TASC Supports New Mandates on Debt Restructuring Firms

Lawyers for the FTC have succeeded in arguing for several new restrictions on debt settlement companies, culminating in a new policy making legislation coming from the government.

Starting on October 27, 2010, for-profit companies that sell debt relief services over the telephone may no longer charge a fee before they settle or reduce a customer’s credit card or other unsecured debt.

In addition, the lawyers have successfully argued for mandated enhanced disclosure requirements. These are modeled on current and proposed standards from the industry’s leading trade association, TASC (The Association of Settlement Companies). TASC already offered guidance and regulations for debt restructuring companies, something I talked about in my earlier post: What to Look for in a Trustworthy Debt Settlement Company. before FTC lawyers and legislators got involved.

TASC originally opposed one key part of the proposed legislation: the prohibition of debt settlement companies from accepting fees from a consumer for debt settlement services prior to the actual settlement of the consumer’s debt.

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Tips to Finding the Best Personal Injury Lawyer

If you or someone you know has been injuredthen you are going to want to hire the best personal injury lawyer to take on your case.Finding the right personal injury lawyer to handle your case can be a difficult task. That is why we’ve put together some tips to help you choose the best personal injury lawyer for your specific needs.

Selecting the Best Personal Injury Lawyer

1. Contact the American Bar Association – Go online to the ABA website for a referral list of the best personal injury lawyers in your area.
2. Get Recommendations – Talk to friends and family members if they know a good lawyer. A friend’s recommendation is very valuable because you know you can trust their opinion.
3. Ask for Referrals­– While friends are great for a recommendation, your current lawyer can also refer you to colleagues and lawyers that specialize in personal injury cases.
4. Search Online – Once you’ve got a list of personal injury lawyers, go online and look up any information about the lawyer or their law firm. Do they appear to have expertise in the field? Does their website have any information that is helpful to you?
5. Interview Several Lawyers –After you’ve done your research and narrowed down your list, set up appointments with the remaining lawyers, and ask them about their experience, your specific case and what he or she recommends. Make sure you would get along with the lawyer before hiring them.

Finding the best personal injury lawyer to handle your case may take some time and research, but with sensitive cases like these, you will want to take your time and make sure you have the best fit for you.

Joshua Just, a former attorney in New York City, has over 20 years of experience as a lawyer, which gives him unique insight to many legal matters.

Before choosing an attorney and signing a retainer, it is important that you make a list of questions for a lawyer.The answers to these questions will help you determine who is the best attorney to handle your specific case. An experienced attorney who has the means and resources to commit to you and your needs is crucial for resolving any legal matter. Every case is unique so the answers to these questions for a lawyer will vary depending on the legal matter. Know before you interview a prospective lawyer what your needs are and what you require from your attorney.

Questions for a Lawyer

The following are some of the top questions for a lawyer that you should ask before you put him or her on retainer: (more…)

For lawyers, the mystification regarding the laws surrounding lawyer referral fees can be a common complaint.  As I mentioned in an earlier article, only lawyers can receive referral fees.  Many attorneys think this is an outdated practice, as it completely goes against how most other businesses operate. Giving someone an incentive to help you bring in new business should not be considered a crime. And yet, referral fees to non-lawyers is considered attorney misconduct. Today I ask you – should it be? (more…)

Pick wisely! (photo: www.sxc.hu)

The decision on what kind of law to specialize is likely causing a great deal of stress to those students on the verge of entering law school. While the majority will decide to be the kinds of lawyers that work on standard law specialties like construction or will and trusts, others will choose to take a bit braver route. These kinds of lawyers – those who choose to take part in newer and innovative fields – are the kinds of lawyers that are the ones will become leaders as they advance in their fields. What kind of fields offers countless opportunities to set precedence and assist in changing the way we function? Fields like health care, energy solutions, and insurance offer this and so much more.

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