How to Scale a High Volume Bankruptcy Practice
Watch the interview below with Erik Clark of Borowitz & Clark on building a process-driven, scalable bankruptcy practice. We cover the software stack, case staging, automation, staff training, and why engaging with the court and bar community pays off for your firm and your clients.
Watch & Learn: How to Scale a High Volume Bankruptcy Practice
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do you scale a high volume bankruptcy practice?
- What core software does a modern bankruptcy firm need?
- Should I customize my CRM or buy off the shelf?
- How do I structure cases into clear stages?
- Which tasks should I automate first?
- How should I train staff in a process-driven practice?
- Is it better to cross-train or compartmentalize roles?
- How should intake handle the first call with a lead?
- Why should debtor attorneys engage with the court and bar community?
- What are the three pillars to prioritize before marketing?
FAQ: How do you scale a high volume bankruptcy practice?
Scaling a high volume bankruptcy practice starts with repeatable processes, strong software, trained people, and active engagement with your local bankruptcy ecosystem. Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 matters follow predictable paths, so map those paths, stage each case, and track movement through those stages.
Build a conveyor belt of steps from intake to post-filing, then use your tools to keep every file moving. When a case does not fit the mold, train your team to spot it, pull it off the belt, troubleshoot, and return it to the flow once resolved.
FAQ: What core software does a modern bankruptcy firm need?
A modern bankruptcy firm needs petition preparation software and a customizable CRM or case management system that reflects Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 workflows. Off-the-shelf tools can work if you adapt them to bankruptcy and keep them current with cloud capabilities.
Use your CRM to define stages such as document collection, petition prep, filing, and post-filing. Track every matter by stage, capture notes that give context at a glance, and make sure your system supports both automation and reporting.
FAQ: Should I customize my CRM or buy off the shelf?
You should start with a widely used legal CRM or case management platform, then customize it for bankruptcy. No tool is perfect out of the box, so budget for development time to align fields, stages, and automations with your process.
This investment pays back by cutting manual data entry, reducing misses, and giving your team a single source of truth. As technology evolves, revisit your build and keep tuning it.
FAQ: How do I structure cases into clear stages?
Structure cases into stages that mirror the real work, like intake triage, document collection, petition preparation, filing, trustee interactions, plan confirmation, and post-filing follow-through. Make the stages different for Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 where needed.
Assign owners to each stage and define the handoff triggers. Your system should show at a glance where a file sits and what must happen next.
FAQ: Which tasks should I automate first?
Automate lead capture into the CRM, intake scheduling, document requests and reminders, and standard status updates. These steps are high volume and rules-based, so automation saves hours and keeps clients informed.
Feed new leads straight into your system with a concise case snippet so callers have context before they pick up the phone. Reserve human attention for analysis and exceptions.
FAQ: How should I train staff in a process-driven practice?
Train staff with a mix of internal playbooks and external education from local bar groups, your court, software vendors, and NACBA programs. Consistent training helps your team issue-spot and know when a case needs special handling.
Invest the time up front and you will see fewer errors and smoother handoffs. Keep a running library of checklists, screen recordings, and templates tied to each case stage.
FAQ: Is it better to cross-train or compartmentalize roles?
Both can work, but compartmentalizing by stage is effective at scale. For example, dedicate one team to prospective clients and early emotional support, another to pre-filing tasks, and another to post-filing work.
Specialization builds speed and depth. If you prefer cross-training, add clear guidelines for when to escalate unusual facts so nothing slips.
FAQ: How should intake handle the first call with a lead?
Intake should come prepared with context from the CRM, speak with empathy, and set realistic expectations about bankruptcy relief and next steps. Many callers arrive with shame and myths, so meet them where they are and educate without judgment.
Give your intake team scripts that normalize bankruptcy as a fix for life events like illness, divorce, or job loss. The goal is to build trust quickly and guide the caller onto your process.
FAQ: Why should debtor attorneys engage with the court and bar community?
Engaging with the court, trustees, and local bar groups helps align firm processes with court realities and can drive system-level improvements. Feedback loops with clerks, judges, and the U.S. Trustee can remove roadblocks for everyone.
This work takes time, yet it improves efficiency and outcomes for debtors and firms alike. It also builds credibility that benefits clients and the larger debtor bar.
FAQ: What are the three pillars to prioritize before marketing?
Prioritize software and systems, people and training, and community involvement with your court and debtor bar. Marketing matters, but these three pillars create the capacity and quality that make marketing spend worthwhile.
Once your conveyor belt runs clean, your team is trained, and your court relationships are strong, new cases slot in smoothly and clients get better results.