Anne;
your experience is not unique. at the risk of pissing off the lawyers on this thread, what you have experienced us unfortunately the norm - i won't get into it here, but it seems to me that the long-standing model of providing legal services is broken and ripe for disruption. Lots of lawyers out of work or under employed yet all want to start billing at $250/hr+ with 3-4 years or less experience and with little accountability for performance. Billing $150/hr. for a assistant who gets paid $25/hr is simply wrong. Managing attorneys is crucial. set clear expectations about what you want and don't want in writing. For every request get an estimate (not to exceed) in writing (email) as to cost and deliverables. If you can't get a not to exceed commitment (this is for typical business law stuff, not litigation) then find another attorney/firm. Apex Law Group in Seattle is a small firm that has supported us well and been reasonable about managing costs. Peter Smith or Michelle Rassmusen. Summit Law Group is mid-sized firm in Seattle that understands startups, but can be expensive - applicable for securities offerings and/or important transactions. Mike Erricson or Mark Worthington. Joe Wallin is with Davis Wright Tremaine - big firm rates, but he understands startups and is connected in the VC and transactions community in NW and sand hill road (startuplawblog.com). I would start with Peter at Apex - Peter@apexlg.com