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Sorry for the long rant. I felt the need to vent on my brother in laws behalf. I can only imagine how he feels. Smh Here's a prime example of a poor man paying twice that of an ordinary (or rich) man. My brother in Law decided to go with a "cheaper attorney" who said he would do the appeal for 2500 and that would include filing and attending hearing(s). Any expert testimony fees, other costs or an appeal to a higher court would be extra. Fair enough. He asks me to go with him so I do. 1st day is the ("Free Consultation") and he provides the attorney the denial letter, explains the circumstances, and as per the attorney request, my brother in law emails him a few other documents. Approximately 3 or 4 pages. The attorney then asks for a 2k retainer and as my brother in law is writing a check the attorney asked if he could do 2500 and assured him that would cover everything other than a possible expert report, testimony, or any future appeals down the road. He agrees and hands the attorney a check for $2500. We leave. A few days later the attorney calls him and asks for the email confirmation that he submitted the permit to purchase a handgun. He looks for it and can't find the email (they don't send an email when applying for a handgun permit, only for fid or change of address. What they do is email you once references submit the questionnaire). A few days later the attorney emails him asking for the email confirmation. My brother in law tells the attorney he can't find it and provides him with the date the references responded which is the same Date he filed the application on line. (On a side note, I find that is the fastest time friends will do something for you. Like.... oh shit, reference needed, pull off to the shoulder on rte 80 so u can fill it out lol). The attorney replies "So you don't have confirmation". Fast forward a month, the attorney calls him and says he received the discovery and tells my brother in law it's going to be an uphill battle. Then they discuss a date for a meeting between attorney and client. That phone conversation lasts 1 minute 37 seconds. A week later they meet (I'm present also). The attorney hands my brother in law discovery. The usual background checks, criminal history, mv violations and domestic disputes, etc... all of which are clean and then hands my brother in law around 5 or 6 police reports. None of those Police reports were against him. They were reports of complaints he made. (Denial was over lying on the application which after personally reviewing everything I think my brother in law has atleast a 90% probability of being successful). The attorney then makes some comments regarding a judge believing a cops testimony over my brother in law (that was said multiple times), along with some other stuff which clearly indicated he didn't thoroughly look through discovery, nor did my brother in law have the opportunity to provide any evidence or explanation regarding that discovery. At this time I gave my brother in law a nudge and singled the index finger across neck (to suggest cut this attorney off and find another one) my brother in law informed the attorney he was going to gather all his evidence and forward it to him then we left. While leaving my brother in law asked for a reference for a psych evaluation. The attorney said he knew someone in Montclair and was going to forward him the information that day. We were there for less than 30 minutes. 27 mins to be exact because we had to wait a while for attorney to arrive. That same day my brother in law decides to go with a new attorney and retains him. Also that same day he sends his prior attorney an email informing the attorney ot was in his best interest to go with another more experienced gun permit attorney. Then requests a full refund. I suggested he request a full refund because all the attorney did was waste my brother in law's time. Basically tell him it was an uphill battle, and his testimony wouldn't matter over an officers testimony. He was definitely the worst attorney I've ever dealt with in my life. Here's the kicker .... Other than the free consultation, there were 2 calls totalling 2 mins 37 seconds) a short text conversation in regards to email conformation for gun permit application, 3 or 4 pages of documents emails to the attorney that he requested and a 27 minute meeting which basically consisted of the Attorney handing my brother in law the discovery and saying in a round about way.... yo... you're shit outta luck. Nothing else. No explanation or evidence regarding that discovery was provided by my brother in law as he had not reviewed it yet. He said he was going to review it and forward it to the attorney once he gathered everything. This was the info provided by the attorney once my brother in law requested a refund... (see photo) My brother in law needs an attorney to appeal his denial of handgun permit. I belive he's in Lyndhurst, definitely Bergen County. Didn't really give me the reason other than possibly some voluntary commitment a decade ago. Is Nappen the guy or anyone else out there? I belive his concern is if handgun permit is denied the fid which he has will be revoked. I haven't really taken the time to look into any of it and I'd rather just refer him an attorney (though he doesn't even know if he can afford one yet). Any info would be appreciated.