Gema Tinoco I was first charged with driving without insurance. While I was insured, I couldnt find my proof of insurance at the time of being pulled over. I was assigned a court date that I missed by mistake - thus, an ex parte judgement was made for me finding me guilty of charges that would then lead to fines and revoking of my license. At this time, I sought a consultation from Mr. Nickels office and was really appreciative of his transparency in sharing that I may be able to reschedule my court date and appear with my proof of insurance without his assistance while still providing me with his rates should I choose to hire him. I chose to appear in court following his guidance and without representation.
My charges were dropped but when the county failed to follow up with updating the ILSOS, I was unaware that I was driving with suspended plates and license until I was pulled over months later. This resulted in additional charges of driving without registration and driving with a suspended license (which are Class A misdemeanors). I sought Mr. Nickels representation through this process and appreciate how responsive and prompt he was to resolve my situation and help for my case to be dismissed. I did not have to appear to my second court date because he was able to resolve my case ahead of time.
5 /5
Des D. I regret my experience with this law office, as I felt they did not have my best interests at heart. Initially, I believed they were advocating for me, but I now feel misled and deeply disappointed-particularly by attorney Hope Nickel.
During a critical point in my case, I was struggling with anxiety, a condition I made known to my attorney.
Rather than supporting me through it, I felt that my mental health was used against me. Ms. Nickel told me, "You probably dont want to go to trial because of your anxiety," which influenced my decision to take a plea deal. I trusted her guidance, believing she was on my side, but I now feel that trust was misplaced. I regret not going to trial, a decision I made under pressure and without fully understanding the long-term consequences.
What makes this even more disheartening is that l was led to believe the plea would not remain on my record. That turned out not to be the case, and by the time I found out, it was too late. I also experienced poor communication and scheduling issues—| was once given the wrong court date and made a long trip unnecessarily, which showed a lack of organization and consideration.
Overall, I did not feel seen or heard throughout this process. I felt like my mental health was treated as a liability rather than something that required compassion and
understanding. I would not recommend this office, especially to individuals dealing with mental health challenges. I strongly encourage others to seek representation that truly listens and advocates for their well-being.
1 /5