Back to Search Results

Law Office of Jon G. Brooks

941 W. Hedding Street
San Jose, CA 95126
Map

Phone: (408) 286-2766
http://www.brooksattorney.com

http://www.bayareabankruptcylawyerblog.com

Our Goal-to Free You from Debt and Restore Your Dignity

Types of Cases
Firm Focus & History
Practice & Philosophy
Office Information
Fees

Legal Topic

Bankruptcy

Number of Attorneys

State Licensed In

California

Firm Focus

Consumer Bankruptcy, Small Business Bankruptcy, Estate Planning, and Small Business Transactions.

Firm History

The Law Office of Jon G. Brooks was founded in March 2004 after Jon Brooks left the Peninsula law firm McGlashan & Sarrail where he was an associate attorney. The firm began practicing consumer bankruptcy law prior to the 2005 BAPCPA, the most significant changes to bankruptcy law in a generation, and ever since we have earned our reputation as one of the South Bay's most admired consumer bankruptcy law firms. In 2008 David Hsu joined our firm as an associate, and he has since established himself as an expert in all aspects of Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy.

Activities and Awards

Active members of the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys and the San Jose Chapter 13 Committee.

Example Cases

We help hundreds of clients every year stop foreclosures, strip off second mortgage liens, stop law suits and wage garnishments, discharge credit card and tax debt. Though their debt burdens may be common, every one of our clients is unique, and we treat them with individual, personal attention and respect.

What is your firm's point of view regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?

We practice law in Silicon Valley for some of the smartest, most inquisitive people in the world, and we admire our clients. Our attorneys spend hundreds of hours every year writing and publishing articles online aimed at raising the public's awareness and knowledge of bankruptcy law and estate planning with the aim of providing everyone with the tools to approach our common legal problems.

Are your attorneys willing to review documents prepared by clients?

Certainly. We regularly offer our thoughts and advice to clients with respect to their own documents, particularly client-drafted contracts in the context of our business transactional practice.

Are your attorneys willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?

By definition, a person representing him - or herself is not represented by an attorney, having declined such representation. Because representing oneself in bankruptcy especially can result in disastrous loss of property, we actively discourage folks from taking self-representation. The risks are simply too great.

Are your attorneys willing to help a client with one discrete part of a case, without taking on the whole case?

Yes. We offer limited scope representation in business transactions routinely, but not in bankruptcy cases, which really require seeing the entire case through from start to finish if the client's best interests are to be served.

What are your policies about dividing work among the firm's partners, associates, and paralegals to make the process most cost-effective for the client?

We offer low, flat fees in bankruptcy cases. That means we don't bill by the hour for attorney time. We pride ourselves in making a skilled bankruptcy attorney available to every bankruptcy client to answer even routine questions and allay concerns. Much of this could be accomplished by a paralegal, but for just a flat fee, our clients get a skilled attorney without having to worry about the clock.

How frequently does your firm use mediation, arbitration, or collaborative law to resolve cases?

We're not litigation attorneys, and these types of alternative dispute resolution are not relevant to bankruptcy, estate planning or transactional business law.

Does your firm provide pro bono legal services or otherwise participate in your community?

We handle several pro bono bankruptcy cases every year for indigent clients.

What distinguishes your law firm from others?

Our attorneys have chosen to fight for David not Goliath. We practice consumer bankruptcy law precisely because our aim is to practice law humanely and fight for regular honest people. Sure, we could make far more money working for banks, credit card companies or insurance companies, but that's not who we are.

Office Manager/Assistant

Kristine Sajan-Fencl

Office Hours

Monday through Friday
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Emergency After Hours

Yes

Foreign Languages

Jon Brooks and Kristine Sajan-Fencl speak Spanish fluently. David Hsu speaks Korean fluently.

Fixed-Price Services and Fees

The vast majority of our services are offered on a flat-fee basis, including Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy (non-litigation), estate planning, and business formation and contracts.

Hourly Rates

In the rare cases where hourly rates apply, it is currently $325.

Free Initial Consultation?

Yes. All potential bankruptcy clients are offered a free consultation without strict time limitations - generally lasting one hour.

Typical Retainer

Flat Fee Bankruptcy cases range from $1000 to $5000 depending on Chapter 7 or 13 and the complexity of the case.

Understanding Fees

Nolo's Licensing Check

Attorneys have passed a licensing check. Nolo has confirmed that every member attorney has a valid license and is in good standing with the state agency that licenses lawyers upon joining the directory.

Directory lawyers are required to notify Nolo immediately if they become the subject of any disciplinary action by any state licensing agency.