It's common to seek a second medical opinion, though generally each opinion costs money; so it reasonably should stop with the second one. In law, it's common for an attorney to offer in good faith a free consultation to prospective clients: meaning, persons in sincere search for help. While it's important to find the right fit in counsel, it's poor form to exploit the process by seeking third, fourth, fifth opinions without compelling cause. A free consultation is not free to the practitioner; it takes time from other demands or defers appointments with other prospective clients. What that means is being late to dinner, while the kids wait, working the weekend, or losing business. Yet, counsel freely chooses to extend the courtesy; it's an accepted cost of business and it's sound business. There is no expectation that the prospective client must retain the services. There is only expectation of fairness. Explicitly pronouncing that one's "shopping," has "no intention of signing on," is seeking "bids," or "interviewing" likens the professional to a swap-meet vendor, notwithstanding belated lip-service ("thank you for your time") upon parting.

Are the above pronouncements merely defensive, preemptive, and legitimately prompted by what's out there... at the arm's-length law "mills" (or is it "law" mills)? Do they not famously embrace car-lot protocol? I think that is a factor. But know: for a lawyer, pressuring a consult is simply unethical; the decision to retain counsel must be informed and voluntary. I suppose this may explain why the mills delegate consultation-coercion to non-attorneys. Not that non-licensure stops them from giving legal advice also. But here, at my firm, there's no need to put up defenses.

We will help, but only if you can be helped. While the vast majority of persons we see are eligible for significant debt relief, there are exceptions. If we can't help you, we'll let you know. I try to stress the lighter side of things, laughter is a fine remedy, but I'm dead serious about the law. We don't wish to waste anybody's time if the outcome is less than highly predictable. There are no signing-up bonuses here... we leave that crap (a legal term of art, indeed!) to the others.

I meet the public freely and freely discuss options even when apparent that bankruptcy's not their bag. However, it is apparent when a person fishes for flattery and patronizes. While the motivation is understandable, and it's all right to "shop," declaring it undermines efforts and weakens the potential relationship. We don't wish to belabor it (outside this particular piece of self-indulgence, but isn't indulgence the bulk of blogging anyway?), and I hesitated to broach it, but there you go. So, feel free to stop by at our homey office, drink a cup of fresh coffee (is there any other kind or is that the restaurant-menu redundancy of "farm fresh" tomatoes in the salad?), bemoan the fact there wasn't time to read our "fresh" magazines (we keep our subscriptions to indispensable periodicals like Entertainment Weekly current), discuss your situation, and make things better. I have to say, the personally gratifying part of a retainer is the new-client's statement that "[they] feel better already." We're here to help, because the obscenities of interest, penalties, and collections can't be battled alone.

I realize this blog has provided no substantive insight or information on bankruptcy law, but I thank you for your time.

Call 858-344-0500 or email admin@abramslawsd.com to request a free (easygoing) consultation with a bankruptcy attorney.

Serving San Diego and Imperial Counties.