Bankruptcy

How To Start A New Bankruptcy Law Practice: Helpful Hints

By Jonathan Alper

From time to time I am approached by a younger bankruptcy attorney who says that my bankruptcy blog has helped his new bankruptcy practice. Bankruptcy law is more difficult than when I handled my first case and new bankruptcy attorneys face more complexity and more competition than I did. I have read several articles by other bankruptcy attorneys about how to market a new bankruptcy practice. One I read recently, with good advice, was written by New York bankruptcy attorney Jay Fleischman. Jay has an excellent blog called the Legal Practice Pro which is dedicated to lawyer marketing in general and bankruptcy marketing in particular. If you are an attorney with a new bankruptcy practice you really should subscribe to his blog.

I have my own suggestion to add to the many helpful hints Jay has offered in several of his blog articles. When asked, I always advise younger attorneys to seek a relationship with a bankruptcy paralegal who works, or has worked, in an active bankruptcy practice. An experienced bankruptcy paralegal can help a new attorney with many practical aspects of petition preparation and dealing on a day-to-day basis with the bankruptcy court and bankruptcy trustees. Bankruptcy paralegal cannot help you during their regular work day, but they can (with their employer?s permission) assist new attorneys after work or on weekends.

I think an attorney will find it much easier to communicate with and receive practical bankruptcy guidance from a paralegal than from another bankruptcy attorney. Of course, it will cost you much less to pay for a paralegal?s help. Many bankruptcy paralegals and legal secretaries face economic challenges similar to your own clients, and they would appreciate some additional income.

I have encouraged my own paralegal, who has 10 years experience, to assist other attorneys on her own time. I want to help attorneys getting into the bankruptcy field. I find it much easier to offer my paralegal?s time than to commit my own time to assist other lawyers.

Full post as published by Florida Bankruptcy Law on March 12, 2010 (boomark / email).