I saw something at court recently that made me just shake me head.
It was a bankruptcy lawyer searching for his clients prior to a bankruptcy hearing in a way that makes it obvious that he had never met his clients before. The attorney paced back and forth and up and down the hallway calling out the clients’ names, looking into the various places his clients could be waiting, until the three of them eventually found each other whereupon the attorney introduced himself for the first time then and there at court. Their conversation revealed that the clients had been communicating mainly with the attorney’s legal assistant up to this point in time.
Now I don’t know all of the specifics and maybe what I saw was just an isolated incident and not this lawyer’s normal way of practicing law. Maybe he had somehow made sure that his clients were well prepared for the court hearing. I hope so for the clients’ sake.
You see, the entire bankruptcy process is routine for the lawyer because he or she does it all the time. But it is something entirely new and foreign to the client. And an attorney who fails to take the time to prepare his client properly for a meeting with the Chapter 7 trustee does his client a great disservice.
I’ve been representing good people with financial problems since 1996. And the vast majority of my bankruptcy clients have initially been apprehensive while some have been down right scared regarding their First Meeting of Creditors in their Chapter 7 bankruptcy case.
My clients’ apprehension or fear is understandable since going to court and being questioned under oath by a trustee is not something that they do on a regular basis.
However my clients fear or apprehension always melts away after I take the time that I always do to prepare them so that they know what to expect when it comes time to go to court to meet with the Chapter 7 trustee.
Many bankruptcy lawyers routinely have their legal assistants do much of the day-to-day work on their clients’ cases. Many people filing bankruptcy rarely deal with their lawyer but have to deal with the lawyer’s legal assistant.
My clients are never handed over to a legal assistant. As you’ll see if you click on the Meet Dan page, I operate my bankruptcy practice totally by myself. It’s a one-man show. So when a client hires me, they get me for everything. I answer their phone calls, I respond to their emails, I personally meet with them, I personally do every bit of work on their case, and I go with them to court.
This allows me to stay on top of each client’s case and to also offer my clients the best in convenience and personal service.
If you’re considering filing bankruptcy and would like an attorney who will work with you personally every step of they way instead of handing you over to a legal assistant, contact me today by completing the “Contact Dan” form on the right side of this page. I’ll get back in touch with you as soon as I can to schedule a FREE initial telephone consultation. I would count it a privilege to be able to visit with you in a relaxed and confidential environment where I’ll answer all of your questions in plain English and give you the straight scoop on the pros and cons of bankruptcy as related to your specific situation.
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Dan -
Another good and timely post. I tell clients all the time: “Beware the cut-rate bankruptcy mills where you never see a lawyer until the meeting of creditors — and then only for about 5 minutes.”
And I’ve witnessed what you witnessed many times as well. It is astounding!
I do have a paralegal, but I use him to the do the paperwork, not the client work! Every client I have has spent at least 2-3 hours discussing their situation with me.