Where to Look
State bar lawyer referral services maintain lists of attorneys by specialty. Search for "legal malpractice" in your state. National directories like Martindale-Hubbell and Avvo allow filtering by practice area. Ask other attorneys for referrals - bankruptcy attorneys often know who handles malpractice in their market.
Contingency Fee Arrangements
Most legal malpractice attorneys work on contingency - they take a percentage of the recovery (typically 33-40%) and charge no upfront fee. This means you pay nothing unless you win. If the damages are too small, some attorneys may decline the case.
What to Bring to the Consultation
Your retainer agreement with the bankruptcy attorney. All billing statements or fee receipts. Your complete bankruptcy case file (request it from your attorney - they must provide it). A timeline of events showing what happened and when. Any communications (emails, letters, texts) between you and the attorney. The court docket showing the outcome of your case.
Check attorney dismissal rates
Dismissal Rate Data