For consumers looking for an Mortgage attorney

[eugene_smalls@yahoo.com]

I am new to this site. I just want to say to all the Attorneys out there; please be straightforward with a consumer who needs help when their mortgage loan is being foreclosed.  In 1985, I started learning many legal applications for various aspects of litigation. I gained much of this understanding from two of my attorney friends and the rest through practical application as a Pro SE. I was also a Board Member of NAACP on the Committee for Veterans Affairs for five years where I was able to learn much about Chapter 7 Bankruptcy and study of discrimination cases. I and my best friend had legal battles, which caused the both of us to be self-taught concerning the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the Fair Credit Billing Act and other related acts.  

Over the years my close friend and I found ourselves in the Court system defending our rights against companies who think they can take advantage of consumers. Not to Brag but over the years I and my friend in his own right have been very successful in winning our cases in State & Federal Courts. However the both of us never went to law school. However, as I touched on in the paragraph above, a few of my friends were attorneys and there was one Judge who wanted to write a recommendation for me to attend law-school. However, this was not the course set for me because the Lord had a better plan for me and I am doing His will.

Consumers, I want you to know there are good attorneys and there are bad attorneys. I am only speaking to the bad attorneys in this note. Consumers, it’s your responsibility to ask the attorney the very important questions that will determine if the attorney will truly be working for you or for his or herself. And never be afraid, this is your right before hiring an attorney. You want to make it clear that you want a copy of any and all documents pertaining to your case when they become available. 1 How long have you practiced law? 2. What type of cases do you generally handle? What percentage of your practice is devoted to (the practice area in question)? 3. Who is your typical client? 4. How many cases have you represented that were like mine? 5. Other than a law degree, what kind of special training or knowledge do you have that might apply in my situation? 6. What are your attorney fees and costs, and how are they billed? Will a portion or all my case be handled by paralegals or legal assistants? If so, ask about any reduced costs. 7. What is your approach or philosophy to winning or representing a case? 8. Are there other ways for solving my legal problem? 9. How will you let me know what's happening with my case? 10. How many cases like mine have you won in the last five-years? 11. What is the likely outcome in my case?

It is fair game to ask the attorney whether you have a good chance of winning your case. You are not looking for the "right" answer, just an honest one. For instance, if you're facing an uphill battle in, let's say, a nasty divorce situation, you'll want to know up front from the attorney so you can prepare yourself for what lies ahead.

Here is a good example why it is very important to have an attorney who specializes in your case.  I received a phone call from a friend. He had hired an attorney in a federal disability case.  However, this attorney, when I reviewed his background, is a divorce attorney & state injury attorney. My friend paid this attorney upfront in the amount of $3,000.00. Keep in mind that I did not learn about this matter until after the fact. 

The case dragged on for three years. Keep in mind this was a case that my friend could have done himself, because all it required for him to do was to write a Demand Letter attaching the physician’s medical reports once the physician completed the evaluation and the physician write a second medical report which consist of the rating. It was that simple, because he had been on disability for several years and it was time for a rating of his condition. However, the attorney wrote only three letters with compassion but with no “demand” on the subject line. Well, almost four years later my friend wrote a letter to the attorney and canceled his service and asked for a copy of all his information.

Lo and Behold, he only received three letters from his office and the respond letters from the disability office denial of his claim and his file back and the attorney claimed to have run up the bill to $10,000. My friend explained to the Attorney that he would not pay him another dime and to be honest, I did not blame my friend. I would have done the same and reported him to the Bar and wrote a complaint against the attorney for doing the very bear minimum and expecting to get paid again.

I hope this post helps someone, because I am tired of seeing and hearing consumers being taken advantage of. There is an ethical Code for attorneys, but some of the bad attorneys get away because consumers do not know their rights.  God bless the reader!