A Bankruptcy Paralegal speaks about Due Diligence in consumer bankruptcy cases

What is Due Diligence?

Defined as "appropriate carefulness," due diligence in a consumer bankruptcy case goes beyond the client intake checklist and routinely purchased 'due diligence' products.

Due diligence in consumer bankruptcy cases has much to do with understanding the available tools and resources and making the best use of them. Knowing the bankruptcy laws, client contact, and a little tech-savvy are keys to completing bankruptcy petitions and schedules with 'appropriate carefulness.'

Linda Rantz, Virtual Bankruptcy Paralegal

Thanks for visiting and for your interest. My paralegal experience goes back several decades in different areas of law. I came back to bankruptcy as a virtual paralegal shortly after BACPA passed.

I am a techy, so working virtually for bankruptcy lawyers around the country is a breeze! I love applying technology to casework and I'm happy to share my tips and insights. [Read more …]

Posts in category Advice to Lawyers

Still Working (Bankruptcy2012)

Sep06
2012 Leave a Comment Written by Linda Rantz

Yahoo Group for EZ-Filing SoftwareI follow a Yahoo!® Group for EZ-Filing users and have been hearing about the misery being experienced by many of the bankruptcy lawyers who use EZ-Filing. Whatever is happening with this bankruptcy software program, it is certainly not being clearly communicated to its loyal customers and they’re not liking that fact!

Some are so unhappy, they are considering a switch to Best Case. (Some have already moved on.) Today I posted a reply to the Yahoo! thread and suggested that any attorney who is thinking of giving up on EZ-Filing take a look at Bankruptcy2012 from New Hope before they commit to Best Case.

In my reply, I linked to a post I had written on this blog about the New Hope software and why it is my favorite of all the BK programs. I shocked myself when I realized that post was written in 2009 when the program was called Bankruptcy2009 (they change the title each year). I can’t believe three years have passed since I wrote that post and I pointed out, in my Yahoo! reply, that the program has been so reliable there hadn’t been anything to write about … except that it was still working.

So, I decided to update my 2009 post to let you know: Bankruptcy2009 aka Bankruptcy2012 is still working … GREAT!

Bankruptcy2012™ by New Hope Software, Inc. || Best Case® Wolters Kluwer Law & Business || EZ-Filing® CIN Legal

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Another Tool for Lawyers Seeking Clients

Feb18
2009 1 Comment Written by Linda Rantz

Last December, in a post titled “A site to help consumers choose the right lawyer,” I blogged about an online lawyer directory called Avvo.com. One of my attorneys had set up her profile on Avvo and experienced positive results in a short period of time.

Avvo also has a blog (which you can find in my blogroll) and in a post yesterday announced a webinar scheduled for Friday, February 27th. The webinar is “Maximizing Your Avvo Profile” and is scheduled to begin at 1:30pm PST.

A site to help consumers choose the right lawyer

Dec08
2008 Leave a Comment Written by Linda Rantz

One of my attorneys mentioned last week that she had listed her law practice on an online lawyer directory and had begun to receive positive results within the first week. She was so excited by the response that she encouraged me to share the information with any other attorneys I know who are looking for ways to market their bankruptcy practice.

The site is called Avvo.com and the founders’ backgrounds include Expedia.com, Microsoft, and Clearwire. I’ll let the site’s FAQ for “What is Avvo?” explain the purpose:

Avvo is a free Web site that rates and profiles every lawyer to help people choose the right lawyer. Avvo makes the process of selecting a lawyer easier by presenting the Avvo Rating, client ratings, detailed profiles, and a disciplinary sanction history (if any) for every attorney in the states we cover.

Avvo is different from other lawyer search sites because it was designed specifically for consumers.  Our research shows that consumers find the process of selecting a lawyer to be difficult and confusing.  We believe that offering guidance and increasing transparency is better for both consumers and lawyers.

Bankruptcy is one of the practice areas included on Avvo and I counted about 22 states covered at this time.

On the Build A Solo Practice, LLC blog, Attorney Susan Cartier Liebel authored a post on this topic last October titled, “Lawyer Directories are Proving Worthless” in which she quoted information from Larry Bodine (LawMarketing Blog) that “only 3% of legal work is influenced by directories.” Attorney Liebel offered this advice:

While one can argue a free legal directory doesn’t cost anything…well, if it costs time…or you must update constantly so as not to lose credibility or ranking…my only advice is be wise about the choices you make. There are better ways for solo practitioners to make their mark and get far better return on their investment of money and/or time.

Be sure to read the comments to this post, especially the one by Attorney Jay Fleischman who mentions Avvo in his comment.

“Why do I end up with the weird cases?”

Nov13
2008 Leave a Comment Written by Linda Rantz

This lament has been spoken a number of times by one of the attorneys for whom I work. And it’s true, actually. I’ve only worked on a few cases for this attorney so far, but none has been what you would call ‘normal.’ Whereas I’ve worked on tons of ‘normal’ cases for my other lawyers.

So, why does this attorney get only weird cases? Well, according to Attorney Jay Fleischman at the Bankruptcy Practice Pro blog …

Fire Your Worst Clients Before They Hire You

I just posted a blog about finding clients but, based on my experiences with my lamenting attorney, I would also highly recommend following Attorney Fleischman’s advice and weeding out the clients who will not be good fit for your practice.

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Clients for Your Bankruptcy Practice

Nov13
2008 Leave a Comment Written by Linda Rantz

I receive calls periodically from attorneys who are getting started in bankruptcy practice … both brand new lawyers and established lawyers who are adding or switching to bankruptcy law. These lawyers are usually in the process of getting their ‘ducks in a row’ for when that first client retains them for a bankruptcy case. The attorney asks me to be one of the ‘ducks,’ the paralegal who will take the information, follow-up with the client, and create the bankruptcy petition and schedules.

Usually, the conversation will also include questions about finding clients, not just consultations, but actual clients who will retain the lawyer, make the first payment, and fill out the client questionnaire. The attorney who has called me wonders if any of my other attorneys have any tried and true methods for finding clients.

The bankruptcy attorneys for whom I work range from brand new to semi-retired. I’m not involved with any of their advertising efforts, but I know that most (but not all) are advertising on the internet and some are using the yellow pages. I couldn’t say that any one of them has the best overall method. What they seem to have in common is that they have figured out what works best for their particular district and demographic of clientele.

The Build a Solo Practice blog by Susan Cartier Liebel specializes in offering advice on all aspects associated with operating a solo practice. While it’s not specific to bankruptcy law, the marketing information will usually apply to all areas of law. Last month, Ms. Liebel posted an informative piece about finding clients:

How Do Your Clients Find You – Or Do They?

One of my lawyers also offered some helpful advice about some other, less expensive than the yellow pages, methods of print advertising. It’s amazing how many possibilities exist, both in print and on the internet.

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