By Ryan C. Wood
The process of filing for bankruptcy protection can be a stress free process. We try very hard to make the bankruptcy process as smooth and stress free as possible. There is a definitely a method to the madness around here and it is all for our clients’ benefit. Our methods also focus on efficiency to allow us to charge reasonable fees and still provide the personal service we all deserve. Our consultations are free regarding bankruptcy services, with a licensed attorney and in person (COVID-19 guidelines apply) rather than with a unlicensed office assistants or paralegals that cannot provide legal advice. Furthermore, the Guidelines for Legal Services to be Provided by Debtors’ Attorney in Chapter 7 Cases” for the Northern District of California actually require: “The attorney meets personally with the debtor and explains the options available under both chapter 7 and chapter 13 before the debtor selects the chapter to be filed.” For years we have done this even though it takes more time and we will make less money as a result because we care about you and it is not just all about the money.
All Of Our Reviews On The Internet Are Real
We have been practicing law privately now for over 10 years a few of our first clients were nice enough to leave us some reviews on the internet. Every now and then I would have a client say something like are the reviews real? Or make a statement that business owners put up fake reviews. We have never done such a thing and never will. I can provide proof that each and every review received, indisputably, was a client in some capacity and the review is real.
I know for a fact that many attorneys absolutely write fake reviews and have them posted on the internet for their business. The easiest way to know if a review is fake is if the reviews are organic or not. One of the giveaways is if an attorney has only been in business for 5 or 6 years yet they somehow have 40+ Google reviews but no Yelp reviews. That is not organic review receiving. Some attorneys seemingly have more reviews than actual clients in the real world. How is that possible? Also, generally bankruptcy attorneys do not receive reviews dated the same day or consecutively. The odds of one client posting a review the same day or then the next day after another client posts a review on that same website if pretty rare. Another red flag is if the all of the attorneys’ reviews are just on one website. When clients organically leave you reviews they choose the internet website to leave the reviews on whether that website be Yelp, the Better Business Bureau, Avvo or a Google review. Another red flag is if an attorney does not have a disclaimer along with reviews posted on their own website. California Rules of Ethics require the following language be included with any testimonials or reviews on an attorneys’ website: “These testimonials or endorsements do not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter.”
We Never Discuss Your Case In Front Of Others
Time and time again I will be quietly waiting for a client to arrive at a 341 meeting of creditors and other bankruptcy attorneys and their clients will be in the same room waiting as well. Almost each and every time one of the Bankruptcy lawyer starts to discuss their case with their client in front of everyone else in the room. Really? Yep. For starters the attorney client privilege prohibits bankruptcy attorneys from sharing any information about their client with a third party without the client’s permission. There is the Duty of Loyalty and Duty of Confidentiality. I would think it is just common sense to not discuss someone’s personal and confidential financial information in front of others. Hopefully one or more of these attorneys will read this or someone will tell them to stop discussing their client’s case in front of everyone. The most disturbing instance of this actually happens in Chapter 13 cases. An attorney will be explaining the changes they need to make to the Chapter 13 Plan or petition and why, and many times I disagree with the information they just provided their client. So not only is this attorney discussing all of this in front of me and others, but the attorney also provided inaccurate information for everyone to hear. Just stop. Just step out into the hall please. For all you know someone in the room could represent a creditor in your case and you just provided them information you should not have.
Experience Does Count
I have been the attorney of record on over 1,000 bankruptcy cases. I previously managed two attorneys and oversaw their filing of another 1,000 or so cases. I also was the staff attorney for David Burchard, the Chapter 13 Trustee for the San Francisco and Santa Rosa Divisions of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of California. As staff attorney I assisted in administering another 1,000 Chapter 13 cases. This is real experience that will benefit you and your family. Ask us how many cases we have filed and our experience. There is one particular attorney new to the field that went on and on in this website about his experience. I looked this guy up. 50 total lifetime cases filed. That is not experience you can count on.
All Emails and Phone Calls Are Promptly Returned
One of the things we pride ourselves on is are communication with our clients. We believe the best way to reduce your stress is to make sure you know where you are at in the process and where we are going. We constantly send emails with information to confirm you know what is going on in your case. We know the number one complaint about attorneys is lack of timely communication. With all of the ways to communicate these days there should not be any excuses.
We Do Not Provide Documents To Trustees Without First Reviewing the Documents
This is another horrible practice by some bankruptcy lawyers in the Bay Area. Some trustee’s required additional documents after the case is filed and additional documents to verify information in the bankruptcy petition. Time and time again I see attorneys have their clients hand documents directly to the trustee and the attorney has never reviewed the documents at all. I thought that was part of what we get paid for. We will not turn over documents to any trustee without us reviewing them first.
These are just a few reasons why you should retain the services of The Law Offices of Lin and Wood to be your bankruptcy lawyers. There is nothing wrong with following the law and legally discharging your debts according to the Bankruptcy Code. It is the law.
