In I was a young lawyer who had just passed the bar exam and was looking for my first big job. I sent resumes on Monster, CareerBuilder, job boards, and Craigslist. I was contacted by Gary Lane and Consumer Protection Legal Services through an application on Craigslist. I interviewed, was promised a great salary with benefits, revenue shares, and a friendly work environment, in a career providing services to helpless homeowners. This was all lies and after only forty five days there I realized Gary Lane and Consumer Protection Legal Services were breaking laws, committing fraud, taking on clients that were not qualified to stay in their homes, and had formed an illegal and unethical partnership with a non-attorney.
First, they take on cases from homeowners who cannot possibly qualify for a loan modification or loan workout/restructuring. They take very high retainer money from these poor people who should be using these funds to prepare to move and find an apartment because there is no realistic hope to save their home. This is morally reprehensible, unscrupulous and professionally unethical!
Second, they have very high case volume which they cannot possibly serve with the limited funds and resources they do have.in fact, they do not pay most of their staff, including their attorneys. I was supposed to be paid and reimbursed for expenses on a weekly basis and most of my checks bounced. They are months behind in paying their staff.
Third, I believe Mr. Lane has formed an illegal partnership with Maritzah and Pepe Abad, two non-attorneys, to fund his law offices and share the profits. He basically employs Maritzah and Pepe's sales team and gives them per client fee referrals. They also have a Real Estate office located next door which they share expenses with. I believe the Realtor is Mr. Abad's wife.
Mr. Lane hires new attorneys every month or so. I see his ads on job boards and craigslist constantly. Nobody stays because his business is unethical. They claim to want "attorneys with a heart" and will give you a story about all the good you are going to do helping homeowners. But, in reality, you are going to be used as a pawn in their scheme to defraud and rip off homeowners, who are desperate for help.
DO NOT WORK FOR GARY LANE or CONSUMER PROTECTION LEGAL SERVICES. If you see a job posting for them, mark it as fraud!
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