Inside the AI Systems Powering a 400-Case-Per-Month Bankruptcy Firm
I sat down with bankruptcy attorney Chad Van Horn to talk about how AI is reshaping debtor practice. He has two AI developers on staff and is shipping real tools, not theories. The headline is speed with control. Motions build themselves from the docket. Payment plans self-configure in shorter timeframes. Document collection is smoother. Staff get data-driven coaching. All of it runs inside guarded systems so confidential material stays in house.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How is AI changing day-to-day bankruptcy work right now?
- What does the in-house motion generator actually do?
- How accurate is it and what did it replace?
- Is this a website or a prompt window, and will it file to PACER?
- How did the team handle ethics and guardrails?
- What AI tools help with document collection and petition prep?
- How did AI change payment setup and collections?
- What time savings came from dropping paper and double entry?
- Can AI improve client emails without sounding robotic?
- How is AI used to coach staff and improve signups?
- Will AI replace attorneys or shift their work?
- What is coming in the next six months?
FAQ: How is AI changing day-to-day bankruptcy work right now?
AI is changing day-to-day bankruptcy work by taking repetitive drafting off human plates, pulling facts from the docket and schedules, and generating ready-to-review motions, orders, and certificates so staff can focus on judgment calls and client issues.
FAQ: What does the in-house motion generator actually do?
The in-house motion generator builds a complete motion package by pulling case data, dropping in approved language, and producing a Word or PDF draft for items like impose or extend stay and motions to value.
FAQ: How accurate is it and what did it replace?
Accuracy sits around 99 percent and it replaced a maze of old templates, stale signature blocks, manual copy-paste, and the bounce backs that came with them.
FAQ: Is this a website or a prompt window, and will it file to PACER?
This is a secure internal website, and the next version will connect to PACER so approved documents can be queued for filing.
FAQ: How did the team handle ethics and guardrails?
The team handled ethics and guardrails by running everything inside a private workspace, hardcoding citations, constraining data sources, and keeping attorney review on every draft.
FAQ: What AI tools help with document collection and petition prep?
AI tools help with document collection and petition prep through services like Glade.ai, which chase, organize, and map documents into the petition so cases reach file-ready status faster.
FAQ: How did AI change payment setup and collections?
AI changed payment setup and collections by letting clients choose weekly or biweekly plans in an automated flow, which shortened average timelines from nine months toward four and improved completion.
FAQ: What time savings came from dropping paper and double entry?
Time savings from dropping paper and double entry total about 15 minutes per client, which translated to roughly 100 hours in a 400-signup month, with fewer errors.
FAQ: Can AI improve client emails without sounding robotic?
AI can improve client emails without sounding robotic by drafting replies in your voice from your own archive, so lawyers make light edits and cut back-and-forth while keeping tone natural.
FAQ: How is AI used to coach staff and improve signups?
AI is used to coach staff and improve signups by reporting outreach volume, satisfaction cues, and friction points, which lets managers coach with facts and reward the behaviors that close files.
FAQ: Will AI replace attorneys or shift their work?
AI will shift attorneys’ work by removing data entry and elevating quality control, strategy, negotiation, and court time, with hiring aimed at higher-skill roles.
FAQ: What is coming in the next six months?
In the next six months, expect more coverage for motion types, tighter links to filing systems, and simpler ways to trigger drafts, including email-to-draft flows for lawyers who prefer sending a quick instruction.
Disclaimer: The content on this blog is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Watching our videos and reading our blogs does not create an attorney-client relationship. Always consult a licensed bankruptcy attorney or financial professional about your situation.