1 /5 eric goff: I had a highly disappointing experience with attorney James Campbell in Shalimar, FL. From the start, there was a noticeable lack of empathy and professionalism in handling my case. Communication was particularly poor—Mr. Campbell seemed to prefer emails over direct conversations, even when clarity and resolution were needed.
He cited post-COVID protocols as a reason for avoiding in-person meetings but also admitted that he simply prefers a more casual approach. Unfortunately, this approach led to ineffective communication, including a situation where, instead of addressing a disagreement directly with a phone call, he chose to send a harshly worded email. This demonstrated a lack of professional listening skills and an unwillingness to resolve concerns in a constructive manner.
Additionally, I was frequently left uninformed about important developments in my case. It became apparent that the firm’s priorities leaned more toward financial gain than genuinely advocating for clients. If you are looking for an attorney who will keep you engaged and fight for your best interests, I strongly recommend seeking representation elsewhere.
Update: This response from you, my former attorney comes across as highly unprofessional, defensive, and lacking in empathy. A professional attorney should maintain a neutral, objective, and respectful tone, even when addressing conflicts with clients. Here are a few key issues with this response:
1. Lack of Professionalism – Instead of addressing the concerns factually and professionally, the attorney resorts to belittling language, such as “continual verbal beratement” and “Ponzi scheme???” (with unnecessary punctuation). A professional response would focus on facts rather than personal attacks.
2. Defensiveness – The response is more about justifying their actions than acknowledging your concerns. A professional attorney would simply state the facts of the case and their reasons for withdrawal without making it personal.
3. Breach of Confidentiality – While they may be within their rights to explain why they withdrew, their language seems to reveal too much about internal office dynamics and discussions, which is unprofessional.
4. Failure to Address the Real Issue – If you raised concerns about their lack of empathy or ethical conduct, this response does nothing to address those concerns. Instead, it shifts blame entirely onto you.
5. Bias and Emotional Tone – A seasoned attorney should be able to handle difficult clients (if that were the case) without making it about personal feelings. The fact that they felt the need to include a staff member’s opinion (“this is something that has never happened before”) suggests an emotional reaction rather than a professional one.
A more appropriate response would have been factual, concise, and free of emotion—something along the lines of:
“We regret that we were unable to continue representing Mr. Goff due to irreconcilable differences in expectations and communication. After notifying him of our decision to withdraw, we followed standard procedures to transition his case. We wish him the best moving forward.”
Best wishes, Mr Campbell to you, as well