If you are considering bankruptcy as an option or would just like to consult a local Riverside bankruptcy attorney regarding your financial situation the first step is to find a reputable and knowledgeable attorney. An attorney with experience can guide you in the right direction and will explain what can be done to resolve your financial problems. But how do you go about finding a good attorney who you can trust? There is a wealth of information on the internet that can help you make a determination.
The key is to know which information to trust and who is a a reputable source. Below are some helpful suggestions that can guide you in the write direction to find an experienced and knowledgeable attorney:
1. Are they Members of Associations and Organizations on Bankruptcy – A good indication that they may keep up to date on bankruptcy issues is their membership in organizations that deal with bankruptcy issues. Organizations such as the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys and the American Bankruptcy Institute provide members with resources on bankruptcy, hold seminars related to bankruptcy and allow members to interact and exchange ideas on bankruptcy cases. The National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys provides a search option that allows you to find current Riverside bankruptcy lawyers that are part of the organization
2. Their Standing with the California Bar Association-The California Bar Association provides information on any sanctions or disciplinary action that an attorney has received. The bar association allows you to search for members by their name or bar number and obtain their profile. Their profile provides information on how many years they have been admitted to the bar, whether they are active members, the law school they graduated from, disciplinary actions against them and any administrative actions against them. If the attorney has received a disciplinary action from the California Bar then you will be able to obtain information on the reason for the action. This will help you make a determination on whether the attorney is reputable or has engaged in unethical behavior. This is a very important source to utilize. Many clients utilize this resource only after they start having problems with the attorney they hired. Unfortunately, after wasted time and money, they come to find out that the attorney has numerous disciplinary actions against them for unethical behavior.
3. Overall Reputation on Internet and Community-There are numerous ways to find information on how attorneys are viewed by peers and other clients. One of the best sources to find other clients experiences with the attorney is to type in the attorneys name on Google along with the term “reviews”. In most cases it will bring up sites that have reviews with that name on the site. This can give you an overview of how other clients felt when working with the attorney on their case. A great source for this is also Avvo. The site allows attorneys to list their profile for free and allows former clients to post reviews about the attorney. You can do a name search on the site and find reviews on most attorneys. Other sources for reviews include Google Plus Local and Yahoo. Avvo also allows other attorneys to endorse other attorneys on the site which can give you an overview of how other attorneys feel about the attorney. In addition, doing a name search on the attorney can help you find whether they are members of organizations and whether they hold positions within these organizations. This is a indicator of their overall reputation among their peers.
Selecting the right Riverside bankruptcy lawyer can make a huge difference in how your bankruptcy case is handled and your overall experience with the legal system. An attorney with the right background and knowledge can answer your questions and guide your through the bankruptcy process. Choosing an inexperienced attorney can lead to additional bankruptcy costs and wasted time. Following the steps above can help you select a lawyer that will ensure that your bankruptcy case is handled properly.
Basing your selection of a bankruptcy attorney only on what the attorney charges in attorneys fees can be a costly mistake. Make sure you factor in their experience and reputation in making your selection of a bankruptcy lawyer.