Learning to draft petitions is one challenge. Finding attorneys who will send you work is another, and it is the one that stops most new Virtual Bankruptcy Assistants. The good news is that your market is clear: attorneys who file consumer bankruptcy cases and are short of time. The method is straightforward, though it takes persistence.
A realistic note first: nobody can promise you a number of clients or an income. How quickly it goes depends on you, your market and your follow-through.
1. Understand what attorneys want
Attorneys are not buying petitions. They are buying time and peace of mind. What they want to know is whether you will return accurate work on schedule, flag problems instead of guessing, protect their client data and send legal questions back to them. Make those points in every conversation. They are also the commitments in the NAVBA Code of Ethics.
2. Get found where attorneys are already looking
Attorneys who want a VBA search the NAVBA directory, and every NAVBA membership includes a free listing. Make yours complete and professional: your states, the chapters you draft, the services you offer (research, e-filing, 341 notices, amendments) and a clear way to contact you. Mention certification if you have it.
3. Find attorneys who file bankruptcy cases
PACER shows who is actually filing consumer cases in your area, and a skill with it sets you apart. NAVBA offers PACER training to members (the plan comparison shows which plans include it). Yearly members also receive a marketing list of more than 4,000 bankruptcy attorneys, a method for finding hiring attorneys in under five minutes, and referrals to actively hiring attorneys when they are available.
4. Make it easy to say yes
- Offer a trial. Many attorneys will hand over one case to see how you work. Say so plainly, and agree on turnaround and price first.
- Send something useful. Members receive an eBook to give attorneys that explains the value of outsourcing petition drafting. It does the explaining so you do not have to.
- Be specific. "I draft Chapter 7 and 13 petitions in your district and can e-file" is better than "I can help with bankruptcy."
5. Follow up, politely and more than once
Attorneys are busy. A first message is rarely answered. A polite second and third, spaced out, often are. Keep a simple list of who you contacted, when and what they said.
6. Treat the first case as the sales pitch
The first case is how you win the second. Return clean work on time, flag open questions, never give legal advice and invoice clearly. An attorney who sends you one case and receives a good petition usually sends another.
7. Know your limits
If a case falls outside your skills, say so. The Code of Ethics asks members to refer work to another qualified VBA when a task is outside their ability. It is better for your reputation than a bad petition.
Next steps
Membership includes the directory listing, attorney marketing resources and the community of other VBAs who do this work. See the full list of benefits, compare the plans and join NAVBA. If you are still building the skills, start with training options.
This article is general information about bankruptcy practice, not legal advice. Local rules, trustee preferences and state law vary, so confirm current requirements for your jurisdiction.
