Our down payments came mostly from our personal savings and earnings.

I use it for my personal portfolio as well.

Then shortly thereafter the same person called both my partner and myself and said that my Multifamily Mindset coach had called her and was trying to “squeeze into a deal we were working and was asking how much value are we actually bringing and was trying to convince her to remove people from the deal”.

You do realize the person you're being condescending to about lawyers, is a real estate lawyer. 

I use it for my personal portfolio as well.

It's personal liability I am seeking protection from. 

I will always recommend using someone that comes as a referral from another person that has used that company/person.  

I haven't personally looked, but depending on how far you consider "something nearby" you could start to look towards Bakersfield/Fresno or moving east.

I personally am the agent on this transaction

It is all in the details of the deal and person driving the plan.