Section 1: Experience & Competence
Does the Law Offices of Robert Tsigler, PLLC handle cases like mine?
Yes, if your case involves criminal charges, immigration, or family law in New York, New Jersey, and nationwide. The Law Offices of Robert Tsigler, PLLC focuses on three connected practice areas: criminal defense (including federal cases and crimmigration), immigration law, and family law. Twelve named attorneys handle these matters from offices in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Forest Hills, and Garden City. Recent results posted on attorney bio pages include an attempted murder charge dismissed in Brooklyn and a full trial acquittal on a felony firearm charge. On the immigration side, Michael Zigismund directs the firm’s Immigration Law Department and practices in more than 50 jurisdictions. Each practice area has its own Q&A page covering case results, strategy, and what to expect: Criminal Defense Q&A, Immigration Law Q&A, and Family Law Q&A.
Can the attorneys explain my options clearly?
Yes. Clients describe the firm’s attorneys as thorough communicators who answer questions directly. One client wrote in a Google review that Ryan Forbes and his team “always listen, answer all your questions, clarify any doubts you may have.” Strategy also has more than one mind behind it: the firm’s 12-Attorney Roundtable brings multiple attorneys together to review a case, so the options presented to a client reflect a team’s analysis rather than a single opinion. The goal of every consultation is a clear picture of the realistic paths forward.
Section 2: Accessibility & Responsiveness
Can I reach someone quickly?
Yes. The firm responds to every client inquiry within one business day, and right away for emergency matters. It operates four New York offices, in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Forest Hills, and Garden City, with a team supporting twelve named attorneys, so a call does not depend on one person’s schedule. Clients notice the difference: one Google review describes the firm as “friendly, professional, and helpful from the first phone call.” For people facing an arrest, an ICE detention, or a family court date, that speed matters, and the firm’s structure is designed to provide it.
Will I be able to speak directly with my attorney?
Yes. Each client works with a named attorney who handles the case, and clients regularly identify that attorney by name in their reviews. The firm’s Google reviews name John Fink, Ryan Forbes, Joseph Caldarera, Michael Elkin, Helena Stranger, Walter Roesch, and Edwin Drantivy, and testimonials on the firm’s site name Robert Tsigler. That pattern reflects direct, personal contact between clients and the attorneys handling their cases, rather than communication filtered through an intake desk.
“From start to finish, Mr John Fink was professional, responsive, and always available to answer my questions.”
Will my case be handed off to someone else?
Your case is led by a named attorney matched to your practice area, and it is reviewed by more than one. The Law Offices of Robert Tsigler, PLLC is a multi-attorney firm, and that is a strength: through the firm’s 12-Attorney Roundtable, several experienced attorneys, including former prosecutors, weigh in on strategy. Immigration matters fall under Michael Zigismund, who directs the firm’s immigration department, and criminal matters fall under the Criminal Defense Division led by Managing Attorney Joseph Caldarera. You know who is responsible for your case from the start.
Will I receive updates about my case?
Yes. Updates come from the attorney handling the case, not a generic status portal. One client wrote in a Google review that Joseph Caldarera “kept us informed every step of the way” while defending their son. Criminal, immigration, and family cases each move on court and agency calendars that clients do not control, so the firm’s attorneys explain what each upcoming date means and what happens next. Clients with a question between court dates contact their attorney’s office directly at any of the firm’s four locations.
Section 3: Trust & Transparency
What will this cost?
Cost depends on the type of matter and how complex it is. A misdemeanor, a federal investigation, a removal defense case, and a contested divorce require very different amounts of work, so the firm does not quote a single number before understanding the facts. The consultation is where the attorney reviews the situation, explains the work involved, and gives a direct fee answer. Ask about the fee structure, what it covers, and what would change it before you sign anything.
Are there payment plans available?
Yes. The firm offers payment plans and financing options. Legal problems rarely arrive at a convenient time, and the attorney explains how fees are structured and which payment arrangement fits your specific matter. Raising the budget early is the right move: it lets the attorney build a plan around what is realistic for you rather than leaving cost as an open question. Nothing about cost should be unclear by the time you decide to hire the firm.
Will the firm be honest with me about my chances?
Yes. The firm’s attorneys include former prosecutors, such as Joseph Caldarera, a former Special Victims Bureau prosecutor in the Brooklyn DA’s Office, and Helena Stranger, who worked in the Munich DA’s Office in Germany. Attorneys who have built cases from the other side give realistic assessments of the evidence, not optimistic ones. Edwin Drantivy takes only the cases he believes in, per his bio. A client is better served by an honest read on day one than a surprise at sentencing or a hearing.
Section 4: Client Experience
Will I be judged, or will my situation be taken seriously?
No one is judged here. People call the firm on the worst day of their lives, whether after an arrest, a notice to appear, or a family crisis, and the attorneys treat that call as the start of a defense. Several attorneys have worked on both sides of the system: Joseph Caldarera represents crime victims and their families as well as the accused, and Jared Flanery advocated for immigrant youth at the Rutgers Child Advocacy Clinic. That background shapes how clients are treated: as people with a problem to solve.
“Robert was very effective in resolving an immigration matter for my family… I have referred a friend to him already and would recommend his services to anyone.”
Client testimonial naming Robert Tsigler, tsiglerlaw.com/testimonials
Is my consultation confidential?
Yes. Attorney-client privilege applies from the first consultation, even if you decide not to hire the firm. Nothing you tell an attorney at the Law Offices of Robert Tsigler, PLLC can be shared with police, prosecutors, immigration authorities, a spouse, or anyone else without your permission. That protection exists so you can speak openly. Tell the attorney everything, including the parts that feel embarrassing or harmful, because the strongest strategy is built on complete facts, not a partial story.
How involved will I need to be in my case?
It depends on the matter, and your attorney will tell you exactly what is needed. A criminal case usually requires court appearances and help gathering documents or witness information. An immigration case requires personal records, identity documents, and sometimes interviews. A family law case requires financial disclosures and input on parenting decisions. The attorney carries the legal work, filings, and negotiations, and tells you in advance when your participation matters most, so nothing comes as a surprise.
