Bankruptcy 2019 Law & Practice Track

Law Office Staff Breakout / Law Office Management: Tips, Tricks, Training,Recruitment, Responsible Staff Utilization, and Open Forum

This is a moderated session focusing on law office staff. The session involves participant introductions,responsibilities, work flow, office best practices and Q&As regarding working in a bankruptcy law practice.

Presenter Information:

Lisa McNeil, Courtroom Manager 
US Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of WV

Leslie Gallian, Chief Clerk, 
US Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of WV


Judicial Lien Avoidance           

Learn the correct method for avoiding a judicial lien in 11 U.S.C. § 522(f). The course covers multiple other judicial lien avoidance topics such as statutory liens, valuation, exemptions, amended statutory exemptions, the “fixing of alien” on property, what happens when a debtor does not own real property, fractional interests in real property, joint and several liability on a mortgage when the judgment is in the name of one of the joint owners, when to bring the lien avoidance action, and the effect of the discharge injunction on unattached liens. Participants will complete a practical exercise.

Presenter Information:

James Voithofer, Career Law Clerk 
US Bankruptcy Court, Northern District


Default & Default Judgment

With a focus on adversary proceedings, follow the process from the issuance of the summons, service, entry of default and the motion for default judgment. Learn how the clerk’s office reviews a case for entry of default, how the Soldiers and Sailor’s Civil Relief Act impacts default proceedings, who enters default judgment, how default judgements against the United States are handled, and what it means when a plaintiff is asked to prove entitlement to default judgment.

Presenter Information:

McKay Wyckoff, Career Law Clerk 
US Bankruptcy Court, Southern District


Different Methods of Dealing with Student Loan Debt for Individuals           




At about $1.5 trillion, student loan debt is the second highest consumer debt category behind mortgages. There are over 44 million student loan borrowers and about 10% of those are more than 90 days delinquent. Learn how to best deal with student loan debt both in and out of bankruptcy. Learn what student loans are dischargeable, what happens in Chapter 7, and how to best treat student loans in Chapter 13.

Presenter Information:

Steve Thomas, Esquire 
Kay, Casto & Chaney PLLC


Notice and Service in Bankruptcy Proceedings.

Learn about a bankruptcy case’s mailing list, preferred addresses, the Bankruptcy Noticing Center, noticing costs, and the difference between notice and service in bankruptcy proceedings. Learn when service may be effected electronically and when a filer has reason to know that an electronic transmission has failed.

Presenter Information:

Ryan Johnson, Clerk of Court 
US Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of WV


Formulating Chapter 13 Plans

The Office of the Chapter 13 Trustee leads a guided exercise on completing a Chapter 13 plan and answers questions from participants.

Presenter Information:

Helen Morris, Esquire 
The Office of the Chapter 13 Trustee

Meagan Preece, Esquire 
Office of the Chapter 13 Trustee Northern and Southern Districts of WV


Credit Reporting

Learn about the accuracy, preparation and correction of credit reports,access to credit reports and privacy, adverse actions based on credit reporting, disputes,the difference between the Fair Credit Reporting Act and other acts such as TILA, FDCPA, ECOA, and statutory remedies under the FCRA.

Presenter Information:

James Pietz, Esquire 
Feinstein Doyle Payne & Kravec, PLLC

Elizabeth Hanes 
Consumer Litigation Associates


Law Office Management & Ethics: When is it Legal Advice, Guidance for Non-Attorneys Working in a Law Office.

All office staff know not to give legal advice to anyone. Find out what that means in practice and how to determine whether a response constitutes legal advice.  

Presenter Information:

Lesley Hoops, Esquire 
U.S. Bankruptcy Courts, Southern District of WV


Legal Writing

The Hon. Frank Volk, Chief Bankruptcy Judge of the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of West Virginia shares his insight on legal writing and provides participants some of the same training instruction that he provides to his law clerks.

Presenter Information:

Honorable Frank W. Volk, Chief Judge 
US Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of WV


Law and the Cinema: Pop Culture and the Practice of Law          

Learn what the entertainment industry can teach or – or not teach us – about the practice of law and common perceptions held by non-legal clients.

Presenter Information:

Honorable Patrick M. Flatley, Chief Judge 
US Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of WV


Chapter 7 Means Testing and Chapter 13 Disposable Income Test

Learn how the Office of the U.S. Trustee reviews means testing information in Chapter 7 cases. Learn how the Office of the Chapter 13 trustee makes disposable income determination in Chapter 13 cases and how the Offices uses the information on the Chapter 13 disposable income test form. The course includes a practical exercise. Ask questions and get answers.

Presenter Information

U.S. Trustee’s Office, Chapter 13 Trustee’s Office                


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