always on the defense and reactionary. I also cite an example of what I feel was unprofessionalism and inappropriate customer service in my other review. read more

Barry Witt and the Next Legal staff are great. I hired Barry because he seemed kind, he knew opposing counsel, the judge, and I'd just hoped to expeditiously and quietly settle my matter. Unfortunately, my ex, god bless her, or her attorney, had a game plan straight out of Nightmare on Elm Street, which caused me to be a handful, or so I imagine. Even with a straight-forward matter turning into a full-fledged brawl in court, he adapted quickly and rolled with the punches. Every time we spoke, he asked insightful questions, so I know he's listening and reviewing my file. Once or twice he even channeled my rumination into a productive theory of the case or idea to pursue. I admit during less fruitful episodes of revisiting the relationship he was able to ground me and prevent me from wasting time and money chasing my own tail. I think he's an amazing family law attorney. He's competent, kind, trustworthy, and honest - definitely my kind of lawyer. read more

Thanks Next Legal for helping me to navigate a difficult divorce. Especially DEANNE CIFUENTES! You provided excellent timely service and also tender care for a tumultuous time. I highly recommend working with Deanne, a fabulous paralegal. read more

My experience with Next Legal was fantastic! Everyone that I interacted with from the firm offered terrific customer service. The staff is prompt and timely in responding to my phone calls and emails. A big shout out and thank you to a star paralegal, Edward Szymczak. Edward is the gentleman anyone seeking legal support would want in their corner. He is empathetic, analytical, and a great listener. His work product exceeds my expectations. Again, thank you, Edward, and to the Next Legal team. read more

We were able to come to a resolution and am thankful I can continue with the great team here at Next Legal.

I don't think 5 stars are enough to show the value and appreciation I have for Barry Witt and the team at Next Legal. Prior to my consultation with Mr. Witt, I had spoken with at least a dozen other attorneys. Many were too busy, some gave a grim outlook, and some were flat out rude. The process was exhausting and I was feeling very defeated. I am so glad I received the referral for Mr. Witt which came in at the 11th hour. When I first spoke with Barry there was about two weeks to prepare for my case and he willingly took it on. Mr. Witt was a wizard in the court room and defended me with professionalism and grace and had opposing counsel looking silly. The allegations against me were dropped and I couldn't be more grateful for Mr. Witt and his supporting team. read more

I was represented by Paul Donsbach of (Next Legal) in my divorce proceedings. This has been a very daunting and stressful time for me and for anyone in this situation. I worked very closely with him. He was very clear on what my expectations should be from the beginning up to the end. He was smart and sharp. Before pursuing courses of action, he will give me the risks, benefits and liabilities. From these, I weighed the statistical risks before committing to a plan. He will then provide me with additional knowledge, advice/suggestions and, with his support, made decisions that brought a successful conclusion to my divorce. As with some divorces, mine ended up in trial. During the trial, Paul had a very thorough knowledge of my case, his voice, clarity of statements and winning attitude were evident. His respect for everyone involved in this case was commendable. He fought for my prenuptial agreement in Chile to be valid in California and that made a lot of difference in its resolution. I strongly recommend Paul and his law firm. You will be confident that they will bring the best of their abilities to represent you. Isabel Parada read more

To say my divorce was stressful would be an understatement. Barry and Irina walked me through the most stressful, dark , scary, grief riddled part of my life. Barry is smart, honest, trustworthy and practical. His advice is sound. Irina is kind, compassionate, empathetic, hard working and analytical. I thank them endlessly for their help. read more

I called next legal last week to schedule of an appointment. They been really friendly and straight forward to my questions. They never asked for upfront cost to respond my questions. Thank Next legal team. read more

next legal are a great group of people they were there for me when I felt hopeless they helped me get full custody of my daughter if you need help getting custody or custody rights these are the people to call thank you so much next legal read more

Update: I was contacted by the management promptly. It sounds like the firm is going to approach things differently eg: has one point of contact. The manager seems cared enough to listen to my feedbacks too. Clearly there are competent and caring people within the firm (at least one, based on my experience). Hopefully with the organizational change the experience will be better. I also appreciate the management offered me discounts for my stressful experience. I do think billing me for calling asking for follow-ups and pushing the staff to do things is not fair, so I really appreciate the nice gesture. ----- This review has two parts: most of my experience with this firm had been very negative. However, the last person-Jacob Parker I worked with was the only one actually cared enough and competent enough to help me finally finalize my extremely straightforward case. So Jacob is a solid 5 start but the firm and other people I interact with is a solid 2 stars at the best. I have a very straightforward case, I have done most of the work myself already, it is really just the last step needed. I paid the 3500 for the retainer and was told everything will be done in 2 weeks and was repeatedly told that the case is very straightforward however during the 9 months working with Next Legal, balls constantly getting dropped, a lot of the charges were from me calling for follow ups and trying to push them to do things. The situation didn't get better until the attorney-Irina, I was assigned to, eventually left the firm along with her team (I think). my case was finally worked on by Jacob and thankfully the case is finally resolved. read more

I appreciate the firm and the fact that they finally got my case to a close. I will say that the billing is honest and transparent and was happy with the majority of how my case went. I will say frustration did happen and mist of that is due to the backlog at the court. An honest law firm that you can trust. Gladly it's finally over with! read more

I was so disappointed in their lawyers that I stopped working with them the day after the Zoom meeting

Total and complete scam artists. Stay away. Paul Donsbach took 150k of my money over two year period without doing anything for my case. Then Paul abandoned me on the day of my trial. The Judge had to order Paul to appear in court...after I had fully paid him and owed him nothing. He just decided to not show up or represent me. After the judge ordered him to appear, Paul spent no time with me preparing for my case. He called me the morning of trial trying to get his facts straight. I was on the stand representing myself against the other attorney and Paul just sat there and did nothing. The Judge had to step in and ask the questions of the other part they Paul was supposed to. Paul just lies one lie after another. Do not trust Paul or this firm. He also kept moving me among his other attorneys, just to get them training at my expense. They did nothing for my case at all. I had to handle every aspect of my accounting and preparing for trial. If I had left things in Paul's hand, I would have lost so much. He is unscrupulous, greedy and does not care about his clients. He is good at smooth taking like a con artist. read more

We consulted with Neena in an emergency situation. going through custody battles is very stressful and difficult situation. she is an incredible lawyer and i couldn't thank her enough for all the help that she has done for my son and I. We don't know how we could have done it without her help. she always give you an honest advice and always had me prepared with the process.. Neena is very professional, she properly represented me in court and never gave me false hopes. she would always give me updates about everything that is going on about my case, which i really appreciate. I highly recommend Neena and her associates. they are the best! read more

Paul and his team expedited all aspects of my divorce and I couldn't be happier with the communication, thoroughness and guidance they provided me throughout the process. The initial quote Paul gave me was very accurate and fair. Thank you Paul, Natalie and JamieLee! read more

This review is past due and definitely well deserved. I found Paul and the rest of his team through Yelp, I was dealing with a divorce that had ties to crypto currencies, I needed a lawyer that had knowledge of how to deal with a divorce case and specialized in crypto, Paul was my guy, I felt comfortable and at ease with him he was honest about what he could do and how I could keep the cost of my divorce down, and sure thing the court ruled to my favor thanks to Paul and the rest of his team. Paul sets a strong, confident and sharp tone in the court room always at the right time, he will make you feel less tension and nervous through it all, he's definitely a shining star along with Matthew, it's definitely a great team to hire you wouldn't regret it! Thank you Bay Area Family Law! read more

My family and I were in need of a Family Law attorney in the Bay Area to handle a legal separation issue in the family and found Next Legal. Attorney Neena took time to listen and understand our situation and our concerns. Neena explained to us the various options available to us and the steps and progress at each point. She is excellent in follow-up and checking in with us for our input and any new developments. She was candid regarding the opposing counsel's strategy, helping us to stay on course and our issue was resolved without further complication. If you would like a lawyer who is personable, excellent with communication, follow-up, and giving wise counsel to navigate the course, Neena is your person! (Paralegal Robbi worked hand in hand with Neena; they are an efficient team!) read more

I met with Barry Witt for a family law matter. What a fantastic experience! I was a little worried going in however Barry was very welcoming and answered all questions and concerns. He was very knowledgeable and helped me prepare all appropriate documents and gave me his expert legal counsel. I would highly recommend next legal for any of your legal needs. read more

I simply can't say enough about Irina Dmitryev and the entire team. Knowledgeable, very responsive, effective, and all at a very reasonable price. I had to switch lawyers from another firm due to many issues and I was so lucky to find Irina. Working with Irina and everyone on the team just made me wish I had worked with Next Legal from the start. They are organized, experienced, and managed my legal cases with fiscal responsibility and with heart. No need to be robbed by excessive- charging legal firms. I learned this personally. I will definitely use Irina again if ever needed. read more

I just want To thank Berry And his team for helping me with every step of the process during my divorce. They Were able to walk me through the whole process even Through such a difficult time. When I had questions or concerns, I can't thank them enough For taking my calls and helping me. I recommend whatever your needs are when you need awesome representation. Next Legal will be the one for you. The staff are helpful and knowledgeable. Would definitely recommend. Thank you Berry Whit Chris Mehrtens read more

After a very tough case Paul represented me very well and the court got to see the person I really am. All I can ask for is to be represented properly. Thank you for a great job! read more

neena is amazing!!!!! she responded effectively and timely to all my calls and requests. she provided a level of comfort to ease my anxiety and ultimately we took the win!!!! for neena and her team to take my case in such short notice the execution was on point... iam so grateful to her for the work shes done on my behalf.thanks neena and shaliya!!!!!!!!! read more

Neena is great to work with she explains everything in detail and made the process a better learning experience. She responds quickly and keep us updated throughout the process until everything was taken care of. I'm so grateful for her passion, dedication and professionalism the service exceeds my expectations. Thank You for an amazing job. I HIGHLY Recommend Neena and her team at Next legal law firm. read more

On the day off the 15th Nov 2018 i and my family were in the throes of a very sad and stressful custody hearing ,this being my first and only time in court do to this unneeded situation,was not only "IMPRESSED " by the effort that Paul and his TEAM I and my family were varry pleased with the outcome and fallow up this law firm was able to provide. I without a shadow of a doubt would suggest this team for anyone looking for a job varry well done.."Iwill be using them for any other fallow up in the future " BRAVO!!! read more