Has anyone really checked out their attorneys?

[ready2puke]

Its interesting to find out if your attorney has been suspended or santioned for anything.
I went to the State Bar of Ca. and did a search for a attorney I was going to hire and it turnes out that he was suspended for over a month for something.
Just wondered if anyone has done that search?

[lillaimof2kids]

Honestly, I didn't check into that much detail. I met with 3 different attorneys, then chose the one that dh and I felt most comfortable with. I went with my gut instinct I guess. Towards the end I didn't like her much. I felt like she was trying to push me into a reaffirmation I didn't feel comfortable with. I finally told her I wasn't signing it and I'd take my chances. It almost seemed like she was looking out for the bank more than she was looking out for me. Kind of pissed me off.

Best of luck to you! I hope you make the right choice! It's definately not an easy one.

[lillaimof2kids]

Another thought - I have a Dr. who just had his license suspended for 6 months. I'm not sure what he did or didn't do, and I really don't want details. From how he's treated me I'm definately not switching to a different Dr.

In a nutshell - that attorney may have done something really sh*tty, maybe not. Who knows maybe he showed up to court a bit tipsy. LOL

[CountryGirl]

I checked.....my attorney was on the up and up but there is one back east of the same name (different middle initial) who has does all kinds of not so good stuff. You can watch the guys violations bounce all over the east coast. When we met with our attorney I actually mentioned it to him and he smiled and said he had been mistaken for that guy more than a few times.

It's always a good call to check our your attorney, doctor, daycare provider, etc.

[AngelinaCat]

No, we didn't check on ours--I guess we should have. I don't know if it would have made a difference or not.

I do know of an attorney that got into trouble with the Bar because he couldn't supply his accounting records that they wanted to see. He had lost his good office assistant and had tried a couple of others that were worthless. Then the 2004 hurricanes hit and the roof to the office caved in damaging his computers and the paper files. The incompetent clerks saw the mass of wet paper and threw it away instead of trying to recover it. The same files on the computers were corrupted and he had no off-site backup. So even though he pled 'Act of God', his license was revoked for 6 months.

[HHM]

Most people probably don't check. Should they, I suppose, but just like with PACER access, most lay people lack the context to understand what they might find and how to use that info to make a decision. That suspension could have been the result of the attorney simply being late in paying his bar dues. Granted, there are attorney's that do and have done bad things.

I once checked out a Doctor once I learned of the state's website that publishes info about Dr'.s and found he had one Malpractice claim for mis-diagnosis and damages were paid. Does that make him a bad Dr, I don't know. What I suspect probably happened is this, the patient probably had something that a routine exam might have picked up, but probably not. At some point, during the course of the patients life, the problem did get missed and the person sued. The lawyer sued EVERY Dr that ever touched this patient and the Dr. insurance settled the case. Does this mean I should not see that Dr?

[banca rotta]

Yes. I went to 341 meetings probably 2 or 3 prior to filing and also looked up some of their cases on Pacer to see if their client's documents were in order and their cases went smooth.

It cost me some time and money to do this between the meetings and pacer charges, but it was well worth it. Once you are in the process you don't get too many chances to fix mistakes depending on the mistake.

[ready2puke]

I know most problems that attorneys have dont have too much meaning for us

but you just never know. The first guy I was going with had a sanction along time ago and I did call the bar. They said they couldnt say what it was but it looked like he didnt return phone calls in time. Well guess what he doesnt return them at all...
This other guy I have been thinking about actually couldnt practice for 5 weeks. From what I saw he took money from a client that was suppose to go back to the client and deposited into his account. Later the attorney sued the client and won. If I do go with this guy, I will ask him about it. After all its public record.
I just thought I'd throw it out there, you can never be too careful.

[breathe]

When we met w/ our attorney and his partner I liked them right away. Both have bad attitudes. And this is a trait I admire and look for in an attorney I looked them up in the internet and found a case where the city was not happy w/ how they were tying up one BK case. I knew they were who I wanted right then and there. A bit more expensive but worth every dime.
I am paying nothing but the back IRS taxes and the car payment. We had to let the house go, but we knew we couldn't keep it. But he delayed and worked it out so that we are actually ahead of the game right now.
One thing, we were not behind on any payments going into the Chap 13. We were always a week early on our payments to the trustee over the 10 months it took to confirm. I think this impressed the trustee and he never questioned anything our attorney proposed as our attorney did a great job of convincing him we weren't doing this to get out of paying our debt; we just owed so damn much in taxes. Heck, the judge even wished us good luck at our confirmation. Thats a good attorney.

[santadawg]

how can you check on them

[Flamingo]

It is always best to check out anyone you are going to hire for anything before the service is provided. Employers do it to their employees; when you pay someone for services, you should do the same. Most states have a "top attorney" or similar listing available that can be checked out over the internet. Many states have state magazines that one or twice a year post the "best of" everything going on or professionals in the state, and that includes doctors and lawyers. Have you ever gone to an attorney for another matter? If you liked that attorney, call him/her for a reference to a good BK attorney in your area. Call your State Bar Association for reputable BK attorneys in your area. There are so many ways to avoid problems. The real issue is that most folks are in such an emotional state prior to filing that they do not know what to do or where to turn. So it's easy to fall into the grips of discount services or filing services or obtain a bad attorney.

[santadawg]

is it good to go on pacer to check for a lawyer.

[ambersss]

I have the same question ....how exactly can you check them out?

[Overmylimit]

I am in Ca also and I did check mine out and he was clean. Also I saw 3 different Attorneys and then chose. I like mine also he is kind of cocky/arrogant about the whole thing. I have met a few Dr's like this and when they know their stuff, they know their stuff. I didn't want the guy who said "well maybe we could get you discharged" I wanted "I will get this done!"