Avoiding Mistakes Commonly Made by Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys

This new program helps consumer bankruptcy practitioners identify common pitfalls in representing consumer debtors—while arming you with essential practical skills to avoid costly mistakes. The expert faculty share their differing perspectives—the consumer debtor’s, the creditor’s, and the trustee’s. The panel discusses the importance of due diligence since BAPCPA and walks you through what due diligence is required—focusing on how to avoid pitfalls that often start at the initial consultation and snowball all the way through the discharge.

You will learn

• The questions every consumer debtor should be asked before the case is filed
• About proper pre-petition bankruptcy planning—how you can help protect the debtor and avoid sanctions or discipline
• Why there is more to a homestead declaration and the homestead exemption than just having a copy for the file
• What is deemed an asset of the bankruptcy estate—and what you can and should do to protect the debtor’s interests
• Who is really bound by the debtor’s valuation of assets
• What every self-employed debtor needs to be advised of before filing for bankruptcy
• The perils and pitfalls of emergency filings and tips for avoiding traps
• The importance of calculating dates: 1215, 910, 730, 180, 60, and 45
• How to avoid conflicts of interest—and what to do when they arise
• Your obligations when schedules and statements prove inaccurate, or when a debtor’s circumstances have changed
• What you can do when you are now successor counsel—and what you should never do

If you intend to take a course for CLE credit, please make sure your state is listed in the "Accreditation" section to the upper right of the program description. Accreditation displayed is unique to the purchased program format (live conference, live webcast, on demand, podcast). Credit totals listed for live conferences are the maximum credits available. Credits issued will be based upon actual time in attendance.  Credit totals for other formats are for complete programs.  Partial credit is not available for any online or downloadable format. 

West LegalEdcenter will not provide accreditation for states not listed. 

This product is intended for individual use by the named purchaser. Group viewings for online programs may be arranged for five or more attorneys within the same organization prior to viewing by emailing west.wlec-sales@thomson.com.