Wah, Wah, Wah, Wah, Wah.

When you go to an attorney for a consultation do you hear Charlie Brown’s Teacher in your head?  You are NOT alone.  I too sometimes hear the wah, wah when I speak to other attorneys.  My staff often tells me that I presume that everyone else in the world is as excited about bankruptcy as I am, and therefore understands what I am saying.  This assumption is often wrong.

The second consideration is that attorneys much like physicians are trained to think that their opinion is correct and we will argue even the most inane detail to prove a point.  Having been trained in both medical and law school I know of what I speak.  Therefore sometimes when I speak to another attorney I hear the wah, wah as they attempt to argue the point that I have no clue  what planet they are coming from.

You know the above statement is true if you have spent anytime speaking to an attorney or a physician.  We as attorneys and medical personnel sometimes become used to a situation and therefore forget sometimes how stressful things are for people.

For example, I worked in Emergency Medicine for over 20 years.  Taking care of a sick child was not a stressul to me because it became second nature.  I was accustomed to what was a medical big deal and what wasn’t.  However you forget that the parent does not know what is going on with the child and has no training. Therefore this bout of RSV is a huge deal and they are worried that their child is going to die.  Rational or not this feeling is very real and legitimate.

The medical staff attempts to explain in medical terms what is going on but the bottom line is the parent just wants to know if their child is going to be okay.  So they only hear Charlie Brown’s Teacher until the doctor says “we will admit your child for a couple days and he/she will be fine and up and running around again soon”  This scenario is also true when you go to an attorney for a consultation.

Sometimes I forget just exactly the level of stress that one is going through and the courage it takes to seek counsel from an attorney about filing bankruptcy.  We as attorneys must step back and consider the individual situation that you as a debtor are experiencing.

I am fortunate because my staff is able to keep me in check with reality.  One of my staff members is also a client.  I will often go to her and ask, when I explain this what does it mean to you?  If I get the deer in the headlight response I know I have to change my explanation.

You can help avoid the deer in the headlight and Charlie Brown’s Teacher response.  Before you speak to an attorney or a physician, write down your questions.  Be honest with these people.  An attorney or physician cannot diagnose the situation without all the facts.  Help us help you by providing as much information as possible and being prepared with the documents requested.

Be prepared to write down the answers to your questions and the information that you are going to receive.  This is a stressful time and you may not remember all the information that is given.  Therefore if you write it down you can review your notes at a later time.

If you  do not like or feel comfortable with that attorney or physician then do not stay with them.  You do not have to stay with anyone who you do not like or trust.

For goodness sakes, ask questions.  It is your health and your financial well being.  Ask questions so that you can understand what is going on.  Keep in mind that most attorneys have at least 7 years of higher education under their belt.  Most bankruptcy attorneys have been studying the new law since it came out and we continue to study the changes everyday.  We live, sleep, eat and breathe the bankruptcy code.  You are NOT expected to know everything.  However, I cannot educate you or assist you if you do not tell me whether or not understand the information that I have given.  Again help me to help you.

My mom explained once that if you have a teacher who is generally a very fine teacher but there is that one student who just cannot understand, this does not mean that the teacher is bad.  The answer is simply that the teacher is not the right one to teach this particular student.  Not everyone learns in the same way.  Not everyone gets along with each other and this is okay.

Just keep in mind you have the right to be comfortable with your attorney or your physician and you always have the right to ask questions.  Take control of your financial future and ask those questions and be informed to avoid the wah. wah response in your head.

The lawyers associated with Bankruptcy Law Network care about you as the individual.  We strive to push the envelope of the Bankruptcy Code in order to protect your rights under the law.  We have chosen this line of work not because we are chasing the almighty dollar but because we want to make a difference in your life.  This is why we take the time to write these articles.

Remember that knowledge is power.  Knowledge once gained can never be taken away from you and only serves to light the darkness of the unknown.

If you wish to contact an attorney who cares about you as the individual click here to begin your journey to regaining financial control today.

Written by Kansas City Missouri Bankruptcy Attorney, Rachel Lynn Foley