Midtowner...FYI, I did in fact retain a local lawyer in the Summer of2006 (Prior to doing this I filed a "Motion to Enforce Visitation" with the Court. The Judge that heard the matter NEVER made a final decision on my motion. The entire proceeding is currently under review by the Oklahoma Council on Judicial Complaints). I gave him my money and he gave me zilch. He did absolutely nothing! He never even filed a "Notice of Appearance" with the Court. He would not return my telephone calls, nor did he ever respond to a single letter, not even certified letters, which he refused to accept.

When I checked the OSCN I discovered that this lawyer had only one other case (Divorce Without Minor Children) that was pending.

I ended up dismissing him (August 2007) and filed a grievance with the Oklahoma Bar. It took me just a little over 3 months to get my legal files back from him. He still owes me a refund for non-performance. He offered to settle to avoid a formal investigation by the Bar. If he had been a Doctor he would have been called a "quack."

I then set out to find another lawyer. One wanted to call in "expert" witnesses that would have cost me $3,000-$4,000 for "boilerplate" testimony. Another attorney wanted more than I was able to pay. And still another declined to take my case because DHS was involved, whom the lawyer proclaimed as "worthless." As of right now I do not have an attorney because of medical bills.

As for working a "second job," I had to resign from my job back in October of last year due to health problems. And no, I am not receiving disability, worker's comp, or unemployment.

With regards to the "mail out," it cost me a couple of hundred dollars. And as a student of the law, I am sure even you would concede that is not enough to retain an attorney, let alone cover the cost of a "billed" 10 minute telephone conversation with one's legal counsel.

"Bellyaching?" Call it what you want. I am simply sharing, and I guess that might make me a target for criticism. Not a problem...I welcome all inputs. In the meantime...

Know anyone that will do pro bono work?
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Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government; whenever things get so far wrong as to attract their notice, they may be relied upon to set them to rights. ---THOMAS JEFFERSON