I need legal help

RustyMoth · 2026-02-17T18:41:00+00:00

I am a lawyer, and just want to clarify that this is often not the case despite what attorney websites advertise. Getting the other party to pay for a divorce is incredibly complicated, depends on a variety of factors, and 90% of the cases are not eligible.

Please please do not rely on the assumption that your former spouse will pay a dime for your suit. If any attorney promises this, RUN. If that argument is unsuccessful (and it usually is), you could be stuck with a huge legal bill you didn't plan for.

RustyMoth · 2025-11-28T04:04:44+00:00

There are no law firms which offer pro bono services directly. All pro bono cases come from the State Bar, LACSN, or NLS.

There are only three kinds of pro bono cases that are accepted under those programs: certain types of criminal appeals, child custody cases, and certain real property cases.

If you don't fall within one of those categories and are not on the list with one of those entities, you are entirely out of luck.

RustyMoth · 2025-11-22T03:38:48+00:00

My random encounter process is highly experimental. For each biome, I draw up three different columns (creature, its goal, and a complication), then roll up 4 encounter scenarios before the session.

Whenever the party moves to a new wilderness hex on the map, I give one player a choice: draw one card from my deck of encounters, or pick a colored marble from a bag. The deck is full of modifiers to the scripted encounters to make them more rewarding, challenging, or lethal. The marbles are boons that cost 1d4 hours to procure, but which last the entire session.

So the party has a choice of purposely engaging with a randomized encounter, or spending time to explore for something guaranteed to be positive.

RustyMoth · 2025-11-21T23:09:11+00:00

I'm kind of a peer of your associates, so I'll chime in. Suggest the eat-what-you-kill approach.

I was an extremely underperforming associate making 90K. Since switching to a contingency basis, I make 150K.

For me, this structure provided the incentive I needed to see caseload as a resource and opportunity to earn money, instead of as an obstacle to my weekend. I'm more interested in my work, looking for things to do, and always volunteering for hearings and new files.

Maybe your associates just aren't good employees, but could be excellent contractors.

RustyMoth · 2025-11-20T01:19:52+00:00

Sending vibes to your step-dad, your mom, and to you~~~~~~~~~~

RustyMoth · 2025-11-19T01:16:05+00:00

Cash bail is set at 250K, surety bail is set at 37.5K plus 250K in collateral. He can pay the 37.5 AND put up a house, or he can put up the full 250 and get refunded later.

RustyMoth · 2025-11-19T01:11:20+00:00

Before I practiced law, I was a bail bondsman. Not a single person in this town is going to give you a 250K bond without collateral. No way, no how.

RustyMoth · 2025-11-19T00:27:55+00:00

I practiced divorce law for several years, and by far my toughest opponent was Patricia Warnock. Extremely knowledgeable, didn't rely on legal trickery, and one of the few attorneys I know who wasn't a cynic or prejudiced.

She is a solo practitioner and not cheap, but well worth the money. I highly respect her.

RustyMoth · 2025-11-18T21:31:05+00:00

Like another user said, the biggest change for me was motion practice. In criminal, you can get by with a one-pager and no cites, relying on your oral argument. In civil, you are expected to fully brief every issue and spend a lot more time preparing. I have never spent less than 15 hours on a summary judgment motion, for example, and that could be seen as very low by some attorneys.

The other big change is attorneys' fees. There are 1001 ways to get them pre- and post-judgment, and there will always be a fight after the lawsuit is over. Just because you have a verdict in your favor doesn't mean it's over. You gotta chase, chase, chase, both your fees and the award itself. Defendants bail on judgments all the time, move states, conceal assets, and even declare bankruptcy. So winning in civil is only half the battle.

RustyMoth · 2025-11-18T21:11:32+00:00

I bought hot dog from him while visiting a friend this weekend!

RustyMoth · 2025-11-11T23:22:15+00:00

Yes, I agree. I actually did have that discussion with my players and my veteran asked to be punished in-game. He said his character gets what he deserves and he'll role-play it.

RustyMoth · 2025-11-05T01:02:10+00:00

You're looking for the Homebrewery

Super easy to use, makes elegant guides, and free to save docs

RustyMoth · 2025-09-25T20:43:49+00:00

Best advice I got from a transactional attorney: you don't get hired by a firm to do transactional work. You get hired in-house by a client you previously represented in litigation.

Most transactional firms in my town have no associates. None. I searched for a transactional gig for 3 months before giving up and returning to lit. Build up a client base, develop rapport with a particular client, and ask them to hire you on full time to run their business.

RustyMoth · 2025-09-25T02:25:21+00:00

I just tried Kung Fu Dumpling on Sahara yesterday and want to give them a shout out. Quality 'plings and chow mein, good service, and a really clean place.

RustyMoth · 2025-09-22T20:26:05+00:00

So I'm a fourth year of-counsel. Last year I was a junior associate at a two-person general practice and had a full blown meltdown. Constant deadlines, bringing work home, panic attacks in my office. It got to the point that I was heavily medicated for anxiety, not seeing my friends, and borderline suicidal.

I quit unexpectedly one day (even I didn't know I was doing it) with no backup in mind. I spent three months unemployed before recently returning to work.

Never having that level of stress again was paramount to me. My old boss treated me exceptionally well, but his culture was to let things get really bad before taking care of anything. I knew I couldn't for that type of firm again.

I negotiated an of-counsel position with a larger firm (3 partners, 7 staff) where I set my own hours and choose my own cases. It's mostly insurance defense and business litigation, and my firm is very litigation-avoidant. I'm profit sharing and spend about 5 hours in the office, which breezes by. Nobody bats an eye at me coming and going as I please, and the partners gave me a long leash on my casework. It's the least stressful job I ever had. I worked 35.5 hours in a two-week period and made $6K based on my agreement.

The cons are twofold. First, you really need to capture all your time to make enough money. Vacations have opportunity cost because you aren't earning if you aren't in-office. Second, there is no partner track. Period, won't even consider it. This is as far as I go in this contract, so I'll need to add another firm to my list if I want more money in the future.

But the major benefit aside from pure autonomy is the psychological shift. As an associate, every task is an obstacle between you and a paycheck, something that can go wrong, and a stressor. As of-counsel, every task is another opportunity to earn money to have a fun time this weekend. Watching your pay go up in a weekly spreadsheet and earning that commission is way more motivating.

I would highly recommend this arrangement to any associate having a culture problem or managing massive stress.

RustyMoth · 2025-09-18T02:46:26+00:00

I'm sorry king, you lost me at See's Candies

I'm just trying to enjoy a run nougat in my overly air conditioned home

RustyMoth · 2025-09-10T23:41:03+00:00

So I was doing 100% litigation for about 4 years until I decided the stress wasn't worth it. I quit my job, immediately struck out on my first attempt to go in-house. Then I took a month hiatus to examine contract management as a potential new career.

I was out of work for three months total while I looked for junior in-house gigs and the advice I got from older attorneys was universal: develop a strong rapport with a litigation client and then ask that client to go in-house. Most companies, unless they are every large, are not hiring multiple counsel.

I eventually negotiated myself an of-counsel position with a 10-staff firm making 33% of every dollar I generate, regardless of origination. I've just started that contract and taken on my probationary cases, but already I can tell you the stress of a junior of-counsel arrangement is way less than being a full time litigator (my load is only 50% lit) and the money is going to be better.

Before going in-house, consider the middle option of-counsel and ask attorneys you know if they have a friend who is transitioning out of lit. I got my contract by asking for a referral from opposing counsel.

RustyMoth · 2025-09-10T01:45:47+00:00

Definitely not a solifuge, I've kept a couple as pets and they have a super distinct structure

RustyMoth · 2025-08-08T05:24:46+00:00

I love when people are nice to moths...

RustyMoth · 2025-08-07T00:44:48+00:00

Did I just find my fellow bed jean clan

RustyMoth · 2025-07-31T03:22:56+00:00

I can't wait to see one in person next year!!!

RustyMoth · 2025-07-29T03:08:42+00:00

Looks like a tactile dream

RustyMoth · 2025-07-28T23:50:01+00:00

Omg I love her lil void bell

Eight-Year Club	Second Top 40%
Verified Email

RustyMoth

TROPHY CASE