An attorney can limit her appearance in a bankruptcy case to a particular contested matter or adversary proceeding in Massachusetts, without generally appearing on behalf of a debtor for all contested matters, if the client agrees and either (1) the client is otherwise pro se (case filed without an attorney) and the attorney is working without compensation, or (2) the limitation does not interfere with competent representation of the debtor.
The former is automatic in application, based on the newly published Local Standing Order 09-01, and incorporates an “unbundling” of legal representation specially for pro se debtors. A lawyer can volunteer to represent a debtor for part of a case without commiting to the entire case.
The latter is from Danvers Sav. Bank v. Cuddy (In re Cuddy), 322 B.R. 12, 15 (Bankr. D. Mass. 2004)
(Hillman, J). It is subject to the judge determining whether competent representation is possible within the declared limitation.
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