Clients clearly have little sense of how long it takes to file bankruptcy. Proof is what happened Monday: there’s an email the morning’s inbox from a client whom I first met weeks ago. He tells me they want to file before Wednesday’s mediation in state court! I have no creditor information, representation agreement, money, or […]
What Should Bankruptcy Cost?
Pick the cheapest bankruptcy lawyer and it could really cost you. We’re trained as consumers to find the lowest price for stuff we buy. But picking a lawyer is not the place for economy. But how can you know what a bankruptcy should cost when you’ve never hired a lawyer before and you don’t want […]
Bankruptcy No Place For DIY
The do- it- yourself spirit seems especially strong in bankruptcy courts these days. Only it often comes with a big price tag. Nearly 45% of the Central District CA Chapter 7 cases were filed by individuals doing it themselves. The national rules committee drafted the new bankruptcy forms with the unrepresented in mind. Why do people […]
When Bankruptcy Lawyers Get The Basics Wrong
I cringe when a client says that they’ve researched bankruptcy on the internet before making an appointment with me. For every sound, balanced, nuanced article on consumers and their debts, there are bunches of sloppy, inaccurate sites, often trying to make bankruptcy so frightening that you’ll buy whatever they’re selling. But when a group […]
Are You Stuck With The Lawyer Who Filed Your Bankruptcy Case?
Your bankruptcy case is filed. It’s not going as smoothly as you expected. In fact, you’re worried you’re going under. Can you change bankruptcy lawyers after your case is filed? Certainly, you can always fire your lawyer. It may be disruptive. It will certainly cost more money. To decide you need to know how big […]
3 Things Turn Off This Bankruptcy Lawyer
Looking to find a bankruptcy lawyer. Then you need to know what makes a good bankruptcy client. A good bankruptcy lawyer doesn’t waste time with some kinds of prospective clients. TThat’s because an experienced bankruptcy lawyer can see trouble from the start. So what would make a bankruptcy specialist turn down work? That is, other […]
Is A Free Bankruptcy Consultation Worth It?
No matter how much they’ve spent on other stuff, those shopping for a bankruptcy lawyer seem to expect a free consultation. “Everyone else offers a free consultation” I’m told. Not me: I don’t do “free”. But I’ve come to doubt what other bankruptcy attorneys offer is really a free consultation. Oh, it may be free, […]
Thankful
Professionally, what’s a bankruptcy lawyer thankful for? I’m thankful for experience and a skill set useful to real people with financial problems. I’m thankful for bankruptcy laws, flawed as they are, that allow people to escape debt and focus on the future. I’m thankful for the right to vote for people who might make the laws […]
Why Would Lawyer Choose Consumer Bankruptcy?
I had my fees cut last week in a small Chapter 13 case. The cut ($500) wasn’t large in absolute terms. But the wound is deep and will continue to bleed into my attitude about what I do as a professional. To borrow a phrase from my kids, I feel profoundly disrespected. The case, filed by […]
Why No-Look Bankruptcy Fees Are No-Good
Lawyers become lawyers, in large part, because they can’t, or don’t want to, do math. Judges are lawyers who got promoted. And therein is the root of the problem with “no look” attorneys fee for consumer bankruptcy cases. Judges don’t understand mathematics. They expect the “law” of averages to result in fair compensation for debtor’s lawyers, relieving judges […]
