Need advice on chosing an Attorney

[cfgdag]

I am torn between 2 lawyers and wanted to get some advice. Keep in mind we are a straight forward chapter 7. Not much to our case. Moderate income, too high debt, too little money (-500 month on means test).

The first attorney I met with didn't have much of a personality. He doesn't respond to emails very quickly (2-3 days). He isn't strictly a bk attorney, he does divorces, etc. He charges 1800 plus 299 filing fee. I wasn't too keen to this guy's attitude (or lack of attitude I should say). Once I turn in paperwork, he can have us ready to file within 7-10 days. Said we could reaffirm our house or cars if we wanted to (for sure don't want to reaffirm the house but unsure on cars.)

The second attorney I met with had a great presonality. He (or his paralegal) responds to me emails within a few hours. He IS strictly a bk attorney. He has great ratings online. He charges 2500 plus 299 filing fee. Both hubby and I liked him alot. Once I turn in paperwork, he can have us ready to file in 30 or so days. He said it usually will take 60 days but we are on a time crunch for a potential bonus from my work, so he said he would fast track us a bit. Said he didn't want us to reaffirm anything (but like I said above I want to reaffirm at least 1 car).

I guess I would like your opinions on which to go to. In some ways I feel the first one, because he's cheaper and it can be done quicker. I feel that since our case isn't complicated we can go with a "less specialized" attorney. But, the second one specializes in it...which would be a good thing if we happened to run into any problems. But I am worried we could run into problems with my "maybe" bonus if we take too long to file and have our 341 meeting. And...2500 is alot of money.....

Help!


Edited to Add: Even though the first atty is slow at emails and didn't win me over with his personality, he did spend almost 2 hours with me during my consultation, which impressed me. The second atty pretty much pushed us out (in a nice way) after 30 minutes.

[hamburgervol]

Maybe seek another one or two more consult(s) from other attorneys?

[tinfoilhat]

I called my attorney on the phone and was asked some questions.
Everything was good to go so he set up an office visit.
During the visit he asked more questions, asked if I wanted him to represent me.
I said yes so he grabbed the information packet and asked me questions while he filled it out.
I paid him his fee, he told me what info to gather up for the next visit.
Next visit was reviewing the info packet questions, doing the means test, getting a list of what to bring to the 341 meeting, where it's at, directions, etc, paying the filing fee.
Next step, letter in the mail with case number and 341 date, take the debtor education class.
Next step 341 meeting, I was told to call the office a few days before the 341.

No emails, no other phone calls needed.

I've been to two other consultations. One lost my file. One was a total a hole.

Be careful what you do because whatever money you give them you'll never see it again.

[OhioFiler]

I'd go with Door #1!

60 days leads me to believe #2 is a bk mill.

[cfgdag]

How would I find out if he is a bk mill?
What websites can be used to look up an attorney?

From what I have looked up...he seems to be very reputable.

[aces67]

Can you get one or two more opinions?

[UghUghUgh]

I don't think you have to love your attorney in order to utilize him.

Did you feel like he knew what he was talking about? He is cheaper and faster from your description. He took a great amount of time with you on your initial visit. I think both are pretty costly but what can ya do.

Can you 'fast track' a bankruptcy? I thought we all had 60 days after the 341 hearing. I would question that.

[music12]

cfgdag, you sound like you like the second one much better. good chemistry with your atty is valuable, don't discount it.

i think you should go with the one you liked.

also, the fact that the first one spent 2 hours with you might mean that his business is slow, which may not be a good sign in these high-bk days. lawyers are never just generous...

[cfgdag]

Okay, here are a few things that hubby and I discussed last night....

The first attorney, although he wasn't very personable, he was nice. He really explained alot of things and did alot of taking notes (the other didnt). I sent him an email yesterday asking a question about his packet he gave me and he answered back within 30 minutes (the last email I sent took 2 days). Also, the first atty has a very nice professional law office. He has his assistants and 4 other attorneys that work there as well. It's a very well established law firm, has been there since 1979, and came highly recommended by another attorney that I know thru my employer.

Although I liked the second one better, some things just don't add up for me regarding him. He is a board certified bk specialist and has all sorts of high ratings on the internet. However, there are a few odd things. First, he shares a suite in an office building with a healthcare type business. Second, his paralegal works across town from him. I would think they would need to be together. Second, from what I have researched online, he has a blog and a twitter account, both of which he updates daily (at least a dozen times for twitter). It makes me feel he isn't very busy to be doing all this all day long. I feel I would be paying him alot of money and yet I would be doing all the computer input of my figures into HIS system. Then his paralegal would overlook it and edit it. Then it goes to him. I mean, really, what would his job be for $2500? Also, he said his normal fee is 3500 but he would give us a discount (I wonder why he would give it to us, he doesn't know us). Another thing is he said it normally takes 60 days to even file the bk paperwork, but again, for us he would do it in 30. I don't know....the more I think about it, the more I question if he would be the one to go with??? But looking at his qualifications and ratings and experience maybe I would be a fool NOT to go with him.

I guess it all comes down to my gut...and it's telling me the first one. If I look at all the online stats and ratings...it would have to be the second one.

[tinfoilhat]

Second guy sounds like a glorified salesman.
Discounts, etc just to get his costs closer to what they should already be? It's all part of the game of making you feel good about him.
Maybe he's giving himself these online ratings since he's on there so much.

[liz417]

I would really recommend you consult with a couple more attorneys (at least one more). I consulted with 6 before I made my decision, ALL of them had something different to say, it was very confusing and I was doubting myself! One of the attorneys that I consulted was from a "BK-type Mill", I really liked her and trusted her, but when I asked if I would be able to contact her if I had any questions, she said that they had a "board of attorneys" and assistants that would be able to answer all my future questions, the big turn off was that my case would be "handed over" to her paralegal and she (the attorney) would "oversee" the case...I did not want that type of service, so I continued to set up consults.
Your 2nd choice sounds like a BK Mill type
Good Luck to you.

Edit: This bk mill type place also took about 1-2 months to file too...

[music12]

if the second one came highly recommended, i would try to ask him to refer you to another lawyer who would be able to do it faster than 30 to 60 days.

i had a referral to a lawyer who said he was busy for 2 weeks, so he gave me a list of names of others. i chose one of them and i am VERY happy with him.

sharing an office with a healthcare business sounds very strange. but if you get a free spa treatment just for hiring him, i might go for that!!!

[OhioFiler]

I guess it all comes down to my gut...and it's telling me the first one. If I look at all the online stats and ratings...it would have to be the second one.

Don't believe everything you read. It sounds to me like attorney #2 is more a marketing executive than an attorney. I've been in sales a long time and I can spot marketing gimmicks a mile away. His "discount" and all the internet hype is pure nonsense designed to create an illusion.

Go with #1 or keep shopping.

[ready2puke]

Twittering all day long?? Thats got to be a high flying red flag...Your not in Ca. are you? Just wondering.. I went to a BK specialist that had really good ratings and then to another one that had a funky office and really old furniture..
The BK specialist was 2800 and spent about an hour with me while he was eating lunch..I didnt mind since I knew I was over the usual free time consultation..
The older man was 1200 and this man has spent 5 hours with me and has not taking a dime. My gut says go with the kinder older man...so when I file I wont get just a number.
I went to 6 consultations, actually did sign up with one, had a reallly really bad feeling since coming on this forum...Fired him before we started, lost 200.00...stopped payment on a check and got really lucky...with his advice I could of landing in prision for withholding assets
You really have to be careful who you go with...go get some more consults..