Visiting Professor B. Summer Chandler (left) and Armin Naghashzadeh (J.D./M.B.A. ’16) discuss a case in the Bankruptcy Assistance and Practice Program.
Armin Naghashzadeh (J.D./M.B.A. ’16) enrolled in the Bankruptcy Assistance and Practice Program (B.A.P.P.) to gain practical work experience and skills, but realizing the impact his work made is what made him return for a second semester.
“I felt like I was making a difference in people’s lives,” Naghashzadeh said. “I want to make sure people’s lives aren’t burdened by debt. Seeing the relief they get when we help them is an amazing feeling.”
The bulk of cases he handled were for clients in the middle stages of life who didn’t earn enough income to pay costly medical bills. Some are living paycheck to paycheck, and one unfortunate incident, such as getting sick and missing work, can snowball into a mountain of debt, Naghashzadeh said. Other clients are permanently disabled and have gotten into debt paying for everyday necessities when Social Security disability income is not enough.
“Bankruptcy is a tool to get their lives back on track so that they do not have to worry about constantly being harassed. I have seen email chains and text messages where clients are threatened with all kinds of things,” Naghashzadeh said. “The truly unfortunate thing is that bankruptcy is not always the permanent solution.
"Many of our clients simply do not make enough money to pay for their living expenses, so they live on debt," he said. "Bankruptcy fixes their debt problem, not their income problem; I wish there were more that can be done about that.”
But one client was different. He was 19 and temporarily homeless. His family had used his credit to purchase cars, cable and Internet services and failed to make payments almost every month. His credit score had plummeted, and the client didn’t earn enough to make the payments himself. He needed help.
“I decided to file bankruptcy because now that I am on my own, I wanted to truly be the master of my fate and have a fresh start to build my credit by my terms,” the client said.
Naghashzadeh was inspired by his client’s upbeat attitude and fortitude.
“I wanted to help him get his life back together,” Naghashzadeh said. “He did a lot on his own. He sought homeless services, got multiple jobs. I felt bad for his situation, but at the same time was extremely impressed by him.”
During one consultation, the client mentioned a mild tax issue.
The bankruptcy filing did not address the tax issue. Since Naghashzadeh also was enrolled in the Philip C. Cook Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic, he brought the case to his clinic advisor just a week away from the filing deadline.
“Typically, the clinic does not take clients who are in bankruptcy, but his tax issue and bankruptcy issue were unrelated so they accepted him,” Naghashzadeh said.
Naghashzadeh scrambled to file the necessary paperwork. The hard work paid off: the client received relief from debts in bankruptcy, and the tax issue was resolved for his client. “Now he’s going back to college,” Naghashzadeh said. “He is self-sufficient and has a bright future.”
“I really enjoyed the experience,” the client said. “That may sound strange, but everyone was friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. I never felt rushed or unprepared as we progressed onward, the staff was professional and personable and that made it very easy to maneuver the steps to complete the bankruptcy.
“Now I feel free from the financial burden placed on me as a child. The state of my credit was always hanging over me," said the client. "It added a lot of stress to my life that over time adversely affected my health. It feels amazing to have that power back in my life that I never truly had before. Simply put, it's euphoric.”
Bankruptcy is intended to offer the client a financial fresh start, said B. Summer Chandler, visiting assistant professor.
“To help the client utilize this fresh start to build a firm financial life, however, the attorney should consider what the client will face after bankruptcy relief is granted,” she said. “In working with this client, Armin looked beyond the immediate legal needs of the client and considered the needs of the client that bankruptcy relief would not address. The ability to consider the needs of the client beyond the limited purpose for which the client may have initially sought representation is a mark of a true legal professional.”
Naghashzadeh said the amount of interaction he had with clients is what he valued most in the bankruptcy program.
“It’s all face to face, so I learned a lot about how to interview clients,” he said. “I didn’t have any experience before, so I’m thankful for that. Working in a clinic or program puts you so far ahead of the curve.”
Learning how to communicate with clients is vital to success, Naghashzadeh said.
“You have to learn to be effective in dealing with people if you are going to be an effective lawyer,” he said. “When students first start, we talk like lawyers because we think that’s the way we are supposed to do it. But it’s best to talk in the simplest way you can, in a way that builds rapport and trust.”
The experiential programs also gave him real experience that will help him not be blindsided by minutiae of office duties when practicing in the real world, Naghashzadeh said.
Naghashzadeh is set to earn a masters in tax from the Robinson College of Business in December.