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Hello! I'm Attorney Jared Haddock and on this installment of Fresh Starts, I'll be discussing
how to choose the right attorney for your bankruptcy case.
Choosing the right attorney can sometimes be a difficult task. I will not speak unkindly
of my colleagues in the field. Most of the bankruptcy attorneys in the area I know are
very reputable and well qualified to handle your case.
That said, there are differences in law firm cultures, pricing, and policies. I'm not entirely
sure that any one factor should stand out as the most important one to use in making
a decision, but I will say that you should generally never enter a contract with any
professional, attorney or otherwise, with whom you don't feel comfortable. Bankruptcies
frequently involve some rather personal discussions and some unpleasant realities. You need to
be able to be honest and forthcoming and a good rapport goes a long way toward that end.
I'm not saying you have to be best friends with your attorney, but you should know you
can respect and trust them enough to be honest, even when your finances are painful or difficult
to talk about. As far as some more specific things to be
aware of, you should know some of the ways that different law firms operate. With some
firms, like mine for instance, the first attorney you meet will be the same one handling your
case from beginning to end. Others will assign different attorneys for different aspects
of the case -- one for your consultation, another one for your petition signing, another
for your hearing, and perhaps still another one for any Reaffirmations, Amendments, or
Adversarial Matters. As far as pricing - some firms offer a very
low advertised price, but then find every excuse under the sun to charge additional
fees for things that routinely come up in many cases. I always considered that tactic
a horrible way to start a new relationship. One built on deceptive methods, warrants little
trust. Other firms offer a more comprehensive fee that covers most routine events without
additional charges. While some unusual or unforeseen events may actually translate to
additional fees in some cases, my firm - and a few others make every reasonable effort
ensure that the flat fee quoted is fair, competitive, and always as comprehensive as possible. I
don't think it is just a coincidence that most of the colleagues in the industry that
I respect and admire the most don't attempt to lure client in with deceptively low "gimmick"
pricing. It only seems right that you should know up front what this will actually cost
you, at least to the extent that is reasonably foreseeable. Remember, if it sounds too good
to be true, then it probably is! Also, some firms send you all over town getting
recorded documents yourself, telling you that doing so will keep their prices low for you.
I once worked for a firm that did this and I can tell you that clients would take off
time from work, drive downtown to the Register of Deeds, pay for parking, take a number,
wait for long periods of time to have a clerk charge them $5 for each search and $1 per
page. They would come back into the office after all of this with huge piles of paper
we didn't need and couldn't use. At my firm, we do this for our clients electronically
with no hassle and we still manage to keep our prices competitive. As I figure it, my
staff and I know exactly what I need and how to get it. Why make you learn to do something
you'll probably never need to know again the hard way, when we can just do it for you?
That's just good service! You know what's interesting about really great
service? It is often so seamless, you don't even know you're getting it. You always know
when you're getting lousy service, though, right? That's why I believe it is more profitable
to provide these services without high additional costs. I get referrals from satisfied clients
and that's worth far more to me than additional charges imposed on unsatisfied clients! From
a business standpoint, even, that just makes sense to me.
So, while most bankruptcy attorneys I know are reputable and well qualified to handle
most any case, they differ in their culture, pricing, and policies. Most law firms, however,
do offer free initial consultations for prospective clients. Ultimately, the best way to determine
which attorney is right for you, is to take advantage of these consultations and meet
with them. Determine what you like and don't like about each of them and then make an informed
decision about who will best serve your individual needs.
Good luck in your search. I thank you for watching and, as always, I wish you a better
future!