Student Loans & Bankruptcy – Interview with Diane Drain and Bobby Zavala

LAWGITIMATE Attorney Diane Drain and Bobby Zavala with University of Dubuque

Diane Drain established her law firm in 1991 in order to provide education for those facing financial troubles. She believes that basic legal advice should be free and her commitment is to help her clients get their lives back on track. Her greatest reward is helping a family to establish credit so they can purchase a vehicle or home.

Diane loves her work. As a well known Phoenix bankruptcy attorney, she truly believes that “when you find your passion, going to work every day is a joy, not a job.” Her clients and fellow lawyers can attest to her passion and commitment to excellence. She practices only the areas of bankruptcy and foreclosure laws.For many years our clients and fellow lawyers rate my work as the highest possible.

Diane is a retired professor of law and taught bankruptcy since 1990 to both law students and the general public. Diane’s clients and peers have given her the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards.

Diane’s code: to quote Abraham Lincoln: “Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbors to compromise whenever you can. Point out to them how the nominal winner is often a real loser – in fees, expenses, and waste of time.  As a peacemaker the lawyer has a superior opportunity of being a good man. There will still be business enough.” “The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln edited by Roy P. Basler, Volume II, Notes for a Law Lecture, July 1, 1985, p. 81” ]

Connect with Diane on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

Bobby Zavala with University of Dubuque The University of Dubuque is a private university offering undergraduate, graduate, and theological seminary degrees, and other educational opportunities with the intention of educating and forming the whole person. The university is comprised of individuals from the region, our nation, and the world.

The LIFE advantage: The University of Dubuque designed the Learning Institute for Fulfillment and Engagement specifically for adult learners. LIFES’s accelerated degree program and services–available during the hours you need them–help you balance your family life, your career, and your studies.

The University of Dubuque (UD) LIFE Adult Learning Program offers a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources, Marketing, Health Care Administration, Accounting, and Criminal Justice. UD also offers a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA). Convenient scheduling: Classes are Monday -Thursday; Classes are face to face; Classes are from 6PM-9PM; Students take one class per session; Students can attend nine sessions per year; Sessions are five weeks in length; Childcare will be provided for children of students enrolled in the LIFE accelerated degree program.

An Arizona native, Senior Director Bobby Zavala has over 20 years of Active Military Service and 10 years Law Enforcement experience. He is a Deputy Sheriff with the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office. During his tenure with the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office he was a General Instructor, Physical Fitness Instructor, RADAR Instructor, Team Leader for the Accident Investigation Team, and a Field Training officer. He culminated his previous ten years as a Tactical Flight Officer and the Training Officer for the Aviation Support Unit “Geronimo”. He is still a Certified Arizona Peace Officer and remains on Reserve status with Cochise County.

He is active in the Phoenix area with many Civil Rights and Veteran groups. He is currently the Deputy Director of District 1 (LULAC), League of United Latin American Citizens, LULAC State Deputy Director of Elderly Affairs, Chair of the Tempe Military Affairs Committee (MAC), member of the Tempe Diplomats, a Life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and a member of the American Legion. Senior Director Bobby Zavala holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Wayland Baptist University and is in pursuit of a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice.

Bobby is married, lives in Maricopa and enjoys reading, long distance running, spending time with his family.

Follow the University of Dubuque on LinkedIn.

Special Guest Host

Mike Poulton, with Poulton & Noroian, was born in North Carolina, and has lived in Nebraska, Kansas, Vermont and Arizona throughout his life. Mike earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Construction Management with minors in Physics and Business from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. As an undergraduate, he worked as a physics research assistant in the Polarized Electron Group at UNL, designing and building scientific apparatus in support of a national nuclear physics research project. Prior to his career in law he was a project engineer and field superintendent for an international commercial contractor, helping manage large office and retail construction projects in Phoenix.

Mike attended the Sandra Day O’Connor School of Law at Arizona State University, where he was awarded the Charles E. Jones Merit Scholarship and was named a Scholar at the Center for the Study of Law, Science and Technology. He won the Moot Court Oral Argument Competition and was an editor of Jurimetrics, the academic journal of the American Bar Association’s division of Law Science and Technology. His published article “Particles of What? A Call for Specificity in Airborne Particulate Regulation” won Best Student Note, and was a nominated for the American Society of Legal Writers Law-Review Award Competition.

Mike’s legal practice draws on his knowledge and experience in other fields to serve his clients. As an experienced science researcher, Mike understands technical issues that many other attorneys cannot, and applies that knowledge for his clients’ benefit. His construction management experience also provides him with a broad knowledge base not only in construction law, but also in regulatory compliance, worker safety, and negotiation.

In addition to law, Mike has a passion for hands-on work with technological hardware and has a number of projects he is actively pursuing at any time – presently including an attempt at the world speed record for a hovercraft. He is a professional pyrotechnician who frequently produces public fireworks displays on the Fourth of July and other holidays. He has worked on the crew of many electronically fired shows in Kansas, Nebraska, Ohio, Vermont, and Arizona and has set up explosive special effects at airshows around the country. Mike has been active in canine search and rescue to find lost and missing people in the wilderness of Arizona, is a ham radio operator, a gun collector, amateur watchmaker, and enjoys camping in the mountains of Prescott, Arizona.

Michael is licensed to practice law in Arizona and is admitted to practice before the U.S. Federal District Courts in Arizona.

About This Show 

Lawgitimate and its awesome guests highlight everyday financial topics including credit scores, debt management, small business, and real estate.

Lawgitimate’s goal is to raise awareness and provide the full perspective, including the legal lens attorneys use to address these complicated and fun topics.

About Your Host

Rochelle Poulton is an attorney and owner of AZCLG. Rochelle has been helping people with Credit and Debt issues since 2012, owns several small businesses, and has nearly 20 years of real estate experience.

Rochelle created Lawgitimate to bring in a network of awesome people to raise awareness and educate people about the litany of legal issues she faces everyday at AZCLG.