What is the best way to find a good bankruptcy attorney? 25 Answers as of October 14, 2011

You may search website to find one.

There are tons of resources online and otherwise to find a good attorney.

That is a hard one. Start with National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys. Pick one that only does bankruptcies. Lets face it, you can't be good at everything. Pick one who has been doing it for more than a few years. When the economy went south many lawyers decided to become "bankruptcy lawyers" without any experience or significant training. You must pick one who does Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases. A lawyer who only does Chapter 7 only has one option for you.

First, I would ask friends and family who they know and recommend. Second, I would interview a couple and see what they have to say and how they treat you during the consult. You want to find someone who will provide you with information and stay in communication with you.

Attorneys answering questions on this site would be a good start...

My best advice would be to shop around. Make an appointment with a few different attorneys so that you have an idea of what you like and don't like. The cheapest attorney is not always the best and neither is the most expensive. Your attorney should make you feel comfortable, be knowledgeable and let you know your rights and the process every step of the way. Also, ask who handles your file once you sign a retainer (i.e. a paralegal or the attorney themselves). Make sure you hire someone you have access to and that is available to answer phone calls and emails. I hope you found this answer useful.

Why, call me, I'm the best! No, seriously, it's often hard to find an attorney in any area of law because it's hard to know what to look for. Finding the right attorney is a lot like dating - sometimes you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your prince. My first suggestion is to ignore price considerations. The court regulates maximum fees, and paying more or less does not indicate.the skills of an attorney. I've seen expensive attorneys do bad work, and cheap attorneys do work just as bad, so it's not what they charge. I would suggest an attorney who is a member of the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys. This position may be biased since I'm co-State Chair, but members who participate in the listserv forums and attend the conventions tend to be up to date on the latest issues in bankruptcy, rather than a general purpose attorney who merely dabbles in bankruptcy because their other areas of law have dried up in our current economic depression. I think that bankruptcy law is like financial brain surgery and many clients would do better with a specialist in the area. I'm not as impressed by ABI membership since they tend to be more creditor-based and biased. ABI certification in bankruptcy may sound good but it's not considered a recognized specialty in New Jersey. Someone who advertises they are a former judge, or former or present trustee does not mean they have any more special knowledge or connections or can do a better job than other attorneys. It doesn't mean they'll do bad job either. Referrals from friends or other attorneys may be useful. Ignore commercials and radio spots or promises that sound too good to be true; generally avoid anyone who says bankruptcy is the simple answer for all your problems. One trick to find out how good they are is to schedule an appointment and see if they provide you with the mandatory disclaimers first. Some attorneys don't even know what they are, which indicates they don't know much about the rest of bankruptcy law either. Your consult should be a real consult and not a sales pitch. There is no "one size fits all solution" and not every consult really needs a bankruptcy. If it doesn't feel right, don't be afraid to walk away. Finally, find out who does the actual work on your petition. It's not always the lawyer. Hope this helps you. Lots of luck in your search.

The first thing I will say is don't go with the $500 BK lawyer. A lawyer cannot do an adequate job for that little. At least some firms that advertise a low price either do a cut-rate job or add fees for things that should be included. Second, avoid petition preparers. They generally charge $200400, but they cause lots of problems. I have seen cases be dismissed or debtors lose assets they did not need to. A fair fee for a Ch 7 is between $12002000. After that, mush depends on you. Some clients feel more comfortable with a large firm, although their fee tend to be higher than small firm/solos. Some clients prefer the personal service of a smaller firm. Most attorneys offer a free or low cost initial consultation. Interview some. Ask them lots of questions, their experience. Look at their web-pages. Finally, ask friends. You might be surprised how many people you know have filed BK.

Call one and set up a consultation. Mine is free, as are those of most bankruptcy attorneys. Beyond experience, which is obvious, make sure you feel comfortable with him/her.

You can start by looking in your area, ask for referrals if you are comfortable asking friends or family or even other attorneys. You can also look to the internet and see if you find anything negative about an attorney after you do some research and narrow down your choices. But I feel the best way is to sit down with a few attorneys and see which one you are most comfortable with.