Central District Consumer Bankruptcy Attorney's Association

I would not be surprised if the Client thought the paralegal was an Attorney!
Jonathan Leventhal, esq.
Leventhal Law Group, P.C.
818-347-5800
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I met with a "paralegal" who has a large office in mid-Wilshire that had a prospective chapter 11 client who spoke mostly Korean. I received the referral through another attorney. I met with them a couple times and worked to try and structure an agreement for translation services. It seemed to make sense to have a Korean translator who was also familiar with bankruptcy and could assist the clients with some reports. I also mentioned a Korean speaking lawyer who does bankruptcy, but the prospective clients seemed to want to stay with the paralegal.
The first problem that arose was the "paralegal" wanted all communication to go through her. I made clear to the client that I was the attorney and since I would be responsible for the actions of the "paralegal" that I would have the authority, with their consultation, to replace the paralegal translator if things were not going well or I felt that my advice was not being truly translated. I also discussed fee applications and if the paralegal would be hired by the estate or employed by me.
I only agreed to meet a third time if the prospective debtor paid for an hour of my time. The paralegal wanted payment to go through her. I refused. The prospective client paid my hourly fee and I haven't heard from any of them since.
Link Schrader, Attorney
Law Office of Link W. Schrader

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When I started my own practice a Korean "marketing firm" approached me and
said that all I had to do was negotiate PI settlements and I would earn a
salary. I went to their office and saw 150 files neatly piled up.
I figured out the problems associated with working for them, and said no.
Nicholas S. Nassif, Esq.
LAW OFFICES OF NICHOLAS S. NASSIF
3055 Wilshire Blvd.
Suite 900
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Tel: 213-736-1899 Fax: 213- 736-5656
nsnassif@pacbell.net
Hale Andrew Antico
Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2012 6:05 PM
To: cdcbaa@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [cdcbaa] WARNING - Marketing Scams
That's helpful, Grace. When I was just starting out, I was approached by at
least two paralegal-slash-nonattorneys who guaranteed me a salary if I came
and worked for them. Yes, me work for them. Well, me and my bar number.
They'd do all the marketing; all I had to do was sit back and collect my
paycheck. Maybe smile and wave to clients now and then. Of course, I said
"no."
Tempting as a set income is for someone just starting out, the easy way is
not the best way. The time spent via good work and customer service building
referrals over time -- and 2nd and 3rd generation referrals -- pays
dividends in the long run.
Hale
________________________________

The post was migrated from Yahoo.

That's helpful, Grace. When I was just starting out, I was approached by at
least two paralegal-slash-nonattorneys who guaranteed me a salary if I came
and worked for them. Yes, me work for them. Well, me and my bar number.
They'd do all the marketing; all I had to do was sit back and collect my
paycheck. Maybe smile and wave to clients now and then. Of course, I said
"no."
Tempting as a set income is for someone just starting out, the easy way is
not the best way. The time spent via good work and customer service building
referrals over time -- and 2nd and 3rd generation referrals -- pays
dividends in the long run.
Hale
________________________________

The post was migrated from Yahoo.

Dear fellow attorneys:
Recently I was approached by two individuals who wanted to propose a
marketing scheme whereby they work on debt settlement & negotiations and if
it fails they refer cases to a bankruptcy attorney. Seems innocent enough.
You pay the marketing company to set up your seminars, and recruit clients.
They work on debt settlement and you take the bankruptcies. But what you
don't know is the stuff they say and do that could get you into trouble.
And NOT KNOWING it was being done is not a defense to losing your
ticket. I know for young and/or inexperienced attorneys its tempting
sometimes especially paying your student loans each month and doesn't look
like such marketing could get you into trouble. But it can and will.
The people that approached me are the same people who were working with
Philip Kramer, one of the attorneys recently disbarred by state attorney
General Kamal Harris. If you read his disbarment report he DID NOT get in
trouble because of the legal work he was doing. He got in trouble because
of what the MARKETING COMPANY was doing. Essentially it came down to him
aiding and abetting in the unauthorized practice of law as the marketers
made promises and diagnosed legal problems for people they solicited. He
had no idea that unlawful solicitation letters were going out in his name
not signed by him. But as the Bar sees it, it was his duty to know.
After meeting with these folks once it was clear that they just wanted to
hijack my license so I sent them packing. But I started thinking about how
when I was much younger I almost got trapped because I didn't know these
people existed. Then I worry about my fellow bankruptcy family members who
have worked so hard for their licenses and building their practices. To
that end I felt compelled to post something about what happened so you can
all be on the alert. I realize the more experienced attorneys wouldn't
have even made an appointment to investigate what this marketing company
was about. But curiosity may kill this cat one day.
Fraud is so rampant. Please be careful. Since I know these guys are out
there hitting me up I know some of you might get hit up with the same
scheme. There is nothing like doing a good job for every client you have
and trying to make them happy to build your referral business. There is no
easy way. Work hard and it will grow. But its not worth losing your
ticket behind smooth talkers like these. Watch yourselves! And if you
know all this already, please pass it on to some of the newer attorneys who
may not realize that this is a vulnerability for new attorneys. Thanks for
reading!
R. Grace Rodriguez, Esq.
OFF: (818) 734-7223
CEL: (818) 554-9922
Dear fellow attorneys:Recently I was approached by two individuals who wanted to propose a marketing scheme whereby they work on debt settlement & negotiations and if it fails they refer cases to a bankruptcy attorney. Seems innocent enough. You pay the marketing company to set up your seminars, and recruit clients. They work on debt settlement and you take the bankruptcies. But what you don't know is the stuff they say and do that could get you into trouble. And NOT KNOWING it was being done is not a defense to losing your ticket.I know for young and/or inexperienced attorneys its tempting sometimes especially paying your student loans each month and doesn't look like such marketing could get you into trouble. But it can and will.
The people that approached me are the same people who were working with Philip Kramer, one of the attorneys recently disbarred by state attorney General Kamal Harris. If you read hisdisbarmentreport he DID NOT get in trouble because of the legal work he was doing. He got in trouble because of what the MARKETING COMPANY was doing. Essentially it came down to him aiding and abetting in the unauthorized practice of law as the marketers made promises and diagnosed legal problems for people they solicited. He had no idea that unlawful solicitation letters were going out in his name not signed by him. But as the Bar sees it, it was his duty to know.
After meeting with these folks once it was clear that they just wanted to hijack my license so I sent them packing. But I started thinking about how when I was much younger I almost got trapped because I didn't know these people existed. Then I worry about my fellow bankruptcy family members who have worked so hard for their licenses and building their practices. To that end I felt compelled to post something about what happened so you can all be on the alert. I realize the more experienced attorneys wouldn't have even made an appointment to investigate what this marketing company was about. But curiosity may kill this cat one day.
Fraud is so rampant. Please be careful. Since I know these guys are out there hitting me up I know some of you might get hit up with the same scheme. There is nothing like doing a good job for every client you have and trying to make them happy to build your referral business. There is no easy way. Work hard and it will grow. But its not worth losing your ticket behind smooth talkers like these. Watch yourselves! And if you know all this already, please pass it on to some of the newer attorneys who may not realize that this is a vulnerability for new attorneys. Thanks for reading!
-- R. Grace Rodriguez, Esq.OFF: (818) 734-7223CEL: (818) 554-9922

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