how does rent a lawyer work for JDB's?

[MehtaMar]

I got to thinking about this after posting my court observation tips.

in court, sometimes I'll see the same attorney working for 3 or 4 agencies or junk debtbuyers.

How do the JDBs/CA's rent their lawyers? Are these people contractors? How can the same lawyer work for so many firms simultaneously and on so many cases? Any insight might help. They seem really unprepared.

[KentWA]

Standard retainer agreement.

[usagi555]

Sometimes they also have "Legal Collection Agreements" which basically allow the law firm to act as a normal collection agency (that uses law firm letterhead) first, then, if that doesn't work, they act as a law firm.

[calawyer]

Originally Posted by MehtaMar

I got to thinking about this after posting my court observation tips.

in court, sometimes I'll see the same attorney working for 3 or 4 agencies or junk debtbuyers.

How do the JDBs/CA's rent their lawyers? Are these people contractors? How can the same lawyer work for so many firms simultaneously and on so many cases? Any insight might help. They seem really unprepared.

These are usually what we call "appearance lawyers". They get paid to make an appearance on behalf of plaintiff because the law firm of record can't make it. They typically don't have the entire file and are often not given much notice that they will have to appear.

[Coltfan1972]

Go to criminal court on a Monday and watch the prosecuting attorney during plea and arraingment. The same prosecutor is not prosecuting all hundred or so cases. They are just there for a very simple matter.

I really ticked off an out of state lawyer. He was filing the most basic of pleadings by mail. He was in Michigan, I am in Arkansas. So, I filed a motion obviously that would be denied, then asked for oral arguments. In other words, get off your rear and get down here from Michigan or pay somebody to "appear" for you.

No objection to telephonic apperance. I just have some other documents I want the judge to review. Like 100 things. Oh, you're on the phone in Michigan? No worries, I'll just describe to the judge what they are and then send you a copy in a few days.