I hired Joshua Kaplan to help me get my driver’s license back after not having it for over 20 years. My last DUI was over 8 years ago, and I completed all of the required steps to qualify for a hearing. Because I have anxiety and difficulty speaking in stressful situations, I decided to hire a lawyer to help represent me. Unfortunately, my experience was very disappointing. Before the hearing, we only had two short phone calls to “practice,” both right before the hearing itself. He told me I did well during those calls. When the hearing began, the hearing officer asked if my attorney had anything to say on my behalf at the beginning, and he said nothing. I had specifically told him beforehand that speaking in front of people is difficult for me and that this was one of the main reasons I hired an attorney. At the end of the hearing, the officer again asked if he had anything to add. At that point he only asked me two brief questions, and they were directed to me rather than addressing the hearing officer directly. That was essentially the extent of his participation. I received a denial within hours that same day. When I spoke with him afterward, he told me the reason was that I “talked too much.” In my opinion, part of an attorney’s job is to guide their client during the hearing. If I was saying too much, he could have stepped in or redirected the conversation. That is exactly why I hired legal representation. When I asked about a refund because I felt the level of representation did not justify the cost, he told me that if I wrote a negative review he would sue me. That response was extremely concerning. Based on my experience, I personally feel that you may be better off preparing yourself rather than spending the money. The preparation I received consisted of two short practice calls, something a friend could easily help you with. There was no statement at the beginning of the hearing and very little participation at the end. This was just my experience, but I wanted to share it so others can make an informed decision.
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