I am proud to report that I have earned the distinction of being a certified specialist in bankruptcy law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.
At present, there are nearly 180,000 active practicing attorneys in California and less than one tenth of one percent (0.1%) of them are certified as bankruptcy specialists.
Visit the State Bar’s website and see for yourself
Of the 28 bankruptcy judges presently sitting in the Central District of California, only ONE (1) of them is currently a certified specialist in bankruptcy law.
Why Be a Bankruptcy Specialist in Los Angeles?
The purpose of obtaining the certification was so potential clients are better able to assess and choose a competent attorney. There are literally thousands of attorneys practicing (or attempting to practice) bankruptcy law.
Some are good, and some are not.
It is very difficult for potential clients to know in whom to place their trust. Having a certification from an independent agency such as the State Bar of California is a good source of information for a potential client.
Do Bankruptcy Specialists Charge More?
My fees have not changed since I became a certified specialist.
My goal wasn’t to charge more to my clients, but to enable more potential clients to find me amid the sea of other potential attorneys.
Specialists in general charge a little more than others, but the savings in having your case handled correctly the first time far exceeds the additional cost. Once mistakes are made in a bankruptcy case, it often costs thousands of dollars more to fix it, if it is even possible to fix at that point.
What did it take to Become a Certified Specialist?
(From the California State Bar):
California attorneys certified as specialists must pass a written examination in their specialty field, demonstrate a high level of experience in the specialty field, fulfill ongoing education requirements and be favorably evaluated by other attorneys and judges familiar with their work.
