Bankruptcy

Jay Fleischman Debuts New Blogs and Service

I joke with Jay Fleischman, a New York debtor’s attorney, that I want to be just like him when I grow up. When you come to the end of this post, you might understand why.

First up, Jay’s debuting his new blogs. New York Bankruptcy Litigation aims to elucidate the intricacies of those matters litigated in bankruptcy cases. As Jay points out, consumer bankruptcies by themselves are not really litigation - they take place in a court but are “largely … administrative matter[s],” as Jay says in his premier post. But when a triable case arises in a bankruptcy proceeding, it’s a whole new ballgame. The depth and breadth of the bankruptcy court’s jurisdiction is stunning to those who don’t practice before it regularly, and the rules can be different from what many trial attorneys are used to. Add in the complexity of the rules mandated by the horrible drafting at work in the 2005 bankruptcy amendments, and you’ve got the makings for a legal thriller (albeit one fueled mostly by bankruptcy code provisions which may put most readers, with the exception of consumer bankruptcy lawyers such as me, to sleep - what can I say? We’re a strange bunch to begin with). Jay is sure to have plenty of “blog fodder” to keep this one jumping.

Next, we have New York Foreclosure Information. Jay’s going to use this one to provide state-specific advice to consumers facing foreclosure or simply wanting to learn more about that particular legal nightmare. It’s a particularly timely blog topic, since foreclosure rates are skyrocketing in many portions of the country, thanks to those ARM rate growth spurts.

There are also his previously maintained blogs, now with shiny updated skins and whole new looks (it’s like Extreme Makeover: the Blog Edition). New York Bankruptcy & Consumer Law Blog (snappy title!) and Bankruptcy Practice Pro are aimed at different players in the bankruptcy drama, the former for consumers and non-practitioners, and the latter for consumer debtor lawyers who are seeking to maximize their practices without making their services cost-prohibitive for those they seek to help. I’ve learned a lot from Jay’s BPP blog since my own firm’s launch, and it’s “must reading” on my Bloglines subscription.

Finally, there’s Jay’s new business venture - MyThirdWave Case Management System. Those folks who aren’t lawyers may not fully appreciate the complexity of a practice dedicated to consumer bankruptcy cases. Jay’s system promises a fresh approach to logging, tracking, and managing the lawyer’s efforts on behalf of the consumer debtor. To my knowledge, it’s the first CM system wholly dedicated and geared towards the consumer bankruptcy practice. It’s the system Jay himself has been using for several years now, apparently. I’m highly intrigued by it and definitely plan to try it out in the future. I’m always looking for ways to improve my efficiency and save my clients money.

And all those undertakings - the four blogs, the new business venture - are in addition to his own consumer bankruptcy practice, (not to mention the many times a day he offers advice and assistance to his colleagues on the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys listserv). I hear tell he sleeps, too, on occasion, but never for very long and always standing up, a copy of the Bankruptcy Code (as amended) in hand. And there’s a baby on the way! (That ought to take care of that sleeping nonsense.)

In all seriousness, congratulations to someone who, as I told him earlier, makes me look like a slacker; having embraced my own inner Type A long ago, I consider that a challenging task indeed!

© 2007 SC Bankruptcy & Consumer Law Blog.