What Qualities Should I Look for in a Bankruptcy Lawyer?
Rock Law Firm
If you or your business are in financial trouble and considering filing for bankruptcy, selecting the best bankruptcy lawyer can be crucial to the success of your case. The choice of an attorney is an important decision that has potential long-term ramifications. Bankruptcy can help people and businesses return their finances back in order, but it requires solid legal representation to do so effectively. So, when you're looking for a bankruptcy lawyer, it's important to take your time and find one who is qualified and has a lot of experience. To ensure no mistake is made during selection, here are some qualities you should look out for in a good bankruptcy attorney.
Free Initial Consultation
The first quality you should look for when reviewing bankruptcy law firms is a free consultation. While a firm’s website will tell you most of what you need to know about the lawyers, a consultation is the only way to have one-on-one interaction with your would-be bankruptcy lawyer.
This consultation allows you to ask more personalized questions about the service and make a more informed decision. Most reputable firms, including Rock Law Firm, offer a free first consultation to all clients. Remember, these consultations are not usually about getting legal advice on how to proceed with your case. Use it as an opportunity to learn more about your potential bankruptcy AZ lawyers.
Adequate Industry Experience
You don’t want to entrust your case to a lawyer who is still learning their way around the bankruptcy process. Remember, this is your financial future we’re talking about. Bankruptcy filing is a complex process best entrusted to capable hands. And risking a single step could end up disastrous.
With that said, the ideal bankruptcy attorney should understand and have tackled cases similar to yours. And more importantly, they must have a proven track record of success. So, make sure you ask about their experience in the type of bankruptcy you’re filing for during the free consultation, that is, Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. You want to know how long they have been in the industry, how many cases they have tackled, and how successful they have been.
Specialized Locally
When it comes to bankruptcy cases, it’s not just the length of experience that matters. but also whether that experience is local. That’s because the bankruptcy code varies slightly depending on where you are in the US. So, knowing specific local laws is important if you want to stop creditors from running you to the ground.
A good bankruptcy attorney should be well-versed in local laws and the judicial system. If you are in Tempe, AZ, you should make sure you’re specifically going with a Tempe bankruptcy attorney and not just any bankruptcy lawyer.
Up-to-Date with the Bankruptcy Process & Law
Constantly updating one’s knowledge the bankruptcy laws may seem trivial. After all, isn’t it enough that the lawyer already knows the law and has enough successful cases under their belt?
Unfortunately, laws don’t often stay permanent. They get amended and repealed every so often. And bankruptcy laws are not immune to these changes. If, say, you choose an experienced bankruptcy attorney, but they haven’t tackled a similar case in the past year, they are likely not familiar with new developments in the space, and that may severely impact the outcome of your bankruptcy case.
So, make sure you ask how many similar bankruptcy cases your potential Arizona bankruptcy lawyer has handled in the last couple of months.
Personalized Legal Advice and Counsel
Bankruptcy and other legal issues, for that matter, don’t do well with one-size-fits-all solutions. Every situation and every client are unique, and so are their legal needs.
With that in mind, you want to avoid bankruptcy lawyers who apply a generic process to each case. Instead, you want an Arizona bankruptcy lawyer who employs a personalized approach to your case.
Now, when it comes to identifying personalized bankruptcy law firms, it can take a lot of work to separate the wheat from the chaff. But one telltale feature of bankruptcy mills is that they handle a large number of cases at a time without particular focus on each.
On that same note, beware of petition preparers. These are basically people with just enough knowledge to file a bankruptcy petition. However, they’re not bankruptcy lawyers and can’t give you the kind of counsel you need when going through the process. So, go with an experienced attorney lawyer ready to listen and provide individualized attention to your case.
A Solid Reputation
Lastly, get a Tempe bankruptcy attorney with a good standing among clients. A good reputation should precede the law firm you want to work with.
And it’s pretty easy to check for this. For one, you can look for reviews from clients who have previously hired the service. You can also look at the average rating and number of successful cases, which, if good, will be well displayed on the bankruptcy attorney’s website.
Externally, you can check whether the firm is listed with the Better Business Bureau and its rating on the platform.
In Need of a Bankruptcy Lawyer in Tempe, AZ? Get Experienced and Reputable AZ Bankruptcy Lawyers
When debt settlement becomes impossible, the best option is usually to file for bankruptcy. However, this solution comes with its drawbacks and a complicated petitioning process. At Rock Law Firm, we specialize in helping clients file for bankruptcy, easing the stress of dealing with debt collectors.
We are knowledgeable, experienced, and up-to-date in bankruptcy law and the local legal system. More importantly, over the course of several years in the game, we have won hundreds of petitions.Plus, our bankruptcy lawyers charge fair filing fees, so you don’t have to break the bank to afford our service. Book a consultation with us today by calling (480) 613-9690!