Preparing For Your Hearing

We receive a ton of questions regarding the types of hearing opportunities and the time commitment involved. While we generally tell our attorneys that the hearings posted are simple, procedural hearings that require very little preparation, it would be to your advantage, and our client's, if you were to review the materials on our website. Most of the hearings will have attachments or pleadings associated with each appearance. **IMPORTANT** Unless ordered by the Court, you are not expected to, and, under most circumstances, prohibited from drafting and filing any pleadings or motions for these cases. More often than not, they will also include specific instructions for this particular hearing -- including notes and maybe authorization to negotiate a settlement or payment plan.

Regarding the filing of appearances in certain matters: Depending on the various jurisdictions and/or rules, you may be required to file an appearance (general or temporary.) If this is the case, please withdraw your appearance following your assignment. Please remember, these hearing opportunities are temporary and you will not retain responsibility for these matters/cases. 

Also -- sometimes our clients will make a clerical error when inputting the hearing information, such as date, time or location. When you select a hearing, double-check the pleadings to make sure the hearing information on our website is correct. If you see something that doesn't look right, give us a call or shoot us an email. We will get on it ASAP.

If you click on the "Attachments" link, you will be able to download any associated documents, pleadings or instructions that the client uploaded. 

Additionally, a daily docket of your calendar for the following business date is sent to you at 4:00 PM. 

Note that you are personally obligated to appear at the hearing. You may not outsource or otherwise find a substitution to appear in your place. We have specific compliance regulations with our clients and we require the covering attorney to be the person appearing.

Contacting a Witness for a Hearing

A few of our clients, with Bank of America hearings, may have a witness assigned to the hearing.  If you accept one of these hearings you agree to have a phone conversation with the client's witness. This phone call must occur 3 days before the hearing so that you are prepared for the hearing. You will find the witness contact information in the Special Instructions on the Hearing Details page. If the witness contact information is not listed in the Special Instructions it will be added.

Failure to contact the witness within 3 days may result in a filter that prohibits you from covering this client's hearings, and your account may be suspended for up to 60 days.