Filing bankruptcy is a great life choice. As I have written in previous posts, it is not as scary as people make it out to be. That being said, it is important to choose a lawyer 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, who is rude, or who gets disbarred after they start taking your money.
What follows are some tips for choosing a good bankruptcy attorney.
1. You can find experienced bankruptcy attorneys by using NACBA’s attorney search function. NACBA is the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Lawyers. The attorneys you find on this site have paid due to the organization, which I think shows that they are committed to the field of bankruptcy. You want a lawyer who files for bankruptcy on a regular basis, not once or twice a year.
2. Another good source is the 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 researching. They also often require their attorneys to refer clients who have 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 lawyers are classified 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 may have one with 2 years of experience with a 10.0). I’m not sure how accurate the ratings are, but you can at least see if they have any misconduct reports.
4. Go to a free consultation. Most bankruptcy attorneys will give you 30 to 60 minutes of their time to find out if you are a good bankruptcy candidate and to determine how complex your case is. This really has the added purpose of helping you determine if this is someone you would feel comfortable working with. Some lawyers charge a consultation fee. If this is the case with the attorney you want to meet with, ask if that fee applies to the attorney’s general 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 reputable source, if they have a good reputation, and if the fee is something you are comfortable paying, be confident in your choice to go ahead and provide your lawyer with all the information they request. If you have done this, your case will likely go smoothly.
Best of luck,
Steven M. Palmer, Esq.
Licensed in WA and OH