All Hessinger employees who interviewed clients, whether attorneys or nonlawyer credit specialists were given specific and repeated directives to sign to a fee contract every person who came in the door within six minutes. Those attorneys who knew better and balked were criticized and let go. Nonlawyers, in addition to not having the training needed to evaluate if a bankruptcy was appropriate, had no ethical considerations to worry about. Additionally, Hessinger regularly offered special bonuses, in the form of cash or trips, to attorneys or credits specialists who filed the most bankruptcy petitions. The former Hessinger attorneys who have come forth have confirmed that this was the official policy of the firm.
Counseling is the fundamental function performed by consumer lawyers.
The way Cook has structured the Hessinger procedures, potential clients are directed to one person who interviews them, gets them to sign the fee agreement, and prepares the bankruptcy papers. Although a smaller number of young and inexperienced lawyers are used most of the cases are handled by nonlawyer credits specialists who were not under the supervision of lawyer, are given bonuses based on a number of cases a file, and are directed as to policy by Cook. I was trained by Duane Varbel, the original president, for part of a day to be a credit specialist. I learned most of my paralegal responsibilities by reviewing old petitions. The company paid bonuses for selling the most bankruptcies and would occasionally hold contests to determine who could sell the most.