Are you prepared to handle consumer bankruptcy claims? A solid understanding of fundamental bankruptcy law and procedures is essential to your confidence and effectiveness as a bankruptcy practitioner. Order today to learn the technical skills needed to provide immediate protection to clients and help them establish financially stable futures.

• Introduction to the Bankruptcy Code and Rules
• Conducting the Initial Client Interview
• The Basics of Chapter 7
• The Basics of Chapter 13
• Ensure Ethical Conduct
• Managing the Filing Process
• Automatic Stay Litigation in a Nutshell

Continuing Education Credits:   

* denotes specialty credits

INTRODUCTION TO THE BANKRUPTCY CODE AND RULES
9:00 - 10:00, Michael K. Daniels

• Various Bankruptcy Proceedings
• Eligibility
• Exemptions

CONDUCTING THE INITIAL CLIENT INTERVIEW
10:15 - 11:15, Michael K. Daniels

• Bankruptcy Alternatives
• How to Conduct and Analyze Intake Interviews
• Must-Ask Questions in Follow-Up Interviews
• Rules for Setting Up Retainer Agreements
• Creating Correspondence Faster
• Helping Your Client Determine Which Chapter to File
• Clarifying Key Differences Between Chapters for Clients

THE BASICS OF CHAPTER 7
11:15 - 12:15, Gerald R. Velarde

• Information to Obtain From Debtors
• How to Apply the Means Test
• Exempt vs. Non-Exempt Property
• When to File Petition and Related Documents
• The Trustee's Role
• Automatic Stay
• What to Expect From Creditors' Meetings
• Spot Problems When Liquidating Remaining Assets
• Control Distribution to Creditors and Discharge of Bankruptcy

THE BASICS OF CHAPTER 13
1:15 - 2:15, Gerald R. Velarde

• Compare and Contrast Chapter 13 and Chapter 7
• Automatic Stay Provisions
• The Trustee's Role as Administrator
• Tips for Creating and Filing Repayment Plans
• Easy Ways to Establish Priority of Claims
• Avoid Mistakes When Confirming or Rejecting Plans
• When Conversion to Chapter 7 is Applicable
• Enforce and Modify Plans
• Uncover Broader Discharge Options

ENSURING ETHICAL CONDUCT
2:15 - 3:15, Don F. Harris

• Specific Provisions of the Bankruptcy Code on Ethics
• Sanctions in Bankruptcy Proceedings
• Ethics of Conflicts of Interest
• Avoid Abuse of Involuntary Proceedings
• Representing Creditors - Ethically

MANAGING THE FILING PROCESS
3:30 - 4:00, Don F. Harris

• Choose the Right Forms
• What Schedules to File
• Do's and Don'ts When Filing Petitions
• Pros and Cons of Electronic Filing

AUTOMATIC STAY LITIGATION IN A NUTSHELL
4:00 - 4:30, Don F. Harris

• The Real Purpose of the Automatic Stay
• Terminating the Stay
• Obtaining Relief From the Stay
• Determine Violations of the Stay
• How the Stay Affects the Statutes of Limitation
• Helpful Sample Forms

MICHAEL K. DANIELS is a sole practitioner in Albuquerque, where his main area of practice is bankruptcy. Mr. Daniels is a member of the State Bar of New Mexico, the 10th Circuit Court and the Federal District Court of New Mexico. He earned his B.A. degree from Kalamazoo College and his J.D. degree from the University of New Mexico.

DON F. HARRIS is the founder of The Law Firm of Don Harris in Albuquerque, New Mexico, practicing in the area of bankruptcy and family law. Mr. Harris graduated cum laude, from the University of Connecticut Law School. He clerked for the chief judge of one of the busiest federal bankruptcy courts in the country. Mr. Harris is the past chair and a current member of the Bankruptcy Section of the New Mexico State Bar, as well as the family law section. He is a current member of the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys. Mr. Harris founded and was the first president of the States' Association of Bankruptcy Attorneys (SABA), which is a national association of state and local governmental legal professionals who coordinate and cooperate in bankruptcy matters on a national level. Mr. Harris was the lead attorney representing 31 states in the US Supreme Court of Raleigh v. Illinois, in which he prevailed both in getting the Supreme Court to hear the case and ultimately to unanimously rule in favor of the position he was advocating on behalf of the many states. Mr. Harris was invited to testify before Congress in the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee on March 18, 1999 regarding proposed changes to the bankruptcy code at that time. He was selected to participate in the proceedings before the National Bankruptcy Review Commission that was created by Congress to recommend changes to the bankruptcy code. Mr. Harris has written articles in leading bankruptcy publications and written materials and presented at several bankruptcy seminars for attorneys. He has obtained numerous published court opinions in several different states in the area of bankruptcy law. He has been honored by the New Mexico State Bar three times with appointments to serve on the Judicial Selection Committee. Mr. Harris has been selected by the New Mexico bankruptcy judges to serve on a local rules committee.

GERALD R. VELARDE is a sole practitioner in Albuquerque. His practice mainly involves consumer and small business bankruptcy or workouts. Mr. Velarde serves as chairperson of the Chapter 13 Committee appointed by the Bankruptcy Court and serves on the Local Rules Advisory Committee. He also serves as a board member of the Bankruptcy Section of the State Bar and is a past chairperson of that section. From 1980 through 1991, Mr. Velarde practiced bankruptcy law in Dallas, Texas. Since moving back to New Mexico in 1991, he has practiced bankruptcy law mainly as a sole or small-firm practitioner. He earned his B.S. and J.D. degrees from the University of New Mexico.

Please refer to Continuing Education Credit FAQ for general information about seeking credit for your participation in one of our continuing education programs.

Additionally, our team of credit specialists are here to answer your specific credit-related questions weekdays 7am - 5pm Central:

Phone: 866-240-1890

Email: credit@nbi-sems.com