Choosing a Lawyer (Part II) - Experience Factor
By Richard K. Gustafson
Now, more than ever, it is important to not only hire an attorney to represent you for bankruptcy, but also make sure you choose a good attorney. The attorney’s experience and knowledge is one factor you should consider when choosing an attorney.
Experience and knowledge can’t always be apparent from the age of the lawyer or based on how many years the attorney has been practicing law. An attorney who has been licensed for 30 years, but who has only handled a few cases per year is not that “experienced” in bankruptcy. On the other hand, an attorney who has only been licensed to practice law for 2-3 years, but who has handled 30 cases per month is much more experienced in handling bankruptcy matters than the attorney who has been licensed for 30 years.
The attorney with the license for 30 years may have more life experience and more experience in other areas of law, but definitely does not have more experience handling bankruptcy matters.
Ask yourself, does this attorney give me the feeling that he/she has handled cases like mine in the past? Does this attorney demonstrate knowledge with regard to bankruptcy? Ask the attorney, “how many bankruptcy cases have you filed for your clients in the last month? These questions should be helpful in your decision about what lawyer you should hire to represent you in bankruptcy.
