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John A. Comerford

John A. Comerford

Law Offices of John A. Comerford
3900 Newpark Mall
Suite 326
Newark, CA 94560
Map

Phone: (510) 894-6649  |  Fax: (888) 606-8451
http://www.comerfordlawfirm.com

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Do Not Let Debt Control Your Life - Fight Back!

Legal Topic

Bankruptcy

Preferred New Clients

I accept anyone with financial difficulties that are interfering with their enjoyment of life and who are ready to do something about it.

This firm is a debt relief agency that helps people file for bankruptcy under the bankruptcy code.

Bar Admissions

CA, Nov 2007
Bar Number: 251177

Other Court Admissions

California State Courts
U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of California

Association Memberships

American Bar Association, California Bar Association, Alameda County Bar Association, San Francisco Bar Association, and National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys.

Continuing Education

The study of law never ends. Every client who comes in to my office brings something new and challenging. I constantly research codes and cases, looking for material that I can use to help our clients make their case just a little stronger and more persuasive, and that will help them achieve their goals.

Example Cases

One of my first clients came to me with a lawsuit in his hand from a credit card company he hadn't been able to pay for a while, and told me that he was out of work and had little money, but wanted to do his best to pay back his creditors. He was exactly the kind of person the bankruptcy code is intended to help - honest, hard-working, and just temporarily a little bit down on his luck, as many people are these days. He was willing to make minimal payments on his credit card debt, which was never going to go away at that rate, but he insisted on holding off on declaring bankruptcy and instead trying to negotiate with the credit card companies to let him make those minimal payments until he could get back on his feet. I respected his wishes and I began a long journey into credit card debt negotiation, in which I learned the ins and outs and dark secrets of the world of debt.

In the end, they wouldn't budge enough to let him make those minimal payments, and we did declare bankruptcy and ended it all right then and there, but to this day we remain close friends, and I still respect him for his pride and determination (though rather misguided, perhaps) to pay his debts. I believe that had the credit card company been more reasonable, he would have been able to eventually, somehow, pay them off in spite of the horrible interest rates they were charging, and when honest people come to me with debts they cannot pay, usually for reasons that they could not control, I do not hesitate to use the awesome power of bankruptcy to help them start a new life. I believe giving people the chance to make a fresh start is part of the greatness of America.

Education 

School:

Northwestern California University School of Law

Degree:

J.D.

City:

Sacramento

State:

CA

Year:

2006

 

School:

State University of New York at Albany

Degree:

M.A.

City:

Albany

State:

NY

Year:

1982

Focus and Accomplishments:

Education.

This firm is a debt relief agency that helps people file for bankruptcy under the bankruptcy code.

Number of Attorneys

2

State Licensed In

California.

Firm Focus and History

This law firm is founded on the principle that America is a nation where people of all backgrounds, races and cultures should have the chance to come and better themselves in a spirit of cooperation and mutual understanding. The small part we play in that great dream is to help people free themselves from financial burdens and personal difficulties, to make a fresh start and get back on the road to success, to work hard to make a better life for themselves and their children. It is the greatness of America that people are entitled by law to learn from and recover from mistakes, and if we can help that effort in even the smallest way it will be our great pride to do so. To that end we dedicate ourselves to making America a nation of opportunity and hope, where people can have the chance to try, to learn, and eventually to succeed. This is our mission. We pledge to fulfill it to the best of our ability and do our part to further the greatness of this magnificent country.

Previous Employment Summary

Before becoming an attorney I was a teacher, and I greatly enjoyed motivating people to learn new things, to expand their interests, to learn about themselves and to become what nature intended them to be.

This firm is a debt relief agency that helps people file for bankruptcy under the bankruptcy code.

What is your opinion regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?

I think it's a great idea for people to educate themselves as much as possible before tackling a legal issue, but to be on the safe side, they should consult an attorney to advise them even if they do plan to handle the situation primarily on their own.

Are you willing to review documents prepared by clients?

I have no problem with that as long as the documents are neat, well prepared and thoughtful, and the client has really made an effort to do the job right.

Are you willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?

It's dangerous for a lawyer to try to coach clients, because then if it doesn't go well, they might be angry and blame their lawyer/teacher for the bad result. I'd rather do the representation myself, since that is what a lawyer is trained to do.

Why did you decide to be a lawyer?

Sometimes you just know when you're destined to do something. That's how it was for me. Having spent a large part of my life growing up in Asia, it was a long and winding road to become a lawyer, but I never lost sight of it and finally was able to achieve my goal, for which I am eternally grateful. I believe that life is primarily a process of finding out who you are, what you are supposed to be, and working hard to become that. I am a happy person because I believe that I was made to be a lawyer and do my part for America and its people in this field, and I have achieved that goal.

What work experience and education helps you be a better lawyer?

I spent many years in Asia, learned to speak a number of foreign languages, and studied a wide variety of topics, and I think that this experience prepared me very well to become the lawyer I am now. I strongly believe that a lawyer needs to be well rounded, to be able to communicate with all kinds of people. I am grateful not to be a person who simply went through a lot of schools and ended up as a lawyer who is unable to relate to or communicate with people from other social strata. I have lived in many worlds and related to many kinds of people, and I think I am a better lawyer for that experience.

Why did you decide on your primary area of practice?

I started out as a divorce attorney, and saw that many of the problems families face are financially related. Money is an important thing, hard to get and easy to lose, and most people are not trained well to deal with it. One thing led to another, and though I still practice family law, most of my work now is in helping individuals and families get by financially in this very tough and, unfortunately, very materialistic world.

What do you like best about your career?

I like it when I get to hand my bankruptcy clients their final discharge notice and see them breathe a sigh of relief as they realize they are now free from the old debts that have been crushing down on them, and that they are able to move on with their lives in a positive direction. Nothing could be finer than to feel that you have been a small part of that.

Tell us about your law firm:

I am a sole practitioner because I like to control and direct the way things in my firm go. I work with other attorneys and paralegals who have enormous skills and knowledge, and I feel that my greatest contribution is not my legal knowledge but my ability to manage the great ability, skill and knowledge of others, and direct it all toward securing the best result for our clients. I interview and deal personally with all clients, I decide the course of their legal action, and I always keep a tight watch on everything that is happening with every one of them. In my firm the buck stops with me.

What are your strengths and style?

I think I am flexible, understanding, patient when patience is called for, tough when toughness is called for, and passionate about getting the job done right. I have no hidden agendas and my clients and the people I work with usually understand that right from the start. I am not there to show my own skill or knowledge. I'm there to get a job done, correctly, efficiently and in a way they will bring happiness to everybody involved. And if the time ever comes when I think I'm not doing that, it will be time to hang it up and try another field.

Personal Interests:

I grew up in a musical family, with a grandmother who had been a professional piano player during World War I. I loved her music as a child and I still play those songs on the piano today.

This firm is a debt relief agency that helps people file for bankruptcy under the bankruptcy code.

Fax

(888) 606-8451

Office Hours

Monday through Saturday
10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Hours are flexible according to client needs.

Emergency After Hours

Yes

Foreign Languages

Spanish, Vietnamese, Tagalog, and Japanese translators available.

This firm is a debt relief agency that helps people file for bankruptcy under the bankruptcy code.

Fixed-Price Services and Fees

A Chapter 7 Bankruptcy usually costs between $1,000 and $1,500. Chapter 13 varies, but usually in the vicinity of $3,000 to $3,500. Prices will vary depending on the complexity and nature of the case.

Hourly Rates

Usually we work on a flat fee basis.

Free Initial Consultation?

30 minute initial consultation is free.

Typical Retainer

In order to ensure that clients are serious about retaining our services, we ask that they pay a minimum fee of $250 to get the process started. The remainder can be worked out on an installment plan.

This firm is a debt relief agency that helps people file for bankruptcy under the bankruptcy code.

Understanding Fees

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