How to Find a Bankruptcy Attorney?
Bankruptcy attorneys are lawyers who specialize in helping people in a number of situations, the most common being filing for bankruptcy. The American Bar Association and the American Bankruptcy Association are the bodies that accredit attorneys practicing in the U.S. When searching for a bankruptcy lawyer, it is advisable to check the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and the American Bar Association’s (ABA’s) website to find a legitimate, experienced attorney.
Prior to hiring any lawyer, it is important to make sure that he meets the bar’s ethical requirements. These requirements obligate lawyers to maintain high moral standards. Moreover, they must also pass the bar exam and be thoroughly trained before being allowed to practice law. Before choosing a bankruptcy attorney, it is necessary to evaluate his professional record. This can be obtained from the Bar Exam Registry.
Experience: This is a very important aspect. Lawyers who have many years experience to represent those who are new to the field and have little or no legal experience at all. It is necessary to know how many bankruptcy cases he has handled and the results he has delivered. The lawyer’s success rate must also be evaluated based on the number of clients he has had and the payment he received for each case.
Competent Practicing: A lawyer can only be as good as his clients. Lawyers who know the business well must always choose their clients carefully. Their skills must also be sharpened. Attorneys with many years of experience are those who are usually able to give better legal services to their clients. It is also important to check their client list to make sure that the lawyer has represented many legal cases.
Prior Experience: While a lawyer who has represented bankrupt people before must be good enough, that is not the only requirement for a successful bankruptcy attorney. He must also have sufficient knowledge about laws and regulations applicable in your state. While you cannot expect a bankruptcy attorney to be an expert on every legal issue, you should at least expect him to have basic knowledge about most of them. Remember that you will be handing over all your financial information to this lawyer. So it is important that he knows what he is doing.
References: When looking for a bankruptcy attorney, it is best to ask some colleagues or relatives for references. If they were able to do a good job, then you must consider them when hiring a lawyer. References are helpful because you will get to know if the lawyer is competent, experienced and good at his job.
Fees: How to find one with affordable fees is another important consideration. Keep in mind that you might not be in a position to afford legal help right away. Therefore, you must look for a lawyer who offers payment plans. Find out whether the fees will be tied to the duration of your bankruptcy case or will it depend on how much you pay during the course of the proceedings.
Experience: Legal assistance of any kind is only available to those who have vast experience in handling such cases. If you are new to this, you must therefore do some research and find out what the lawyers in your area are capable of. It is also advisable to check the background of the bankruptcy attorney you are planning to hire. You can find plenty of information online.
Reputation: A bankruptcy attorney who is experienced and has a good reputation is obviously more likely to find the right solution for you. It does not matter whether the solution he has worked out works or not. What matters is that he has a good reputation. The best way to find out about the lawyer is by asking people whom you know and trust. Then ask him for references as well.
Cost: As mentioned earlier, the cost is a very important factor. However, this does not mean you should avoid hiring a bankruptcy attorney just because he is a bit expensive. In fact, it is advisable to compare prices of different lawyers. This is because an attorney who charges a lot may also be good at his work.
Finding a good bankruptcy attorney is not a difficult task. However, some of the factors mentioned above need to be taken into consideration. Therefore, you can always look out for those who are trustworthy and experienced. Once you are able to find one, your problems will soon be over.