How to Start a Bankruptcy Law Practice in 2025
Starting a bankruptcy practice is part legal skill and part business build. The attorneys in this video share what they wish they had done on day one: get real lead flow, set up a simple repeatable process, lean on community, and use tech to work faster without adding overhead.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What would you do first if you were starting today?
- How should I think about marketing if I have limited cash?
- What systems should I set up before I open the doors?
- Who should answer the phone?
- When should I hire help?
- How do I keep leads from slipping through the cracks?
- Where should my first clients come from?
- How important is community and mentorship?
- What ongoing learning should I plan for?
- Any advice on niche strategy?
- What about branding and office location?
- What tech stack should I start with?
- Apple or Microsoft for a small firm?
- What are the must-do administrative steps in week one?
- How do I handle client gratitude and referrals the right way?
- What common mistakes should new bankruptcy lawyers avoid?
FAQ: What would you do first if you were starting today?
Hire or partner with someone who can bring in ready-to-file leads. Great legal work does not matter without clients. Set a modest monthly budget for lead generation from day one and track every dollar to signed cases.
FAQ: How should I think about marketing if I have limited cash?
Go heavy on social media and direct outreach. Post useful tips, short videos, and client stories. Join local groups, answer questions, and point people to a simple intake link. Organic content costs time, not cash, which is perfect at launch.
FAQ: What systems should I set up before I open the doors?
Create a simple written workflow from first call to filed case. Use one case management tool like Best Case or Jubilee. Add online intake, e-signature, and a shared checklist so the same steps happen every time.
FAQ: Who should answer the phone?
Not you. Use an answering service or intake specialist so every call is picked up and qualified. Missed calls are missed cases. 720 System Strategies uses non-attorney salespeople who know how to connect with the potential clients’ deepest pain points and overcome the obstacles to filing.
Book a free strategy session for your bankruptcy firm.
FAQ: When should I hire help?
Earlier than you think. Start with a part-time or contract paralegal. Give them your workflow and have them own document collection and follow-ups. Your time should go to consults, signing clients, and court work.
FAQ: How do I keep leads from slipping through the cracks?
Build a basic follow-up ladder on day one. A new lead gets a call within five minutes, then a text, then an email, then reminders until they schedule. Track every lead source and conversion so you can double down on what works.
FAQ: Where should my first clients come from?
Mix paid and unpaid. Paid sources include targeted digital ads and reputable lead partners. Unpaid sources include referrals from past clients, other attorneys, realtors, and financial counselors. Thank referrers quickly and keep them updated so they send the next case.
FAQ: How important is community and mentorship?
Very. Join NACBA and local bar groups. Attend trainings. Ask a busy practitioner if you can help for a few months to learn their flow. A mentor can cut months off your learning curve.
Book a free strategy session for your bankruptcy firm.
FAQ: What ongoing learning should I plan for?
Treat education like a standing bill. Take foundational bankruptcy courses now, then repeat them next year. You will catch details you missed once you have active cases.
FAQ: Any advice on niche strategy?
Consider a focused niche like small business debtors, student loan adversaries, or Spanish-language consumer work. Become the go-to for that slice and let other lawyers send you those matters.
FAQ: What about branding and office location?
Pick a clear name people can remember. Location matters less if your intake is digital, but choose an area that is growing and easy to reach. Keep rent low and spend on marketing and systems instead.
FAQ: What tech stack should I start with?
Start with one laptop, cloud case management, secure cloud storage, e-signature, online scheduling, and call routing. Go paperless from day one. Automate routine emails and reminders using 720 System Strategies.
Book a free strategy session for your bankruptcy firm.
FAQ: Apple or Microsoft for a small firm?
Either is fine if your software runs well on it. Many lawyers like Apple for stability and easy syncing. Choose the platform you will maintain with the least friction.
FAQ: What are the must-do administrative steps in week one?
Set up a separate intake phone line, a simple website with an online scheduler, a dedicated client email, and a trust account if your state requires it. Build your templated emails and document requests before the first consult.
FAQ: How do I handle client gratitude and referrals the right way?
After a successful case, ask for a review, thank the client, and note who referred them. Keep a light quarterly update to past clients so they remember you and know what else you handle.
FAQ: What common mistakes should new bankruptcy lawyers avoid?
Waiting to market until everything feels perfect, answering every call yourself, skipping a written process, and overspending on office space. Keep costs lean, measure results, and iterate.