NACBA Awards the 2016 Henry J. Sommer Scholarship

The National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys is pleased to announce that the coveted Henry J. Sommer Scholarship for the 2016 Annual NACBA’s Annual Convention (May 19-22, 2016, San Francisco, CA) has been awarded to Grace B. Pazdan, Consumer Rights Attorney with Vermont Legal Aid. This prestigious scholarship, which covers registration fees and materials, was created in recognition of the extraordinary contributions to NACBA by President Emeritus Henry J. Sommer (Board of Directors 1992 to 2011 and President 2005 to 2008). Ms. Pazdan was chosen from a vast field of accomplished consumer bankruptcy attorneys.

NACBA Executive Director, Dan LaBert said, “We applaud Ms. Pazdan on her many impressive achievements and dedication to serving low-income, elderly and disabled consumers facing foreclosure and debt collection. We are very happy to provide her the opportunity and resources to help elevate her bankruptcy practice.”

Ms. Pazdan graduated summa cum laude from the American University Washington College of Law in 2006. During her law school years, She was a 2005 Equal Justice Foundation Summer Fellowship Recipient, the 2005 Choice USA Generation Award, Legal Rights Award Recipient and a recipient of the Montgomery County Women’s Bar Foundation Scholarship along with being the President of the Woman’s Law Association and Co-Director of Law Students for Choice. In 2008, she served for two years as the first Vermont Poverty Law Fellow, based at VLA where she drafted and advocated for legislation that resulted in Vermont enacting a mediation program for homeowners facing foreclosure. Currently, Ms. Pazdan is the only legal services attorney in the state of Vermont that provides free representation in bankruptcy court for low income Vermonters.

A summary of Ms. Pazdan’s convention experience will be published in the Summer 2016 edition of NACBA’s Consumer Bankruptcy Journal.

#NACBASF#

Registration is Open for the Members Only #NACBA Fall Workshop!

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NACBA’s Summit at Sea – Members Only
October 7-10, 2016

Registration is now open!  

NACBA is pleased and excited to announce the return of our Members-Only Fall Event!  Mark your calendars, save the dates, and prepare to set sail on NACBA’s maiden voyage at sea! Check out the Schedule and the Pre-Cruise Events that will kick off the Summit! The Fall workshop is a perfect way to get education and rest with a little relaxation! Register today and book your cabin so you can sail away with #NACBA!

Ports of Call

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NACBASF Session Spotlight

TOP 10 MISTAKES BANKRUPTCY LAWYERS MAKE THAT KILL THEIR LEAD CONVERSION RATE AND HOW TO FIX IT

Presented by:


Stephen Fairley
The Rainmaker Institute

Thursday, May 19th 6:00 pm – 6:50 pm

Lead generation is big business for bankruptcy attorneys. You have companies who will sell you SEO, PPC, advertising, and PPL (pay per lead), but who can train you and your team on best practice for converting more of these costly leads into more paying clients? Do you have a system in place to track all of them and measure your true conversion rate and determine if you are making a profit on these leads? In this fast-paced workshop attendees will discover:

  • The 5 stages of lead conversion
  • 7 specific strategies to immediately double your lead conversion rate
  • How to fix your “no show” problem of appointments who don’t show up
  • Implementing simple systems to track your leads
  • How to handle pricing questions and why you should never discuss your fees over the phone
  • Improving client communication that leads to ethics complaints

Register for #NACBASF today to attend this session and so many more!

 

Register for NACBA’s Member Benefit Webinar

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MEMBER BENEFIT WEBINAR
Building a 7-Figure Lifestyle Law Firm:
Upscaling from a Job, to a Practice, to a Business
Thursday, April 28, 2016
3 PM Eastern / 2 PM Central / 1 PM Mountain / 12 PM Pacific
Presented by: Stephen Fairley, CEO of The Rainmaker Institute

FREE for NACBA Members. Register HERE.

There are 3 stages every law firm goes through to break the 7-figure barrier. At each stage there are challenges that must be faced and changes that must be made. The Rainmaker Institute has trained over 18,000 attorneys and helped hundreds of their clients break 7-figures. This 60 minute webinar will show you strategies specifically for attorneys looking to build a lifestyle law firm.

  • What are the 5 key challenges you must face to grow to the next level?
  • The 10 major components of every successful law firm.
  • Specific steps you must take to build a lifestyle law firm that provides the income you want.

REMINDERS:

  • CLE administration is not available for some programs at present. Self study is encouraged.
  • Once you have registered for this Webinar, you will receive further instructions from Citrix/GoToWebinar on how to access the proceedings.
  • All customers who purchase this Webinar will have access to the recording of the live webinar on http://www.NACBA.org once it has been posted.
  • Questions? Please e-mail admin@NACBA.org.

Bankruptcy News Briefs 4/14

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Headlines Making News…

NY AG Files Suit Over Lease Agreements, Collection Lawsuits

Appeals Court Hears CFPB Leadership Structure Case

House Financial Services Committee Passes Bill to Subject CFPB to Congressional Appropriations

Debt Collection Statute of Limitations Bill Passes in Maryland General Assembly

Summary Judgment Granted in TCPA Case Against Navient and Affiliate – Awards $360K, Possibly More

House panel passes bills to ramp up CFPB oversight

Obama to forgive the student debt of permanently disabled people

CONNECT WITH YOUR PEERS THROUGH NACBA CONNECT

NACBA membership affords our members the chance to connect with their colleagues through NACBA Connect. Do you have a question or a hot topic that you want to discuss? Then make sure you visit NACBA Connect. In NACBA Connect you can start a community, join a community, and begin a discussion thread to connect with your peers!

 34 DAYS UNTIL NACBA’S ANNUAL CONVENTION IN SAN FRANCISCO

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HAVE YOU REGISTERED FOR THE PRE-CONVENTION SESSIONS?

Convention attendees can purchase the special one-day Pre-Convention Session: Evidence & Procedure for the Bankruptcy Litigator at a reduced rate.  When registering for the Convention, you will add the session to your cart during the normal Convention registration process.  If you have any questions or problems, give us a call at 1.800.499.9040 and we will be happy to help.  Register for the Convention AND one of the Pre-Convention sessions.

If you have already registered for the Convention and did not register for one of the Pre-Convention sessions, no worries! You can still register at the reduced rate by calling us at 1.800.499.9040 or by logging into your account at NACBA.org and clicking on “My Events”then“Add Session” to add this session to your registration.

Learn more about what these sessions offer at NACBASF!

Register for NACBASF Today!

CONSUMER BANKRUPTCY JOURNAL HIGHLIGHT

Stephen Fairley

Learn about, 6 Steps to Improve Your Intake and Lead Conversion Rate,” by Stephen Fairley CEO of the Rainmaker Institute.

KEEP YOUR NACBA MEMBERSHIP CURRENT

With so many exciting educational events and networking opportunities on the horizon don’t forget to renew your NACBA Membership! Renew Today! 

Not a member of NACBA? Take advantage of all the benefits NACBA Members receive and Join  NACBA Today!

Receive NACBA’s Bankruptcy News Briefs Automatically

Subscribe Today!

 

Bankruptcy News Briefs 4/13

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Midweek News…

TCPA Class-Action Lawsuit Dismissed

CFPB Lacks Information on Mortgage Servicers

Bankruptcy Filings Fall in Q1

D.C. Circuit Court Hears Arguments in CFPB Leadership Case

Study: How Educational Attainment Influences Other Financial, Life Decisions

Fed Survey: Consumers’ Spending Growth Expectations Weaken

Pay-to-Stay Debt Dischargeable

NCLC Advocates Applaud Department of Education Implementation of Its New Matching Program for Disabled Student Loan Borrowers, April 12, 2016

TCPA Class Action Case Dismissed – Thanks to Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 2016

THERE ARE ONLY 35 DAYS REMAIN UNTIL NACBA’S ANNUAL CONVENTION

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We are quickly approaching #NACBASF! There are so many reasons to attend this year’s convention! Not only is it in beautiful San Francisco, the sessions and speakers are top notch! You’ll have the opportunity to network with your colleagues, dive into deep discussions at the Fireside Chats and visit the many exhibitors in this years’s exhibit hall. Not to mention you can earn up to 15 CLEs (depending on your state)! This is an event that matters to you and your firm.Have you Registered? Take a moment to Register Today and get ready for an awesome #NACBA experience!

THE SPRING EDITION OF THE NATIONAL CONSUMER BANKRUPTCY JOURNAL IS HOT OFF THE PRESS 

Christine M. Kieta, Attorney at Law

Today’s #CBJ’s highlight is one of the hottest issues facing our nation. Read Christine Kieta’s article “Beyond Bankruptcy: The Uninformed and Inexperienced 21st Century Student Loan Debtor.”

KEEP YOUR NACBA MEMBERSHIP CURRENT

With so many exciting educational events and networking opportunities on the horizon don’t forget to renew your NACBA Membership! Renew Today! 

Not a member of NACBA? Take advantage of all the benefits NACBA Members receive and Join  NACBA Today!

Receive NACBA’s Bankruptcy News Briefs Automatically

Subscribe Today!

Bankruptcy News Briefs 4/12

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Headlines in Today’s News…

Lawsuit Targets Fees Collected by College

Mortgage Balances, Originations Jump in 2015

Court Case Against the CFPB Hinges on These Four Issues

CFPB Office of Consumer Response Highlights Complaint Trends in Annual Report

March Bankruptcy Filings Show Year-Over-Year Decline

4th Cir. Confirms Entity Is Not FDCPA ‘Debt Collector’ Merely Because It Purchases Defaulted Debt

THERE ARE ONLY 36 DAYS LEFT UNTIL NACABSF!

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We are quickly approaching #NACBASF! There are so many reasons to attend this year’s convention! Not only is it in beautiful San Francisco, the sessions and speakers are top notch! You’ll have the opportunity to network with your colleagues, dive into deep discussions at the Fireside Chats and visit the many exhibitors in this years’s exhibit hall. Not to mention you can earn up to 15 CLEs (depending on your state)! This is an event that matters to you and your firm.Have you Registered? Take a moment to Register Today and get ready for an awesome #NACBA experience!

UPCOMING WEBINAR

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MEMBER BENEFIT WEBINAR
Building a 7-Figure Lifestyle Law Firm:
Upscaling from a Job, to a Practice, to a Business
Thursday, April 28, 2016
3 PM Eastern / 2 PM Central / 1 PM Mountain / 12 PM Pacific
Presented by: Stephen Fairley, CEO of The Rainmaker Institute

FREE for NACBA Members. Register HERE.

There are 3 stages every law firm goes through to break the 7-figure barrier. At each stage there are challenges that must be faced and changes that must be made. The Rainmaker Institute has trained over 18,000 attorneys and helped hundreds of their clients break 7-figures. This 60 minute webinar will show you strategies specifically for attorneys looking to build a lifestyle law firm.

  • What are the 5 key challenges you must face to grow to the next level?
  • The 10 major components of every successful law firm.
  • Specific steps you must take to build a lifestyle law firm that provides the income you want.

THE SPRING EDITION OF THE NATIONAL CONSUMER BANKRUPTCY JOURNAL IS HOT OFF THE PRESS 

Robert C. Meyer

Today’s #CBJ’s highlight is from Robert C. Meyer, “ACB Assignee Banned From Filing a Voluntary Bankruptcy Petition.”

KEEP YOUR NACBA MEMBERSHIP CURRENT

With so many exciting educational events and networking opportunities on the horizon don’t forget to renew your NACBA Membership! Renew Today! 

Not a member of NACBA? Take advantage of all the benefits NACBA Members receive and Join  NACBA Today!

Receive NACBA’s Bankruptcy News Briefs Automatically

Subscribe Today!

 

Learn From the Experts When You Attend the NACBASF Legal Marketing Track

LEGAL MARKETING TRACK 

Thursday, May 19, 2016, 

7:00 PM-7:50 PM

Need another reason to attend #NACBASF? When you are a conference attendee you can attend our Marketing Legal Track for no additional cost. This is a lineup of experts that you won’t want to miss.

FUTURE OF BANKRUPTCY: LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY & DATA FOR MODERN PRACTICE
Presented by:
James Beauchamp, Doug Geller & Sam Moss
Stratus Intelligence

In today’s modern practice, knowing how to apply the law is easy. The tricky part is coping with electronic calendaring notices, appointments, 341 hearings, court appearances, and deadlines. Add to that clients’ increasing preference for electronic communication with shorter response times, time spent tracking payments, and sporadic trustee disbursements, and your tasks gets daunting. Keep in mind that you need to spend time analyzing your marketing results in an increasingly competitive landscape in order to develop your client base and grow your practice, and the practice of bankruptcy now looks like a logistical nightmare. This program will explore the challenges faced by today’s bankruptcy attorneys in managing work flow, communications, marketing and finances. Learn new technologies for lawyers to streamline these pain points. Enhance client communication, automate your docketing and calendaring, streamline your payment tracking and bring your firm to the cutting edge of information technology.

 

Bankruptcy News Briefs 4/11

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News Kicking Off the Week…

Consumer Loan Delinquencies Decline in Fourth Quarter

Consumer Borrowing for Auto, Student Loans Increases in February

Increased Regulations Spawn New Trade Associations

Breach of Fiduciary Duty Judgment May Be Dischargeable In Bankruptcy

THERE’S STILL TIME TO REGISTER FOR TODAY’S  WEBINAR! 

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Don’t miss out on this informative and timely webinar register today!

Lessons from Harris v. Viegelahn
Monday, April 11, 2016, 60 minutes
3 PM Eastern / 2PM Central / 1PM Mountain / 12 PM Pacific

Presented by: Chief Judge Melvin S. Hoffman of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts, Tara Twomey of NCBRC and Brett Weiss, Esq. of Chung & Press, LLC

Registration deadline: 4/11/16 at 2PM Eastern.
$25 Member / $75 Non Member
Registration HERE

In Harris v. Veigelhan, the Supreme Court resolved a disagreement among courts over the question of whether a debtor or his creditors should receive funds derived from the debtor’s post-petition wages held by the trustee under a confirmed chapter 13 plan when the case is converted to chapter 7 in good faith. In a clear, concise, and narrowly focused decision the Court ruled in the debtor’s favor. Subsequently, some courts have applied Harris broadly to deny payment of debtor’s counsel in other circumstances.

This webinar will review the various post-Harris cases that have been decided and offer practical suggestions for ways in which debtor’s counsel can get paid in unsuccessful chapter 13 cases.

If you are unable to participate in webinar at scheduled time, register by 4/11/16 at 2 PM Eastern and you will receive recording, materials and discounted pricing. After 4/11/16, the webinar will be available in the NACBA Store.

THERE ARE ONLY 37 DAYS LEFT UNTIL NACABSF!

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We are quickly approaching #NACBASF! There are so many reasons to attend this year’s convention! Not only is it in beautiful San Francisco, the sessions and speakers are top notch! You’ll have the opportunity to network with your colleagues, dive into deep discussions at the Fireside Chats and visit the many exhibitors in this years’s exhibit hall. Not to mention you can earn up to 15 CLEs (depending on your state)! This is an event that matters to you and your firm. Have you Registered? Take a moment to Register Today and get ready for an awesome #NACBA experience!

THE SPRING EDITION OF THE NATIONAL CONSUMER BANKRUPTCY JOURNAL IS HOT OFF THE PRESS 

Wendell Sherk, St. Louis Missouri Bankruptcy Attorney

It’s Monday, why not take a minute out of your busy day and read, Wendell Sherk’s piece, “New Opinion on New Forms and Exemptions,” in the CBJ.

KEEP YOUR NACBA MEMBERSHIP CURRENT

With so many exciting educational events and networking opportunities on the horizon don’t forget to renew your NACBA Membership! Renew Today! 

Not a member of NACBA? Take advantage of all the benefits NACBA Members receive and Join  NACBA Today!

Receive NACBA’s Bankruptcy News Briefs Automatically

Subscribe Today!

 

 

Bankruptcy News Briefs 4/8

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Headlines Going Into the Weekend…

Debt Collector Wage Garnishment Lawsuit Tossed

Consumer Borrowing Increases on Non-Revolving Growth

ID Theft Ringleader Sentenced on 15 Counts

Alabama Passes Payday Loan Legislation

Class-Action Lawsuit Against Agency, Law Firm Can Proceed

FTC Releases Annual Highlights Report on Education, Enforcement

CFPB Director Presents Latest Semi-Annual Report to Senate Banking Committee

Massachusetts Division of Banks Reverses Opinion on Attorney Licensing

READ THE SPRING EDITION OF NACBA’S CONSUMER BANKRUPTCY JOURNAL (CBJ)

Maureen Thompson, Senior Principal and NACBA Legislative Director
The Hastings Group, LLC

It’s the weekend, kick back relax and read the, “Legislation Report”by Maureen Thompson in  the spring edition of the CBJ.

3 DAYS UNTIL THE NEXT NACBA WEBINAR! HAVE YOU REGISTERED?

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Lessons from Harris v. Viegelahn
Monday, April 11, 2016, 60 minutes
3 PM Eastern / 2PM Central / 1PM Mountain / 12 PM Pacific

Presented by: Chief Judge Melvin S. Hoffman of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts, Tara Twomey of NCBRC and Brett Weiss, Esq. of Chung & Press, LLC

Registration deadline: 4/11/16 at 2PM Eastern.
$25 Member / $75 Non Member
Registration HERE

In Harris v. Veigelhan, the Supreme Court resolved a disagreement among courts over the question of whether a debtor or his creditors should receive funds derived from the debtor’s post-petition wages held by the trustee under a confirmed chapter 13 plan when the case is converted to chapter 7 in good faith. In a clear, concise, and narrowly focused decision the Court ruled in the debtor’s favor. Subsequently, some courts have applied Harris broadly to deny payment of debtor’s counsel in other circumstances.

This webinar will review the various post-Harris cases that have been decided and offer practical suggestions for ways in which debtor’s counsel can get paid in unsuccessful chapter 13 cases.

If you are unable to participate in webinar at scheduled time, register by 4/11/16 at 2 PM Eastern and you will receive recording, materials and discounted pricing. After 4/11/16, the webinar will be available in the NACBA Store.

TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO RECEIVE THE EARLY BIRD RATE! REGISTER TODAY!

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Only hours remain for you to to take advantage of the Early Bird Rate! Save $100.00 on registration by Registering Today! Take a look at the savings you’ll receive!

Convention Registration

Early Bird

Ends FRI, APR 8            

 Regular Registration

After FRI, APR 8

Member

$695

$795

Non Member

$945

$1045

KEEP YOUR NACBA MEMBERSHIP CURRENT

With so many exciting educational events and networking opportunities on the horizon don’t forget to renew your NACBA Membership! Renew Today! 

Not a member of NACBA? Take advantage of all the benefits NACBA Members receive and Join  NACBA Today!

Receive NACBA’s Bankruptcy News Briefs Automatically

Subscribe Today!