How To Choose a Bankruptcy Attorney

Choosing an attorney can be a difficult decision.  Any attorney can file your case and competently represent your legal interests.  However, that is where the similarities end.  Like any other group of individuals, attorneys vary greatly in their profession.  They have different perspectives, different methods, different reputations, and different styles.  Some are aggressive.  Some are compassionate.  Some are personable and some are not.

Your bankruptcy marks a stage in your life in which you have decided to make some very important changes.  This can be a terrifying time for people in financial crisis who have committed to bring an end to their financial hardships and ultimately pursue a better future.  You are in search of a fresh start and need trusted guidance to help you get it.

Some people want a very large and busy firm to represent them, believing that such firms have an abundance of resources to serve them.  Others prefer a smaller, more personal firm that can devote personal attention to the specifics of their case.  Some want to know every detail of their case from beginning to end and others want to sit back and just know that their case is being handled well without concern.  Clients are different and so are law firms.

Every law firm has its own culture - the collection of personalities and policies specific to a firm and its staff that culminates in a personality of the firm.  Some are warm and accepting of their clients and their struggles and others are cold and impersonal, concerned with cases, rather than people.

A few years ago, while talking with a client about why he chose to hire the attorney he did, he said, "I wanted a lawyer who was really nice to me and a complete jerk to everyone else.  I wanted him to be relentless in attacking my opposition and treat me like a prince." I understood what he meant, of course.  There are attorneys who are abrasive and aggressive all the time.  Some clients respect that, because they know that when the time comes, they want those attorneys on their side.

It is important to understand the nature of a bankruptcy case.  First of all, nobody wins or loses a bankruptcy.  The goal is not to beat someone else, but to eliminate your debt and get you started with your, hopefully more lucrative, life.  This rarely involves a fight with anyone.  The truth is, you are going to interact with your attorney far more than anyone else is going to during a bankruptcy, so if it is an aggressive and abrasive "jerk" you want, just remember that you will have to deal with him more than anyone else will.  That means he will be fighting you more than your "opponents".

At the Law Offices of J.L. Haddock, we have established a firm that embraces the concerns of each client.  We are a small and personable firm.  We have developed proprietary applications that actually allow us to manage cases more efficiently than most other firms in our region.  We have matched the resources of much larger firms with the personal attention to our clients that smaller firms are proud of.  We believe it is a match that is unparalleled.  Is it unique? Well, for now maybe.  We believe more firms will follow our lead in the future and we are not concerned.  Competition is essential in improving the industry and providing the best quality of services at a cost that is affordable for clients in financial hardship.

Take advantage of the free bankruptcy consultations that several firms offer.  Meet the attorneys and see how you feel about them representing you.  Is it a good fit? The decision will be much easier than you think.

Some things to consider:

• How many people will be actively working on your case at the firm? Some firms break up the case between several staff members to handle at various stages of the case.  Some clients prefer this and some do not.


• Is the attorney that you meet at the consultation the same one that you will always be working with? Some firms have an attorney that does consultations, clerks that build various parts of your bankruptcy petition, another attorney that reviews it with you at signing, and still another one that attends your hearing with you.


• How much do you want to know about your case? Some clients want to know every detail and others just want to take a backseat during the ride.  Some firms can accommodate either kind of client.  Some do not.


• Does the attorney expect you to do most of the leg-work during your case or do they take care of the smaller details for you? Do you want them to?


• Some attorneys expect their clients to take more of an active role in order to keep costs down.  Others provide more service higher costs.  Our streamlined processes allow us to provide most of these services without additional costs.


• How do you feel upon meeting the attorney? It may sound funny, but this is important.  This person is going to be representing you and helping you change your life.  Do you trust them? Do you feel better about your case and your future after talking with them? Are you confident that they will act in your best interest, whether or not you understand the implications? Do they seem at all concerned about whether or not you do understand the implications of your decisions?

Some firms handle cases for people.  We handle people's cases.