Seeing a lawyer is never fun.
A lot of people feel ashamed or afraid. In the case of bankruptcy, they might feel judged. They could always pay their bills until the husband lost his job, until the wife experienced health problems. They then used up their savings to pay bills, and now rely on their credit cards. Their credit card debt is mounting, their home is underwater, and they feel ashamed. They tried to do everything right, but it still came out wrong.
In an employment law case, the employee might be afraid. She has been harassed for so long that she believes the boss has total control. If the employee meets with a lawyer, the boss could find out and fire her. The employee hates her job, but she needs it to pay the bills, including rent for her apartment.
Seeing a lawyer could mean facing that scary, shameful situation for months on end. It just seems easier to ignore it, to hold out another month. Maybe something will change. Maybe it will get better.
But if your problem is bad enough, the only way to fix it is to face it. That means seeking out a lawyer.
A lawyer will discuss with you the best way to approach your situation. Your problem may not have a legal solution, but if it does, the lawyer can represent your interests in court.
For a couple that files for bankruptcy, that means (1) discussing which type of bankruptcy best suits their needs; (2) helping them file the petition; (3) represent them at the creditor's meeting; (4) helping them come up with suitable payment plan over a three- or five-year period (if it applies); as well as other issues that may appear during the bankruptcy.
For the employee facing discrimination or harassment, that means determining (1) the nature of her situation; (2) whether her problem has a legal solution; (3) whether she needs to seek help from an administrative agency before filing a lawsuit; and (4) if she has exhausted her administrative remedies, where she should file her case. From there, the lawyer would represent her through the trial phase, unless the case settles sooner.
In each case, the couple and the employee have the opportunity to start afresh. Moreover, if the employer fires the employee for reporting harassment, the employee has a wrongful termination claim.
The Wild Law Office represents clients in both of the scenarios above. While I cannot guarantee the best result, I will work hard to get as strong a result possible, so that you can start over with your life.
