5 Tips for Choosing the Right Bankruptcy Attorney for You
Filing for bankruptcy is a great life choice. As I have written in previous posts, it is not as scary as people assume. With that said, it is important to choose an attorney who knows what he is doing and has a reputation for good client advocacy.
You don’t want to get stuck with someone who doesn’t return your phone calls, is rude, or gets kicked off the bar after they start taking your money.
Here are some tips for choosing a good bankruptcy attorney.
1. You can find experienced bankruptcy attorneys using NACBA’s attorney search feature. NACBA is the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys. The attorneys you find on this site have paid fees to the organization, which I think shows that they are committed to the bankruptcy field. You want a lawyer who files for bankruptcy regularly, not once or twice a year.
2. Another good source is your local bar association. Contact your local bar association and see if they have a referral service. Referral services generally require attorneys to have 5 years of experience in the field you are investigating. They also often require their attorneys to refer their clients to have them completed continuing education courses in the field you are seeking.
3. Ask about the reputation of the lawyers. If you don’t know anyone who has used them, look online. The attorneys are rated by http://www.avvo.com. While your methodology may not be perfect (for example, you may have a great lawyer with 20 years of experience who has a 7.0 rating, on the other hand, you might have one with 2 years of experience with a 10.0). I’m not sure. how accurate the ratings are, but at least you can see if they have reports of misconduct.
4. Go for a free consultation. Most bankruptcy attorneys will offer you 30 to 60 minutes of their time to find out if you are a good candidate for bankruptcy and to determine how complex your case is. This really has an additional purpose of helping you determine if it is someone you would feel comfortable working with. Some attorneys charge a consultation fee. If this is the case with the attorney you want to meet with, ask if they apply that fee to the attorney’s overall fee. Even if they charge an additional fee for the consultation, it may be worth it if your reputation is excellent.
5. Ultimately, make the decision using all the information at your disposal. If they were referred by a trusted source, if they have a good reputation, and if the fee is something you are comfortable paying with, be confident in your decision to go ahead and provide your attorney with all the information they request. If you have done this, your case will likely run smoothly.
Best of luck,
Steven M. Palmer, Esq.
Graduated in WA and OH