In the practice of law, it’s unwise – and unnecessary – to be a pioneer. Getting the right guidance from a seasoned lawyer can save you headaches as well as malpractice claims.
When I was just starting out as a new bankruptcy lawyer, I remember sitting in my office one evening with a client who had hired me to file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition for him. Single, living in a shelter and nearly unemployed, Bob (yes, that was what he went by) was a pretty good guy.
Still, I couldn’t get his petition done correctly to save my life. We went through revision after revision for hours on end, and Bob finally had had enough of me. ”If you can’t handle the case, don’t worry about it,” he said. ”Just give me back my money and I’ll find someone else.”
Had I not needed his $325 in legal fees to pay my rent that month (this was 1996 and I was trying the “charge less than anyone else” method – which we all know is a bad idea) I would have given the money back. As my finance would have it, I couldn’t do that.
So I soldiered on. We finally got his case finished late at night, and I went home to wonder if this whole practice of law thing had been a terrible idea.
Over time, I got better at bankruptcy. I got active in NACBA, started spending time on the listserv. I went to every convention I could find, and spent my time learning. I tore through the Code, Rules and every other law that touched bankruptcy. I met smart people.
One of the very smartest people I met was Cathy Moran. She’s awesome. We’re both involved in the Bankruptcy Law Network. I’ve had dinner at her home (she’s a terrific cook). She’s one of the sweetest, warmest, most giving people I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing – period.
And once again, she’s really smart. Knows her stuff cold.
Now Cathy has just started a member’s-only training system called Bankruptcy Mastery. It’s really good (I’ve seen it) and absurdly inexpensive for the amount of stuff you learn.
If you’ve been a bankruptcy lawyer for less than 3 years – or you know someone else in that boat – you (or that other person) needs to sign up for this course.
No kidding. Once you do, tell your judges and the more seasoned bankruptcy lawyers in your area. They’ll thank you, because when you know what you’re doing it makes things easier for the people who are waiting behind you on the calendar call.
I’ve never steered you wrong, and this is no exception.
