Y- Consumer Bankruptcy Law?

         Y-Consumer bankruptcy law?  Why do I enjoy practicing in the field of consumer bankruptcy law?  This is an easy one.  Did you ever wish you had a magic wand you could use to make problems simply vanish?  Doesn’t everyone?  Bankruptcy is a unique area of law where under the right circumstances and when the case is prepared correctly, relief magically appears!  Obviously it isn’t magic, and the bankruptcy laws are extremely complex.  But in what other area of the law can you fix problems relatively quickly and inexpensively and provide a complete fresh start?  Bankruptcy erases bad luck and bad choices, allowing the client to start over and build anew.  

 

Other practitioners assume bankruptcy is depressing because clients are struggling, having reached a complete low-point in their lives.  But in reality, the practice has the complete opposite effect.  Generally, clients are truly happy with the result and can move forward with a huge weight lifted off of their shoulders.  Sure in other areas of law, winning a long legal battle can have the same effect, but nothing is as quick and efficient as a simple Chapter 7 bankruptcy case in making problems disappear.  

 

 In our practice, we are constantly reminded that bad things happen to good people, which of course is humbling and somewhat depressing.  But by recognizing this, we have the ability to objectively distill the issues in each case, without judgment, and figure out the best way for the client to move forward in a positive direction.  The vast majority of clients say they feel that the weight has been lifted even just after the initial consultation. 

 

I would implore anyone who is struggling to stay afloat to consult with a bankruptcy lawyer early enough so that all options can be explored.  Bankruptcy is undoubtedly a last resort and is not always the best option.  We will be the first to suggest alternatives if they truly apply.  Our job is to listen and find out the best options for each client.  And just maybe, the client might be a perfect candidate for that magic wand. 

       Y-Blawg?  With all the blogs out there, why blog?  Sure, blogs are a way to start a conversation, share knowledge and experiences and familiarize the reader with your subject matter.  The most important aspect, though, is the blog’s ability to bring the reader closer to you.  Law by its nature is very impersonal and almost always seems to find a way to de-humanize a process.  When looking for a bankruptcy lawyer, certainly knowledge and experience are foremost. But then what? A client wants to work with someone that they are comfortable with.  Someone a client can feel like they ‘know’ even if they’ve never been over to the lawyer’s house for tea.  So blog #1 is about me!

 

I’m not going to repeat my bona fides here.  You can read about my federal clerkship, years in practice, teaching experience and my work with the Vermont Bar Association on our website.  Not to toot my own horn, but when it comes to bankruptcy law, I know my stuff.  I’d have to!  I chose to stay in Vermont after my clerkship, despite the ridiculously low pay scale, because I met my husband here in 1992.  We were in love with the State almost as much as with each other.  Where else can you still leave doors unlocked and really know most of the people you deal with on a regular basis?  With all its beauty and amazing people, there is nowhere else I’d rather be.  I live very close to the office with my husband, son and our shaggy labradoodle.  We love to play tennis, to hike and to just be outdoors.  My husband, being from Ireland, is obsessed with soccer, as is our son, so much of our spare time of late is trekking to and from games and practices. 

 

What I hope you will notice when you come in for a consultation is that I truly listen.  Because of the nature of my practice, no one wants to come see me.  I realize that.  Everyone’s story does have some element of similarity, whether it be bad luck, bad choices, bad health, bad relationships – something bad. But by recognizing that no one wants to see me, I also recognize that everyone wants to tell their story as to how they got to where they are.  And I want to listen, because no two stories are exactly alike. You can’t fully gauge the best options for someone without knowing where they came from and where they want to go.  We provide a sympathetic ear combined with the knowledge and experience necessary to move forward in a positive direction.