Another day helping clients find relief from crippling debt? Making the harassing phone calls stop? Receiving a bear hug from a client after a successful creditor meeting? This is a day in my life as a bankruptcy attorney. It almost didn’t happen, though!
When I graduated from law school starting my own practice, “hanging my shingle”, was the furthest thing from my mind!! I was going to work for a corporate litigation firm, where I would be expected to work 80 hour weeks for the next decade of my life for the privilege of becoming a partner, and cutting my hours to 50 per week. The sweet life – right??
I lasted exactly one year and walked away feeling demoralized and lost. A six month stint in one of America’s most famous coffee companies, and I finally woke to the reality that those law school student loans were not going to repay themselves.
At the encouragement of a friend, I agreed to take on a pro bono case from Metro Volunteer Lawyers. My client was a single mom of three who had filed a Chapter 7 bankruptcy a few years back. Since then, she had been unable to keep up with mounting medical bills, on top of day care costs and basic living expenses. Now she was facing a garnishment and was not eligible for another Chapter 7. I helped her get relief from the bills, the nasty collection calls and the lawsuits, with a Chapter 13 bankruptcy. I knew nothing about bankruptcy when I started, and little more once we finished, but I loved the feeling of helping my client find a solution that would ease her financial stress and allow her to focus on raising her family, instead of fighting bill collectors.
Since that first bankruptcy case ten years ago, I have committed myself to helping individuals and families find a refuge and get relief from debt. I have devoted my career to consumer bankruptcy. Not just filing cases for clients, but learning as much about the bankruptcy law as possible and sharing that knowledge with my colleagues, as well. Today, I am so proud to look back at the hundreds of clients I have helped and know that they are living a better life debt free!! I am also proud to be an expert in the industry, speaking about consumer bankruptcy at local, regional and national conferences for attorneys and paralegals.
But, I don’t just deal with debt. While bankruptcy can stop collections, lawsuits and foreclosures, it doesn’t always stop the shame and embarrassment that come with debt. I work very hard to help clients restore their dignity through the bankruptcy process as well. Not being able to pay your bills doesn’t make you a failure, how you move to the next step of your life will determine your future!
Our initial consultation will walk you through the technical and legal aspects of bankruptcy as well as the emotional aspects of the case. I want to hear your story and help you find solutions that will work for you and your family. If bankruptcy is the right choice for you, we will discuss how to prepare for your case and I will guide you through the process from start to finish.
I am a Colorado native, growing up in Fort Collins, Colorado. I attended Colorado State University and University of Colorado School of Law. I am a member of several prominent bankruptcy organizations, including: the American Bankruptcy Institution, National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys, and I am an associate member of the National Association of Chapter Thirteen Trustees. I am also active locally in the Colorado and Denver Bar Associations, as well as the Colorado Consumer Bar Association. I have spent the past 5 years operating an email listserv for over 200 Colorado Bankruptcy Attorneys, as well as serving the community as the Vice President of the Bankruptcy Court’s Local Rules Committee. I love helping our clients and their families achieve their “fresh start”, and enjoying spending time with my husband and our three amazing boys on this adventure called LIFE!