Daniel Gershburg is a bankruptcy and real estate lawyer practicing in New York. He will teach a course about bankruptcy law at Solo Practice University®.

Daniel Gershburg took a different road when graduating from law school. While he was a member of the Law Review and the Harlan Scholars program, Mr. Gershburg passed up the opportunity to work at large law firms and instead decided to establish his own practice, with the hope of changing the way solo and small firm practice attorneys are viewed. His practice deals specifically with Bankruptcy and Real Estate Law. Mr. Gershburg has spoken to classes at New York Law School, has been published in New York State Bar Association newsletters, serves on the New York State Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Executive Committee and is a desired CLE presenter. He frequently speaks at community functions in his Brooklyn neighborhood educating members of the community about Bankruptcy as well as financial advocacy. He is also the newest blogger at Patch.com (AOL HuffingtonPost) on Park Slope legal affairs. Mr. Gershburg also spends a considerable amount of pro bono time volunteering at the Brooklyn Bar Assocation Volunteer Lawyers Project, assisting low income individuals to file for Bankruptcy.

You can connect with Daniel on Twitter and subscribe to his blog.

Syllabus

View the full syllabus (PDF) or read the summary below.

Introduction:

• Who I am
• How’d I get here
• What can you learn from this course
• What this course for?
• How I teach.

Bankruptcy Practice for the New Solo.

• Why now more than ever is a great time.
• Advantages
• Software and programs involved
• Cost
• Marketing
• What you’ll need
• Pro Bono

Before the Marketing, The Law:

• Means Test (The Simple Version)
• Assets
• Liabilities
• Schedule I/J (Income vs. Expenses)
• Statement of Financial Affairs
• Transfers of Property
• Exemptions
  • Federal
  • NY State
• The Do’s and Don’t’s
• The Trustee Package
  • Tabs

The Initial Client Interview

• The questions to ask
• The questions that aren’t asked but should be asked
• How to know when to ask further questions and about what
• The common questions the client will ask
• The answers
• The Advice to give about credit cards and credit scores
• How to be as thorough as possible
• The Deposit
• The Retainer
• The follow up guarantees
• The Credit Counseling Course

The Meeting of the Creditors

• What to send to the Trustee prior
• How to Send it
• What to Expect
• Prepping the Client
• What to bring to the meeting
• Dressing (yes, Im serious)
• Presentation is everything
• The 21 Questions to Prepare for
• What happens when its over

The Crucial Next Steps-Keeping the Client Happy

• Unsolicited updates.
• How long will the process take to finish
• Credit Score counseling
• Building up credit again
• Value Added services

Finding the Clients-Not Marketing

• Using Video Blogs
• Using FB/Twitter (but not in the usual way)
• Skype
• Authenticity
• Pro Bono work
• Why “Marketing” doesn’t work
• Legal Directories
• Blogging
• Networking (without name tags)