O’hanlon, McCollom & Demerath, PLLC

DO NOT TAKE YOUR LEGAL NEEDS HERE! Short version: Sloppy, snotty, unprofessional service! Long version and details as to WHY read on please!
I made an appointment for Monday, 11/​11/​2013 and took time off of lunch to go meet up with Mrs. McCollom at her office on 808 West Ave. The appointment had been set several days in advance. I got to the office on my lunch break (I had to request an extended break from work to go to the office) and I was told that Mrs. McCollom **WAS NOT THERE!** So, not only did she not bother coming in to the appointment that was set, nobody at her office bothered to call me and inform me that Mrs. McCollom would not be there so I would not waste my time coming in. After being treated rudely by the receptionist when I was obviously miffed that the attorney I had an appointment with was not there, she called her and had me speak to her on her cell phone! How professional. This was all brushed off as no big deal, and I was treated rudely for showing my displeasure at having my time compeltely wasted. Absolutely horrid first impression that I just could not shake.
I left my documents with the horrid receptionist (Adelaide? Adele?) and did my best to make it clear that I had a time sensitive matter that needed prompt attention. I waited two days and no response, I had to call and request updates and was told more than once that McCollom was not in her office. (Is she ever?). This afternoon, I took more time off from my lunch break to call the office, was treated even MORE rudely than the last time, and decided that I had had enough. I left work early and went to get my papers from these unprofessional people.
This is NOT how you treat people looking to your firm to provide them with a service. Yes, you are attorneys– but you are still ultimately PROVIDING A SERVICE– and your service was BEYOND AWFUL. I will never recommend anyone go here for anything as arbitrary as a parking ticket, let alone an important and time sensitive legal issue like mine happens to be!
The icing on the cake was that after I went by the office today to retrieve my documents (so I could go meet with another, more professional attorney), McCollom called me at around 6:30pm. Clearly the staff communicates just as well with her as they did with me, because when I retrieved my documents from the office, I told the terrible receptionist that I would not be needing their services, and that I was horrified at their abysmal service.
***My time, like yours, is very valuable, and the manner in which my case was (not) handled was terrible. If I ever treated one of the customers at my job the way I was treated by this law firm, I would absolutely be fired immediately.***
You guys need a reality check in a huge way.
Mrs. McCollom– I did not decline your services because you «took too long», I declined your services because you left an awful first impression on someone who is already dealing with a very stressful situation, and I do not appreciate the way I was treated by your horrible staff, the initial waste of my time, and your lackluster, unprofessional, half-​assed review of the documents I left with you.
DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME WITH THESE PEOPLE.

So. In my opinion, this place is a perfect stereotypical example of why people hate lawyers! I found them on one of those sites that says to submit your concern and a lawyer will respond. I submitted to three places, they all did send a response including one I got from a Leslie McCollom, one of the lawyers at this firm, I assume since her name is in the title.
Now, on her behalf, she did answer my question, I can’t fault them for that. But I would never give them business after actually speaking with her on the phone! I certainly would not refer anyone to them and in fact will make sure to refer people away from this firm every chance I get (and I get asked for referrals often in my line of work)!
Like I said, she answered the question but even her email was very rude. I gave her the benefit of the doubt though and thought it was probably me interpreting it wrong. It’s hard to get the true tone of an email, we all know this, and they can be misperceived often and easily.
I decided to call them anyway and the girl who answered was VERY sweet. She listened, was kind, didn’t rush me, etc. Then she transferred me to Leslie who answered her phone with that all too familiar disgruntled who-​do-​you-​think-​you-​are-​bothering-​me! Voice and said after a loud sigh: «Hello.»
She sounded pissy and irritated the whole time like she couldn’t be bothered with a few questions. Obviously she’s not that busy or she would have been in court! I hate to think innocent people are paying her what is probably way too much money to represent them with this kind of attitude and she single handedly made the entire firm look ridiculous and rude.
Austin is full of decent lawyers and I’ve worked with civil, criminal and defensive lawyers who were all so much more professional than this.
Granted it was only one phone call and one email. Maybe she was having a bad day, but really? She shouldn’t have bothered to answer the phone or return the email if this was her attitude that would have just been a «typical» expectation rec’d from a lawyer whereas this was just flat out disrespectful and snide.
At the end of the call I thanked her for her time and she couldn’t even be bothered to say you’re welcome. Maybe she was just never taught any manners, I don’t know, but it’s unfortaunte that this is how she treats a stranger who is inquiring about her professional services. I guess I should just be happy she answered my questions.