Typically, someone in need of a good lawyer will ask friends and family for the name of a referral. This is a good way to find an attorney who has a proven record of excellent service. However, when it comes to bankruptcy, most people do not want others to know that they are experiencing financial difficulty. So, they tend to not ask for bankruptcy attorney referrals. This is a mistake since after the past few years, chances are very good that your friends and family either have had hard times financially or know someone who has. These experiences have allowed them to learn firsthand of good bankruptcy lawyers, so you really should ask around for referrals.
If a referral is not available, then the internet is a wealth of information. Look for reviews of firms you are considering and read their website to find out what they emphasize. Some questions you should consider are:
Are they affiliated with the BBB?
Does the bankruptcy law firm seem to focus on low fees?
Does the bankruptcy law firm offer support staff to assist you at all times?
Did the firm just "flip" to bankruptcy recently to gain more business and take advantage of the economy?
What is their success rate with discharged cases?
Is customer service a priority or an afterthought?
What matters to you? Low fee? Customer service? Both?
At Clark Law Offices, we feel that by lowering fees to compete with other firms we would have to sacrifice customer service. Our goal is to offer competitive fees with excellent customer service. We will not be the cheapest in town, but we are also not the most expensive. To prove it, we disclose all of our fees on our website in order to fully inform potential clients of our expectations. In addition to reasonable fees, we offer what we feel is the best customer service in town. In bankruptcy, as is true in life, you get what you pay for. This is a time when you deserve the best on your side.
After researching firms, the most important final step in hiring a bankruptcy lawyer is to sit down to talk with a few attorneys to find out which firm you get the best feel from. Most bankruptcy law firms offer free consultations. Did you meet with a lawyer first? Did he or she answer all of your questions thoroughly? Did you feel rushed? Did the attorney give you his or her undivided attention? Did the bankruptcy lawyer treat you and your situation with compassion? After you meet with the lawyer, it is a good idea to ask to meet the attorney's assistant or paralegal since chances are good that you will be working with that person a lot during the course of your representation. If you do not meet the attorney first, then beware, as this is a sales oriented law firm placing bottom line profit before your needs. At Clark Law Offices you will be treated with kindness and respect from the minute you walk in the door. Our front desk staff will greet you warmly and offer you a drink to enjoy in our comfortably decorated client waiting area that we call "the living room." I decorated the entire office with the goal of putting my clients at ease rather than make them feel that they are in a stuffy lawyer's office dealing with a stressful legal matter. Look for details like this in each firm that you interview. Clients have told me time and again that although other firms offered lower prices, they chose to work with my firm and with me based on the thorough answers they received in the free consultation and the overall feel of the firm. This is the greatest compliment I can receive. Mari Jo Clark
Contact our offices to schedule a free, no obligation, no pressure consultation with an Arizona bankruptcy lawyer.
Our offices are conveniently located in Phoenix, just south of the Biltmore, minutes from Hwy 51, and in downtown Mesa.
