state bar

5 ‘must-haves’ to finding a bankruptcy lawyer

Key takeaways

  • When seeking a lawyer to guide you through the bankruptcy process, it is crucial to choose a specialist in bankruptcy law.

  • Opt for a bankruptcy attorney with local expertise, well-versed in both bankruptcy laws and the specific procedures of the local court where your case will be filed.

  • Choose a bankruptcy attorney who provides personalized service, listens to your specific case details and makes you feel comfortable.

  • Avoid ‘bankruptcy mills’ and non-attorney petition preparers and prioritize a lawyer who understands your situation.

If you are considering filing for bankruptcy, your best bet for a successful outcome is to choose a good bankruptcy lawyer. Although it is possible to file for bankruptcy on your own without hiring an attorney, it is not advisable to do so. Obtaining the help of a specialist who is experienced and can offer expertise in both federal and local law is essential, as they will be able to provide you with personalized service for your case and provide the comfort and familiarity needed to get through this challenging process.

1. Look for a specialist

Lawyers practice in multiple areas and your best bet would be to go with someone who specializes in bankruptcy

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December 1, 2023 by ATTORNEY

California Bar Details 205 Complaints Against Tom Girardi

Tom Girardi speaks to the press in 2014 as a lawyer for Bryan Stow, a San Francisco Giants fan who was severely beaten during a 2011 Dodgers game.

The California State Bar announced Thursday that it has received 205 complaints about prominent lawyer Tom Girardi in the last 40 years, acknowledging in a letter to the public that the agency’s handling of them “brought to light serious failures in the State Bar’s attorney discipline system.”

“There is no excuse being offered here; Girardi caused irreparable harm to hundreds of his clients, and the State Bar could have done more to protect the public. We can never allow something like this to happen again,” wrote Ruben Duran, chair of the bar’s Board of Trustees.

The letter includes a summary of each complaint and its disposition, with 136 complaints received between Aug. 10, 1982, and Dec. 17, 2020. Another 69 were received after a petition was filed on Dec. 18, 2020, to force Girardi’s law firm Girardi Keese into bankruptcy.

Of the 205 complaints, 120 alleged violations involving client trust accounts. Those accounts are where lawyers keep client money, and they’re subject to strict regulations that the court-appointed trustee for

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November 5, 2022 by ATTORNEY

Despite rebukes, Trump’s legal brigade is thriving

Haller’s trajectory — from rebuked purveyor of baseless claims to a go-to attorney for MAGA extremists — infuriates many liberal activists, including some groups who are targeting the lawyers for discipline, and alarms some nonpartisan specialists in legal ethics. They say those who helped legitimize the former president’s lies should not be allowed to use it as a foundation to build their legal practices, lest it serve as an incentive to profit from ever more outlandish claims that shake the confidence of Americans in the integrity of U.S. elections and endanger democracy.

In total, at least 16 lawyers who represented plaintiffs in five federal lawsuits promoting Trump’s baseless election fraud claims in the key battlegrounds of Michigan, Georgia, Wisconsin and Arizona remain in good standing or have no record of disciplinary action with their respective bar associations or licensing authorities, according to a POLITICO review.

Fourteen of them have since engaged in additional work in support of the election fraud conspiracies or conspiracists behind Trump’s attempt to remain in power despite losing the election to President Joe Biden. These include defending accused Jan. 6 rioters, consulting for partisan election “audits” or partaking in advocacy or legal cases sowing doubts about

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July 9, 2022 by LAW

Attorney Lin Wood loses appeal over state bar’s mental health probe

Attorney L. Lin Wood speaks during a press conference on election results in Alpharetta, Georgia, U.S., December 2, 2020. REUTERS/Elijah Nouvelage

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  • A federal appeals court said it could not hear a lawsuit Wood filed against Georgia state bar authorities
  • The bar wants Wood, who gained notoriety by promoting baseless election fraud theories, to undergo a mental health exam

(Reuters) – Conservative attorney L. Lin Wood cannot sue to block the Georgia state bar from seeking a mental health exam as part of its investigation into his conduct, a federal appeals court said Tuesday.

Wood, who gained notoriety after the 2020 election by promoting conspiracy theories of fraud in the race, last year filed the lawsuit claiming that the request for a mental health exam violated his constitutional rights. On Tuesday the Atlanta-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit affirmed a district court ruling tossing the case.

The order says Wood failed to show there was “bad faith” behind the Georgia bar investigation. The panel also said Wood will have an opportunity to raise constitutional claims before the Supreme Court of Georgia, and that court

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June 3, 2022 by ATTORNEY

Washington AG wins sanctions against attorney behind voter fraud lawsuit

Washington state’s attorney general Bob Ferguson (C) speaks to the media next to Washington state solicitor general Noah Purcell (R) outside the U.S. federal courthouse in downtown Seattle. REUTERS/Dan Levine

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  • Top state prosecutor will also ask Washington bar to discipline Virginia Shogren
  • Dozens of lawsuits claiming fraud in the 2020 elections rejected by courts

(Reuters) – Washington State’s top prosecutor said Wednesday that his office won court sanctions against an attorney behind a post-2020 presidential election lawsuit alleging state officials were illegally registering non-citizens to vote, and said he will also ask bar officials to discipline the lawyer.

Attorney General Bob Ferguson said the Washington Supreme Court last month ordered lawyer Virginia Shogren to pay nearly $19,000 in attorneys fees for violating a rule against frivolous appeals. The court also directed Shogren’s client in the lawsuit, the Washington Election Integrity Coalition United, to pay about $9,500 in costs.

Shogren on Wednesday declined to comment, saying the case is still pending. The Washington State Bar Association website lists her as a solo attorney admitted to the association in 2003 and eligible to practice.

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June 3, 2022 by ATTORNEY
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