Member Services and Benefits
Because it is the only national organization dedicated to consumer bankruptcy issues, NACBA provides valuable services to debtors, members, policy makers and the general community. NACBA membership provides both professional development and personal satisfaction. NACBA members can take advantage of the Annual Convention and up to 13 hours of CLE in just one seminar. Members can use the listserv and, with all of the NACBA colleagues, feel as though they have hundreds of law firm associates on whose expertise they can draw. NACBA members get personal satisfaction knowing that they belong to an organization that stands up to the credit industry’s attempts to change the Bankruptcy Code for its own gain, regardless of the harm to debtors and the bankruptcy system.
Free Fastcase Legal Research
I
first joined NACBA many years ago and was incredibly impressed with
the quality and amount of useful information I would gain at the annual
conventions and seminars. Like all of us, I had attended many
bankruptcy seminars over the years, but the bulk of the content at
those seminars had nothing to do with my practice. The intricacies of
chapter 11's and workouts somehow didn’t interest me! When I attended
my first NACBA seminar, I thought I had “died and gone to heaven.” I
couldn’t believe such a resource existed and I had not known about it.
A consumer bankruptcy practitioner would be foolhardy not to join
NACBA.
John Rogers, Glasgow, KY
Member since 1999
Each NACBA member receives free, as part of his/her membership, access to Fastcase’s bankruptcy database, including opinions of: (i) the U.S. Supreme Court from 1 U.S. 1 to the present; (ii) the Federal Courts of Appeal from 1 F.2d 1 to the present; (iii) the Federal District Courts from 1 F.Supp. 1 to the present; and (iv) the Bankruptcy Courts from 1 B.R. 1 to the present.
In addition, NACBA members will be eligible to purchase Fastcase’s “Premium Plan,” which includes access to a database of opinions of the supreme courts and courts of appeal of all 50 states, at an annual rate of just $195. This is a significant discount from the non-member annual price of $995.
Amicus Brief Project and Litigation Support
NACBA files amicus briefs in selected
appellate and Supreme Court cases that could significantly impact consumer
bankruptcy rights. The program has achieved national recognition and has
influenced many important judicial decisions, some of which have specifically
cited NACBA's briefs. Most recently NACBA filed successful amicus briefs in the
United States Supreme Court in Till v. SCS Credit Corp. on the proper
method for calculating the discount interest rate in a chapter 13 cramdown and Tennessee
Student Assistance Corp. v. Hood concerning sovereign immunity under the
Bankruptcy Clause of the Constitution in relation to the hardship discharge for
student loans. NACBA has expanded its program to include lower court cases on
important issues under the 2005 bankruptcy legislation. NACBA members
have access to all amicus briefs as well as model briefs on numerous issues
arising under the 2005 bankruptcy amendments.
Educational Seminars
Members enjoy a discounted rate for NACBA’s Annual Convention and Members-Only educational workshops. The NACBA Convention
is the educational seminar of choice for consumer bankruptcy attorneys
nationwide. Held in the spring, it features over 13 hours of Continuing
Legal Education on topics solely devoted to consumer bankruptcy law,
such as recent developments in the law, ethics, tax, and law office
management and also cutting-edge issues of the day, ranging from credit
reporting and scoring to attacking mortgage servicing claims.
Judges and nationally recognized speakers provide case law updates,
practical tips on effective representation of clients, information on
emerging trends nationwide, and in-depth discussions of topical issues.
Over one thousand consumer bankruptcy attorneys each year improve their
knowledge and skills and still have time to meet and learn from
colleagues while obtaining valuable CLE credit.
NACBA's Members-Only workshops provide the opportunity for in-depth learning on selected topics of interest to our members.
Attorney Finder listing
I find the listserv and on-line document collection invaluable to practice and, of course, it has fostered many new friendships. Being able to consult with hundreds of practitioners and be kept current on developments in other districts has been the only way to survive BAPCPA for me. And any ‘innovation’ I have brought to local bankruptcy practice was inspired by – or stolen outright from – the work of fellow NACBA members. Participating in the listserv is like belonging to a boutique national law firm with hundreds of members who do nothing but your specialty while allowing you to almost never leave your office or pick up the phone to collaborate with colleagues. Wendell Sherk, St. Louis, MO
Member since 2001
NACBA members can increase their business with a free listing in NACBA’s on-line Attorney Finder,
which is prominently featured for consumers looking for a bankruptcy
attorney. The Attorney Finder profile includes a link to the member’s
own website, a profile of the member and other features.
Representation in Washington
NACBA's
team of legislative advocates in Washington assists the Board of
Directors to ensure that the voices of consumer debtors and their
attorneys are heard in debates about proposed changes to the Bankruptcy
Code. NACBA has represented the views of consumer debtors and their
attorneys not only in the halls of Congress, but also before the
Executive Office of the U.S. Trustee, the Internal Revenue Service, and
the Advisory Committee on Bankruptcy Rules. NACBA also maintains strong
working relationships with other organizations and individuals
protecting the rights of consumers. NACBA Members may participate in
this process through our Capitol Hill Day event, when NACBA members
gather in Washington to meet with their Senators and Congressional
representatives to educate them on issues affecting debtors.
Document Resource Center
NACBA's
maintains an extensive document resource center that includes amicus
briefs, model brief, member-posted legal pleadings, and articles and
documents that aid members in their practice. The document center
currently features hundreds of documents including motions, briefs,
demand letters and discovery requests, with new documents posted
weekly, if not daily.
NACBA Listserv
One
of the most popular features of NACBA membership is the ability of
NACBA members to pose bankruptcy questions and get real time responses
from their colleagues around the country. NACBA Listserv participants
enjoy the unparalleled ability to post both the easy and hard questions
to some of the best consumer bankruptcy attorneys in the nation. This
listserv, which also functions as a virtual community of people doing
the same type of work, is a boon for the new practitioner as well as
the most sophisticated consumer bankruptcy attorneys.
Tools for the Trade
Members
can take advantage of special discounts and offers from our Convention
sponsors and other providers of bankruptcy practice-related services
and products, including a 20% discount on Collier Research Suites.
Monthly Newsletter
NACBA’s
Monthly Newsletter for members features timely articles regarding
important legislative matters and court decisions, as well as
technology tips and other information important to bankruptcy
practitioners.
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We recommend you renew you NACBA membership by using our online renewal process.
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If
you prefer paper, you have the option of filling out and either mailing
or faxing a renewal form to NACBA. All necessary instructions are
provided within the Renewal Form.
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