Meeting with a Bankruptcy Lawyer Text Size:

Your initial meeting with a bankruptcy lawyer should give the lawyer an opportunity to assess your financial situation, your goals, and the options that are open to you. It should give you a chance to determine if you communicate well with the lawyer and if you have confidence that your matter is approached with care and competence.

• Write down your questions before the meeting, so that you don't miss gathering information that is important to you.
• Ask how much of the lawyer's practice involves bankruptcy and what portion of the bankruptcy cases involve clients like you.
• Note whether your questions are answered in a manner that you understand. Are you comfortable asking for further clarification? Bankruptcy is stressful enough without having to wonder if you understand what is happening.
• Ask whether there are difficult issues in your case, or matters that are hard to predict. Understand what the possible outcomes are and the cost involved.
• Review the pricing structure of the lawyer's services. Most bankruptcies are done for a flat fee. Ask what costs there may be in addition to the flat fee. Get the fee arrangement in writing.

You'll want to meet the lawyer's staff. Most bankruptcy lawyers have paralegals or assistants who'll interact with you and prepare the paperwork. You should have the same comfort level with the staff as you have with the lawyer.

But avoid a law office that wants you to deal exclusively with a paralegal.

You should leave a first meeting with a bankruptcy lawyer understanding your options, or what additional information is needed to lay out your options, and with an opinion as to how well you and the lawyer will work together. Don't be reluctant to leave that meeting without retaining the lawyer. If you have concerns about the match between you and lawyer, interview another lawyer. Be willing to think your choices over before committing yourself.

Bankruptcy Lawyer Cathy Moran contributed to the the information in these guidelines

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