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I’m Mark.
I help Arizonans wipe out debt, discharge student loans, and protect what they rebuild. Practicing law since 1993.
People ask about the shirts. The short answer is I like them. The longer answer is nobody’s ever relaxed across a desk from a suit.
Across the desk
Here’s how a first meeting with me goes. You sit down. I ask what’s going on. You tell me, in whatever order it comes out. I ask a few questions, and then I tell you the truth about where you stand and what I’d do about it. Plain words the whole way. If something’s good news, I’ll say so. If it isn’t, I’ll say that too, along with what we do next.
Why this work
I’ve been asked why I picked bankruptcy law. The first time I watched a discharge come through for a family that hadn’t slept in a year, it didn’t feel like paperwork. It felt like watching someone get their life handed back. That was a long time ago. It still doesn’t feel like paperwork.
Most of law is arguing about money between people who have some. This is the corner of it where you hand somebody their mail back, their paycheck back, their Saturday mornings back. I never found a better use for a law degree.
Relax. I’ve done this a few thousand times. Let’s get you sorted out.
I’ve practiced law since 1993, and helping people out from under debt has been the center of it for 30+ years. These days that’s three things.
Bankruptcy.
The fresh-start work I’ve built my career on: Chapter 7 when the debt needs to go, Chapter 13 when you need time.
Student loan discharge.
The court work almost nobody takes on. I trained for it on purpose.
Protecting what you rebuild.
I don’t disappear when your case closes. When you’re back on your feet, a simple trust keeps your family out of probate.
The credentials
The paper part, in plain English.
J.D., Brigham Young University, 1993.
Practicing law since the year I graduated.
Arizona Bar, 2002; California Bar, 1993.
Licensed in two states; Arizona is home.
National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys.
The professional home for lawyers who represent people, not banks.
Max Gardner’s Bankruptcy Boot Camp.
The training ground for attorneys who actually litigate against lenders rather than just filing paperwork. It’s a short list, and it’s the reason I don’t flinch at the courtroom part of student loan work.
Off the clock
Outside the office it’s Arizona: early mornings before the heat, and an East Valley I’ve watched grow up around this practice. Mesa has been good to me for a long time. This work is how I return the favor.
“He told me I didn’t need him.”
My appointment with counselor Atchley left me pleasantly surprised; it turns out that my issues didn’t really require his services and he told me that right away and delineated options whereby I could remedy my situation myself. I’m sure there are many out there that would have simply taken my cash and let me receive superfluous services. I guess “honest lawyer” isn’t always an oxymoron!
Candy R.
From public reviews, exactly as written.
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