Who to hire? High profile or Low?

[lillymarlene]

My experience was similar to tada's. The first attorney I interviewed seemed like he'd be able to handle a standard uncomplicated case very well. He also seems to be a very friendly, kind person, who would probably make a great "hand holder." The second one didn't actually meet with me, but had me meet with his paralegal instead. The third one, who handles mostly bankrutpcies, did not seem all that friendly, has a tough "no nonsense" personality but I felt he was the most knowlegeable. He was also recommended by another attorney who had done some work years ago for my father.

I went with the last one, since I think it's important to have someone who is very knowledgeable in your corner in such a life changing situation. Then I'm lucky enough to have a great boyfriend who has been "holding my hand" all through this:-)

[tyson24]

My experience, filing twice in my life (once single, once married) is this.

First time I used the high profile high buck guy. I got kind of screwed-I only had $10,000 worth of debt and the economy was good. Not many people filing so not really talked to about what I could have done instead.

Second time (this time) I used a nice, median priced master communicator that always answered his own phone. He was great but I am sure well sick of me and I used up every red cent of the money I paid him-and more with the annoying phone calls I made to him about every little thing.

Choose someone you trust and that you mesh with. That is what counts! Good luck

[IamOld]

We started to hire a young attorney with little experience. He probably could have handled a standard case very well. But he saw that we were having to use the means test for Chapter 7 and decided that he could not handle it. We instead went with a proven attorney who did nothing but bankruptcy. He is also a trustee and knew very well what to expect. He had a cocky attitude, but he got the job done. I felt we really did all of the leg work gathering the information. I also had studied the subject and the means test a great deal. It cost $2299 including the filing fee.

Thank you!

Mine is nice - but I think I may need to realize that my atty must know what he's doing - 30 years does nothing but...

[corrin69]

I went with a firm with a good representation as "bankruptcy" lawyers. I met with one of the named partners to whom I had been referred by a colleague and when I met her I asked if she would be handling my case.
I could not have been more pleased with my lawyer. She was accessible by email and always got on the phone when I called or she called my back fairly quickly. She was prepared for both of my 341 meetings and familiar with my case each time we spoke. She was more expensive than a lot of other lawyers doing bankruptcy. But she was worth it.

Here's what I would recommend looking for if you are willing to spend a little more:
1. A firm with multiple partners who do bankruptcy. If it's just one guy doing it, you should expect that his/her assistants/paralegals are doing a lot of the work. Stay away from solos or "Smith & Associates".
2. Look for a firm that does corporate bankruptcy too. This makes it less likely that you are going to get mill punching out as many Chapter 7/13's as they can get.

[BKAttyMI]

If you are seeking an attorney, far and away the advice I would recommend is seeking someone that does primarily bankruptcy and has been practicing BANKRUPTCY for at least a year or more. Just because you have an attorney that has been in practice for 30 years does NOT mean that he has been doing bankruptcy for that long. Many attorneys have started picking up bankruptcy cases on the side as extra income and really have limited knowledge about this area of the law. My father-in-law went to just such an attorney before I knew him, an older practitioner in town that had been in practice forever, but knew next to nothing about bankruptcy and made many silly beginner mistakes in his case. Ask the attorney how many bankruptcy cases they've handled, especially if you are attemping to do a 13 with them.

Staying away from any firm that says "& Associates" is ridiculous advice. Many firms practice many areas of the law depending on their size and have associates that specialize in those specific areas. My firm has two attorneys that practice bankruptcy full time and a host of other attorneys practicing in other areas.