Tobener Law Center

It is the place to go in Bay Area if you need legal help with tenant/​landlord issue.
I stayed in an apartment in Oakland for a year and a half. My mother came from China to stay with me since I was pregnant and living just by myself. The management sent me a 3-​day comply or vacate notice to remove my mother from the unit. Thankfully, I found Tobener Law Center and scheduled a phone consulting for $ 85. The lawyer was very knowledgable about different regulations in different cities of the Bay Area. He went through options I could take and eventually I decided to file a complain for family discrimination with the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH). I could never know this organization without calling Tobener Law.
Now my case is under investigation with DFEH and I am optimistic the law will stand on my side. Thanks Tobener Law Center!

Tobener Law Center is THE resource if you are having issues with your landlord. From the 1^st call we made to the last email to the office, the experience has been 1ST RATE!
The initial call. When I called the office, the person who talked to me actually cared about what I was going through! Beyond that, she was helpful, efficient, highly compentent and took wonderful care of me.
The 1^st call with Joe. He cared too! Not only does he know his stuff inside and out, he also knows how to work with people. He’s simply the best advocate you could ever have.
We next met with Joe in-​person. After fully listening to the issues, he laid our options. And, he was able to explain things to us in a way that a lay person could understand.
Joe saw our issue through to the end and helped us make the best of a tough situation. I can’t imagine going through this without Tobener on our side.
Thanks Joe and thank you for having an amazing team of employees who are awesome in what they know, how they communicate and how they care!

This is ONLY for initial phone call process with assistant or receptionist —
before you spend $ 85 for 15 minutes with assigned attorney.
I spoke with Trisha who was really withholding, of any firm information.
After being transferred to her by whomever answered the phone– «this is Trisha» but then a minute of silence after i introduced myself.
Trish seemed to need lots of potential CLIENT prompting on my call -
I wasn’t asking her for legal advice– but was hoping for some initial information on process that i think a potential client is entitled to before booking initial attorney consultation.
When first inquiring about fees –Trish answered $ 350 per hour, when asked on my second call she answered average of $ 375 per hour, but couldn’t tell me what overall ballpark fees could potentially amount to for SF tenants or SF lodger cases. Just an average was all i was hoping to know
I also requested to speak with someone that might be a better fit for questions, since she and I seemed to be not be communicating well.
but it was pulling teeth the whole way through.
She could not tell me how often clients go to court.
So i assume an OPEN ENDED $ 375 can quickly become $ 35,000? who knows? maybe a lot less, maybe more?
I did specifically ask if an average could be anywhere from $ 5000– $ 35,000 or what i could potentially be looking at as i want to know this before i pay for consultation
.she told me an attorney would be better to ask.
Before taking clients money for consultation aren’t we allowed this information so we can spend our funds wisely when attorney shopping?
It would be nice to write a great review! and perhaps the attorneys are great.

I wanted to write a review for Tobener Law as soon as I got off of the phone with Julia! I am dealing with an issue of harassment from my Landlord. I have called around to other firms who never provided me with helpful information because my situation does not have a big pay out. I was told numerous times that there was nothing I could do to fight the situation. I felt hopeless because this situation has been ongoing and very stressful. Even though it wouldn’t benefit Julia monetarily to help me out she gave me honest advice and options on how to deal with the issue. I really appreciate her sincerity and will be sure to use this firm for any further issues concerning my tenant rights! Thank you, thank you!

I had the most amazing people on my side. Having never filed a lawsuit before, and being scared to DEATH, I have to say… I could NEVER have done it without Tobener.
I know for a fact that there are some very scary, unexperienced, and uncaring lawyers out there. I met with one. Please don’t bother trying anyone else, all you need to do is talk with the folks at Tobener. They seriously care and actually ACT like they are on your side.
It was a grueling experience that lasted forever and I kept feeling like Tobener might just give up, but they didn’t!!! They went on to patiently help me get my case settled through every last detail.
I seriously love Jackie! She has a super big heart, she is a real person (not all fake and pretentious) and she happens to be super smart too!
If you have been screwed over by your landlord, like I was, you seriously have to call these guys. Even if you live far away, like I did, just call them. I know they will try to help you out.
Overall, I got a sense that with Tobener it wasn’t just about the money. I think they have a passion for justice and see to the wrongs get righted.
Thanks Jackie! Thanks Tobener!
You da Bestest!!!

Tobener Law Center is *the* place to go for help with tenant issues, and as other reviewers have noted, Jackie (Jacqueline) Ravenscroft is a rock star! All of these five-​star ratings are totally accurate.
My partner and I hired them twice over the course of a year and a half to help us with two different sets of landlords and a variety of issues. Landlord-​tenant law in San Francisco is so complex, and we were so happy to have this great firm on our side. Jackie was always there for us, responding quickly with top-​notch information and guidance, always compassionate, always helpful.
If you’re a tenant with landlord problems, you practically owe it to yourself to contact Tobener Law Center. You will get the assistance you need, when you need it, with fantastic support.

Joseph Tobener really delivered for my fiancé and I! He was exactly on point with his predictions on the settlement we could expect from our shady ex-​landlord who wrongfully evicted us. He and Jacqueline were also great about hearing us out on our time constraints and explaining our options. I never thought I would be in a situation like this but I’m so happy that justice was served!!!

Tobener Law Center won us a very generous settlement from an incredibly obstinate landlord. They were exceedingly supportive and we couldn’t be happier with the quality of service. If you’re having a issue with a landlord do yourself a favor and reach out to them. They will not let you down.

They were great for my roommate and I in our time of need. Truly one of the best!

Luke just spent 15 miutes on the phone with me to advice me on what’s best to do!
I can not win my case cause we are not rent controlled! Even though I have lived here for 10 years and am currently disabled!
This is a great law firm and they care about people. If I needed to hire them I would in a flat second!
Thank you guys!
PS: They did not charge me!

This firm might be the Lord’s gift to landlord/​tenant law, but you are in trouble if you need them on a time sensitive matter. I had a critical landlord issue that I needed to address immediately and the woman on the phone said they had a two-​day turnaround time for a lawyer to get back to me.

We’ve leaned on the Tobener team twice now: First, when we were forced to leave our rent-​controlled apartment due to extreme harassment and later, after we moved, when we faced an owner move-​in eviction in the new building and needed help negotiating a more favorable buy-​out. Their empathy and compassion was matched only by their knowledge, expertise, diligence, and hard work. The entire team worked tirelessly on our behalf during a very stressful and emotional time and was extremely patient with all of our rookie questions. Special kudos to attorney Jacqueline Ravenscroft who was my personal super-​hero during the toughest days. I don’t know what we would have done without them. So grateful we had them on our side. They are the Good Guys.

When my landlord put her building on the market, I knew living in a rent-​controlled apartment for 15 years would make me a target for new owners who would want to boot me out so they could double or even triple the rent for the next tenant. Sure enough, the first offer was from prospective buyers who claimed they were going to OMI the entire building and wanted to negotiate a buyout before the sale even closed. After presenting me with a move-​out agreement that would let them circumvent the rent control ordinance, they gave me less than 24 hours to sign, and implied that if I didn’t, they would withdraw their (very low) buyout offer and move to evict me as soon as they were the legal owners of the building.
Off I trotted to the Tenants’ Union, where I was advised to lawyer up. Tobener Law Center was right at the top of their list of recommended tenants’ rights lawyers, and they were the first to return my frantic call. They got back to me in less than an hour and found me an open appointment later in the week.
Joe Tobener spent half an hour calmly and competently walking me through my options, and that was before I even hired him. Once I paid his very reasonable retainer, he wrote a BLISTERING letter to the prospective buyers explaining why their story of planning to move relatives into every unit of the building was complete BS and making it clear that if they filed for eviction on those grounds, we would happily see them in court.
The prospective buyers responded by backing out of the deal!
The building sold yesterday to someone else. In a sign that miracles still do happen, the new owners have told me they have no plans to evict. Of course, this being SF, that could change, but if it does, I’ll be calling Joe Tobener again — if not to help me stay in my home, then at least to make sure I’m treated fairly when I have to go.

NEVER ACCEPT A BUYOUT. Actually, let me rephrase that.
Never accept a buyout, unless, you are moving out of the country or state OR the landlord is selling the place. A buyout puts the landlord at an advantage. A landlord pays pennies on your buyout while now you have to do extra work. You will need to find another apartment. You will have to pay a higher rent for years and years. A true tenant attorney would not do that. A true tenant attorney would not sell you out to the landlord.
We had Tobener Law as an attorney. Our landlord was old and selling the place. It went so well. Tobener Law did a very smooth job. We would have gone for a second round with Tobener Law; however, they proposed a buyout… again…without fully reviewing our case. A BIG no-​no!
Remember, never accept a buyout, unless, you are moving out of the country or state OR the landlord is selling the place.

I had a great experience working with the Tobener Law Center. The receptionist was helpful and able to get me an appt within a week with Joe for a 30 min consultation. I found Joe to be friendly, insightful and very supportive of our issue we were having with our landlady. He brainstormed great solutions to help us understand next steps in dealing with her, while also protecting our interests and our tenant rights.
I would not hesitate to contact Joe again.

I recently found myself in immediate need of legal advice regarding my landlord’s refusal to allow a family member to move into my apartment. A good friend referred me to Tobener and I am incredibly glad she did!
Joe and his team quickly scheduled a time to talk and then walked me through my options. The advice they gave was crucial in ultimately getting my landlord to capitulate. Joe was very very clear and concise in his directions and seemed very invested in my case.
I hope to never have to refer any friends/​family for his services, but I would do so in a heartbeat if needed.
Thanks Tobener Law Center!

GLADIATORS IN SUITS!
Jacqueline Ravenscroft kicks ass! Not only because her last name reminds me of Tomb Raider, but because she writes a pre-​litigation/​mediation brief that would make any slumlord pee himself and cry mercy. Her skills & knowledge are excellent.
This was my first experience having to hire a Lawyer, I was frightened. The generalizations that are made about lawyers may be true in other kinds of law, but I LOVE these guys. LOVE LOVE LOVE! These are the Good Guys.
Faced with possible displacement of my family I felt ill-​equipped to protect us, and my nerves were shot, I couldn’t sleep or focus.
I joined the tenants union to learn my rights, and they did explain them.
But it wasn’t until I met with Jackie that I felt that I had a leg to stand on. We told her our story and she LISTENED, and then told us our options. WE HAD OPTIONS! options that we never would have had, had I not made the phone call to their Tenant’s rights law firm that i found on, yep, you guessed it, Unilocal.
Joseph Tobener is a kind, empathetic man with a mission to help tenants who are being bullied by landlords who believe they hold all the cards. It’s evident when you see him in action how much he loves what he does, and how spectacular he is at it.
I tear up when I think of how appreciative I am of Tobener Law Center. I felt shielded by them in one of the hardest times in my entire life. I never EVER want to go through that again, but if I had to, I would want no one else representing us. Thank You so much Jackie and Joe. You guys are the bomb!
If by chance you are reading this review and feel hopeless, or frightened by your landlord, please, please, PLEASE, call them! Tell them your story, know your rights. You have rights. Let them protect you, I promise, it’s worth every penny, MORE really.

We highly recommend the services of Tobener Law Center.
Meeting with Joseph Tobener for the first time at the San Francisco location of Tobener Law Center, we knew we had the right team to see our case through to a resolution. Joseph was very knowledgable, confident, and a clear communicator. He took our case on and was ready to represent us and fight our case to completion.
We were also very fortunate to have Jacqueline Ravenscrott assist with our case. From our first contact with Jackie we knew she had done her home work. She knew every detail of our case before we had even met with her. Jackie was there with us through some very difficult experiences. She was a source of strength, knowledge and empathy.
In addition we came in contact with Lilly Cyris. Lilly responded to our communications in a timely and pleasant manor.
Throughout our experience with Tobener Law everyone was knowledgable about our case. They were able to keep communications to a minimum and contact us only when absolutely necessary. Joseph and Jackie were able to negotiate a favorable settlement for us. We are forever grateful to the entire team at Tobener Law Center. Thank you for helping us through a very difficult process.

At work one of our key employees was threatened with eviction while he was out of the country on sabbatical.
Having «the defendant» out of the country made for a complex and urgent case.
The landlord tried to pull a fast one, nailing papers to the door, hoping to get a judgement on default.
Tobener defended and won the case.
We hired Tobener Law Center for the following reasons:
1) They actually returned our calls and were willing to discuss the outlines of the case on the phone.
Most of the other law firms were next to impossible to contact — some got back to us days later.
2) Unlike other lawyers, they recommended the free clinic run by the city. This is very public minded of them, to advise people how to save money.
Unfortunately our case was too complex and fast moving, but we appreciated the gesture.
3) Joe and Luke are super sharp lawyers. They are also nice people.
We were always impressed with their strategy and performance.
4) They return emails and calls promptly. They get stuff done.
They made the landlord’s firm look like the Keystone Cops.
5) If winning and service are important to you, hire Tobener.
They charge what the other lawyers charge, but their service is a notch above.
Super law firm for tenant defense.

I have peace once again & we WON! Yes, yes we do and yes yes we did…
Finding oneself embroiled in a battle with the landlord over a home we had just signed a 1 year rental lease on and realizing after a couple of months that the home had some serious issues posing serious health risks that the landlord did not want to truly address I began to call around to attorney’s within the local area where we live: Sacramento…
After being told by more than one of those attorneys that we should just suck it up, be grateful for our landlords offer to put us up in a hotel, motel, holiday inn for an undetermined amount of time and that no attorney would represent us because the landlord was within their legal boundaries of the situation, I Unilocal searched one more time in the hopes something would pop up that hadn’t already & up popped Tobener Law Center.
Only caveat: They were located in San Francisco and us in Sac…
Desperate times called for desperate measures so I called.
It’s at this time that I eternally give thanks to the Sweet lil Baby Jesus and the universal powers that be as I called after hours and on a Saturday in the hopes of just leaving a message and Joe Tobener actually answered the phone. I’m pretty sure I was a hysterical mess as I rattled off the details of our situation to him and you know what?
He listened & then told me he would represent us as we did have tenant rights in this situation. From that moment on and until we reached an amicable agreement with the opponents although the situation was beyond stressful Joe gave me more peace, assurance & solid legal knowledge whereas before I was consumed with fear, frustration and at times hopelessness as when going up against a huge monster mega machine of a rental company as we were it’s easy to feel like the last survivor of the Titanic clinging to the last piece of floating wood and that wood has termites and is sinking fast…
Gag Order: Not really, although I am wearing a loosely fitting muzzle & not at will to speak as freely as I usually do and with all the damning details of the case I can still share our story but in some areas it will be more like a game of Pictionary; get it?
OUR ISSUE: We were living in a home that we would soon discover had a serious water leak which led to the overgrowth of a substance that although serves its purpose for oh say the discovery of Penicillin & some of the most delicious cheeses you will ever eat but is not at all healthy to breathe nor live in.
And we as in me and my man and our dogs and cats were all having some serious respiratory issues and health changes since living in the home…
Get it?
HAPPY ENDING: Joe Tobener, aka: Tobenator, Joe, the Virgo (don’t hold that against him), would end up getting us out of that 1 year lease early, 100% of our deposit back, all rents paid by us refunded in full to us, the last few months we resided in the home comp’d aka: we didn’t pay rent AND a generous settlement covering the damages to our personal property due to the above listed issues that contaminated them… And I no longer had to communicate with the landlord as all communications now when thru him. That was a huge one for me…
ICING ON THE CAKE: His fee’s were unbelievably affordable for the man hours he logged in on our plight and I can’t help but wish he’d have charged us more as well he earned every single penny of it and then some… I even tried to get him to charge us more and he wouldn’t. And in a surprising twist of events we decided after this rental nightmare from hell to make the move into home ownership which we have since leaving the rental home this past December.
Although I do tend to hold attorneys in the lowest category for lifeforms Joe changed that for me as to date he’s proved himself to be the most honest, trustworthy, straight forward direct communicator, humble and well versed in tenant law attorney/​human that I’ve ever encountered and I set the bar entirely too high for all people in general and he surpassed that. He is rock solid I’m just glad he was on our side and not theirs.
I know I’m long winded & there’s only so much space on here but there’s so much I want to say about how respectfully we were treated not only by Joe but by any team member we interacted with at the firm and the entire process so I’ll leave it at that.
I have peace once again thanks to Tobener and that in itself is priceless…