Verified Company
I had just had a terrible experience with these guys and what I'm going to call unethical billing, poor documentation, and poor communication.
Let's start with the initial consultation. My initial consultation was with Jacob where we went over what I wanted and what his plan was. After signing the (in hindsight insufficient) retainer agreement they sent a initial email which said they would be assigning Drew to my case. This was a surprise to me, as I had made a plan with Jacob. The initial letter was a generic letter with my name filled in. It also gave me a list of documents to gather, forms to fill out etc. It took me hours to gather the documents and fill in the forms. The forms were very poorly worded, and very difficult to understand. The only thing I could figure was they wanted me to ask questions so they could charge me. "If you have questions don't hesitate to ask."
I wasted a lot of time researching what their "questions" (which weren't even questions) were asking. Turns out they just copied out the Code of Virginia § 20‑124.3, made it more vague, and dumped into a doc. Before I had even finished responding to their email, filling out their docs, and uploading all the documentation they requested, I received a bill for that initial letter. They charged me $120 for it! A generic letter they just swapped my name into. On top of that they charged me for Drew to talk to Jacob to get up to speed on my case. Which was turned out to be the same amount as the consultation.
They charge a bs $350 "Initial Cost Fee", "to cover all expenses related to printing, copies, postage, mileage, and materials". Everything is done electronically, and they charge their hourly rate on top of this for any travel etc. etc.
After I had responded to their "Initial Status Letter" they sent an "Attorney Introduction" email, requesting a phone call for introductions and planning. The letter even pointed out that I had already done this with Jacob and the meeting was going to be a duplicate. So this was a duplicate meeting, of questions that I also answered in the "Initial Status Letter", and that I was also charged for Drew to talk to Jacob about.
Back to all the docs I wrote up and gathered, Drew did not read one of them. He admitted to not reading them, and on the phone call he kept asking questions that I had already answered in the docs they asked me to fill out. AND they charged me $240/hr to copy the documents to some other folder. I sent one email and uploaded all the docs they asked for to their portal, yet there were many charges. Their invoices were also very hard to parse, mixing multiple items into one line item etc.
I could go on and on. In the end they blew almost $3,000 of my money doing nothing! To fill out a few standard forms you can pick up at the court house. Now I have to waste even more of my time filling out VSB Complaint forms.
I really hope more people take action and report unethical bill like this.
Jacob and Drew Are Extremely Unethical And Harmful, Especially To Bi-Racial Children
We found Jacob and Drew to be extremely unethical and helped their clients violate court-ordered parenting time over 75 times. They were so destructive to our family that Judge Fierro, Hopewell J and D court, asked their client if he wanted to get another attorney and told him to stop listening to their advice that violated the court order. Judge Fierro told their client that he is looking at a year in jail. The client didn't get rid of Drew and Jacob, who said that they are not interested in "reunification" of a mother and 18 month old that was placed with relatives until the mother got back on her feet. Drew even threatened the counselor of the mother. Jacob and Drew are horrible individuals that keep children from their biological parents. They will lie about biological parents, demonizing them, they refuse to work with care providers to keep children connected to their families. They also violate all rights of biological parents. We have filed bar complaints against both of them for custodial interference and contempt of court orders. It is very sad that as officers of the court, they destroy families for a billable hour. This bi-racial child is treated like property by the white family that he was placed with in trust. Drew and Jacob have done nothing but obstruct this child from bonding and having a healthy relationship with his biological parents, grandparents, and others. They are mean-spirited and threatening to anyone who supports the rights of biological parents. We even caught them coaching their clients on how to delay and deny parenting time, then blame the biological parent for not having parenting time. Drew agreed to submit a parenting time schedule to an agency that provides supervision for parenting time to allow a mother to have Christmas Day with her 2 year old. He intentionally missed the deadline and apparently directed his client not to complete the documents with the agency to allow the parenting time to take place on Christmas Day. We also believe that when the mother came to Christmas Day gathering that she was invited to, she was told that she could not attend and Drew's client called the police on her when she insisted upon having a photo with her son on Christmas Day. Drew and Jacob's clients also hung up Facetime calls and terminated parenting time when the biological mother referred to herself as "mommy" in front of the child. Jacob and Drew are extremely toxic to any family, not caring about the emotional well being of children, supporting parent alienation and violation of parenting time court orders.
Date of experience: 01 December, 2025
Date of experience: 01 December, 2025
Jacob Smith did an outstanding job on our case. He communicated throughout the process, took time to explain options and procedures thoroughly and had a gentle approach on sensitive areas of the case. The results were life altering and we are eternally grateful. We would highly recommend Jacob!
Stop looking at reviews, you’ve seen enough, you need Jacob Smith in your life. He is prompt, professional, compassionate, and thorough. No question too small or large, no matter seemingly impossible. I appreciated how he could see things outside the box and explain from a few angles. The law can be confusing, let Jacob handle it! You will leave feeling heard, respected, and satisfied.
Excellent firm, excellent attorneys
Drew was amazing, his expertise and guidance helped me through a very difficult and emotional time, he's a steady presence when life comes at you fast! I cannot say enough good things about Drew and the firm of Smith/Ashcraft!
Date of experience: 12 November, 2025
Date of experience: 12 November, 2025
Review for Attorney Jacob Smith
This review is long overdue, but I want to take a moment to commend Jacob Smith for his exceptional support during a complicated family-related legal matter. From the very beginning, Jacob demonstrated a rare combination of professionalism and compassion that made a difficult process much more manageable.
He provided clear, thoughtful legal advice and guided me through each step with patience and care. His ability to balance legal expertise with genuine empathy meant a great deal to me during an emotionally challenging time. I always felt heard, respected, and supported.
I truly can’t thank Jacob enough for his assistance. His dedication and integrity left a lasting impression, and I highly recommend him to anyone in need of legal guidance—especially in sensitive or complex family matters.
Date of experience: 28 September, 2025
Date of experience: 28 September, 2025
Drew Ashcraft is the best! It's true, he cares about his clients! Drew was responsive and forward thinking. He was thoughtful when "talking me off the ledge" and calming my fears and addressing any common misconceptions. I could NOT have found a better attorney for my divorce. Thank you Drew for being AH-Mazing!
I had the privilege of working with Jacob Smith, Drew Ashcraft, and Lead Paralegal Christy Adams during a challenging time in my life, and I cannot recommend their services highly enough. The team at Smith Ashcraft Litigation & Defense demonstrated exceptional professionalism, legal expertise, and a deep understanding of family law throughout my divorce process.
Jacob Smith was my primary attorney at the outset, and his ability to navigate complex legal issues with clarity and precision was truly impressive. He provided thoughtful guidance and ensured that my concerns were addressed every step of the way. Later in the process, Drew Ashcraft joined the team to assist with my case, and his contributions were equally invaluable. Drew brought fresh insights and additional expertise, which further strengthened the legal strategy and helped ensure the best possible outcome.
Christy Adams, as the Lead Paralegal, was outstanding throughout the entire process. Her attention to detail, responsiveness, and organizational skills ensured that every aspect of my case was handled efficiently and effectively. She was always available to answer my questions, provide updates, and offer reassurance when needed, which made the process much less stressful.
Together, Jacob, Drew, and Christy formed a team that was not only highly skilled but also compassionate and supportive. They took the time to understand my unique circumstances and worked tirelessly to achieve the best possible outcome for me. Their dedication to their clients is evident in every interaction, and I am incredibly grateful for their guidance and advocacy.
If you are seeking a family law team that combines expertise, professionalism, and genuine care for their clients, Jacob Smith, Drew Ashcraft, and Christy Adams at Smith Ashcraft Litigation & Defense are an excellent choice. I would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone in need of legal assistance in family law matters.
Gods amongst men. Jacob Smith effectively counseled me with my traffic citation and helped me get my charge reduced. He is professional, kind, and a great communicator.
We highly recommend Jacob Smith and Smith Ashcraft. More than just outstanding legal expertise, Jacob is a problem solver, is caring and patient, and he and his team give much attention to the details. Trust is a very big part of a legal relationship and you can, without question, trust Jacob and his team.
Jacob Smith is an outstanding family law attorney. From the beginning, he was quick to respond, thoughtful, and incredibly level-headed — exactly what I needed during a high stress legal situation. His communication was clear, calm, and compassionate, and he never made me feel like just another case. Jacob helped me understand my options, advocated for me with integrity, and truly cared about the outcome. If you’re going through a difficult family matter and want someone that is not only sharp and professional but also genuinely kind, I can’t recommend him enough.
Drew Ashcroft is a very capable and dedicated Attorney. I say this from personal experience. He represented a close family member in a complicated child custody case, which crossed state lines. He was enthusiastic and always well prepared. He consistently displayed exceptional knowledge and skill regarding the law. His level of dedication goes unmatched. He truly fights and advocates for his clients and for what is right. His involvement in this matter had a SIGNIFICANT impact on the outcome. I highly recommend Smith | Ashcraft to anyone looking for fierce, honest, and dedicated representation. You can rest assured that they will work tirelessly on your behalf.
Even though this isn’t their primary focus, Jacob helped me draft some legal documents for my small business, and he did a fantastic job. His communication was clear, and he took the time to make sure everything was exactly what I needed. I really appreciated his willingness to help and his attention to detail.
It’s clear that he and the firm are highly skilled across multiple areas of law, and I’m grateful to have their expertise on my side. I look forward to working with them in the future!
