Friday 21 August 2015

Learn About The Job Of A Bankruptcy Attorney

By Ruthie Livingston


Bankruptcy comes about when an individual or an entity can no longer afford its financial obligations. Times of economic difficulties are the times when any bankruptcy attorney thrives. More foreclosures are likely to happen during such times when unemployment rates peak and people become obligated to file for bankruptcy. The more people file, the more clients a lawyer gets.

The role of these lawyers is to assist their clients with court proceedings in order to either eliminate or reduce the debts they owe others. Clients represented may be individual citizens or corporations. Examples of clients are creditor committees, corporate or individual creditors, bankruptcy trustees, or individual or corporate debtors. Lawyers take time to gain a deep understanding of the case at hand before they can provide advice, file legal documents, or argue cases in court.

The process of becoming a lawyer is similar for all attorneys except for a few exceptions in courses taken. Generally, a bachelor degree is required before one can join a law school. Courses studied in first year in law school are similar for all lawyers. Specialization starts at third or second years of study.

Specializing in bankruptcy-related courses like creditor rights, income taxation, and negotiations is important for aspirants. One should choose a law school that is well-known because that becomes a factor when looking for a job. Although not a requirement for practicing law, some people decide to pursue further education and earn a master degree. It is important that one belong to at least one professional organization in their state.

The process of licensure comes next after one has graduated from law school. Becoming licensed calls for taking and passing the bar exam of the state one intends to practice in. Passing the bar exam earns one a chance to be admitted into the bar of the state as a licensed attorney. Typically, having prior job experience gives one a better chance of getting a job because most employers look for experience.

Working as an attorney who represents people who are bankrupt is an excruciatingly tiresome task. Lawyers have to work for long hours and take several meetings with clients. Most meetings happen in the evenings or weekends to avoid inconveniencing clients. Most attorneys work from Monday to Friday, while others may open partially on weekends. Sometimes they are called to work from weekends or holidays.

The working environment can vary a lot. When preparing for court or doing research on a case, they may work from offices, libraries, homes, or other conducive places. Courtrooms are specifically for presenting and arguing motions of a case. Field work is also part of the job, where one has to track down witnesses for interviews or questioning.

The salary earned by lawyers is satisfactory for most practitioners because it is decent. Additionally, practitioners can earn extra income from other ventures besides representing clients. To prevent clients from being manipulated by counsels, a salary cap is imposed on the amount that a lawyer can gain from a single case.




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