How to Choose a Bankruptcy Lawyer in Las Vegas
If you need help with financial problems, it’s important to choose a team you can trust. When it comes to bankruptcy, trust isn’t just about knowledge of the law; trust involves confidence that your interests will be protected and you’ll be positioned for a strong financial future. Many people turn to bankruptcy lawyers for help, but how do you find an attorney with the credentials and experience best suited to your unique needs?
Consider the Type of Bankruptcy You Need
The first step in determining which bankruptcy lawyer to choose is to consider the issues you’re trying to address, as this affects the type of bankruptcy you likely need. Are you a business owner with debts to restructure in a Subchapter V or Chapter 11 reorganization? Are you an individual trying to eliminate credit cards with Chapter 7, or needing to catch up on mortgage, vehicle, or tax payments using Chapter 13? Your issues may be more complex than these examples, but your needs determine the types of bankruptcy available, and different lawyers often have more experience with one type of bankruptcy than others.
If you’re unsure about the issues you’re trying to address or which type of bankruptcy you might need, why not schedule a consultation with a bankruptcy lawyer to discuss your unique situation? The attorneys at Larson & Zirzow are happy to discuss the details of your circumstances in more detail during an initial meeting or phone consultation.
Educational Background of the Attorney
You may also want to consider the educational background of the lawyer you’re considering. All lawyers must attain a certain level of education before they can practice law in the United States, including an undergraduate degree and a law degree. To practice law in Nevada, the State Bar of Nevada requires lawyers to graduate with a Juris Doctor from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association. Some schools may be more prestigious than others, but graduating from an Ivy League undergraduate or law school does not necessarily guarantee quality and trust.
Some lawyers complete additional training beyond their college degrees. For example, Matthew C. Zirzow is one of very few lawyers in Nevada with a national certification in Business Bankruptcy Law from the American Board of Certification, which is accredited by the American Bar Association.
Consider the Experience of the Attorney
Lawyers gain their most important knowledge not through university courses, but by experience through the actual practice of law. As a result, you should consider how many years the lawyer has been practicing bankruptcy law, including specifically the type of bankruptcy you may need. The longer a lawyer has practiced in a particular area of bankruptcy law, the greater the variety of situations the lawyer has likely seen and handled. As a result, they may be more likely to have experience suited to your specific needs and unique circumstances.
Zachariah Larson, for example, has over two decades of legal experience, representing debtors and creditors in both consumer and business bankruptcies. Matthew C. Zirzow has focused entirely on bankruptcy law in Nevada since 1999, with significant experience helping operating debtors restructure their financial affairs under Chapter 11 and Subchapter V of the Bankruptcy Code. Benjamin M. Chambliss has exclusively practiced bankruptcy law in Nevada since 2010, with a passion for Chapter 13 personal reorganizations.
Personality of the Attorney
When you choose a bankruptcy lawyer, you’re choosing someone to have an effective working relationship with. Depending on the type of bankruptcy, that relationship might last anywhere from a few months to five years, and potentially longer. As a result, it makes sense to choose someone whose personality doesn’t clash with your own, and with whom you can communicate. Equally important is the attorney’s personality regarding your matter. Is the attorney committed to providing individualized solutions tailored to your unique needs, or is the attorney focused more on volume than providing “hands on” attention?
Schedule a Consultation With Larson & Zirzow
If you’re searching for a lawyer, Larson & Zirzow is a boutique law firm in Las Vegas dedicated to developing tailored solutions best serving our clients individual needs. We measure our success by the success of our clients. Our attorneys have decades of collective experience, focusing on different areas of bankruptcy law so that together they provide powerful representation. Your success is our success. Schedule a consultation with Larson & Zirzow today to discuss your needs in more detail.
Sources:
nvbar.org/for-lawyers/membership/attorney-specialization/certified-specialists/
americanbar.org/groups/specialization/organizations-with-aba-accredited-lawyer-certification-programs/