At a Glance
Rating Breakdown
Performance Overview
Scores out of 5, based on our editorial analysis
About Council Law Group
Council Law Group is a debt relief law firm based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, founded in 2013. Unlike non-attorney debt settlement companies, Council Law Group operates as a licensed law firm with attorneys who can represent clients in court, respond to creditor lawsuits, and provide the protections of attorney-client privilege. They handle debt settlement negotiations, creditor lawsuit defense, and debt-related legal disputes. The advantage of working with a law firm for debt relief is clear when creditors escalate to litigation. Non-attorney settlement companies can negotiate with creditors, but the moment a lawsuit is filed, they have to refer you to an outside attorney. Council Law Group handles the negotiation AND the litigation in-house. If Chase sues you while your debts are being settled, a Council attorney can respond to the lawsuit, negotiate a settlement in the context of litigation, and represent you in court if necessary. The trade-off is cost. Attorney fees for debt relief are higher than non-attorney settlement companies — Council typically charges 18-25% of enrolled debt plus potential additional fees for litigation defense. For consumers who are not at risk of creditor lawsuits, the attorney premium may not justify the extra cost. For consumers who are already being sued or have large creditors known for aggressive litigation, the legal protection is worth paying for.
Key Features
Attorney Representation
Licensed attorneys handle your case. They can negotiate, respond to lawsuits, and represent you in court. Settlement companies cannot do this.
Attorney-Client Privilege
All communications are privileged. Your discussions about your debts, assets, and financial situation cannot be compelled by creditors or courts.
Lawsuit Defense
If a creditor files a lawsuit while you are enrolled, Council attorneys respond directly — no referral to an outside firm.
Full Debt Settlement
Standard settlement negotiation plus the legal muscle to back it up. Creditors may be more willing to settle when they know an attorney is on the other side.
Free Legal Consultation
Initial case review is free and covered by attorney-client privilege from the first conversation.
How It Works
Free Consultation
Speak with an attorney who evaluates your debts, assesses lawsuit risk, and recommends the best approach.
Legal Enrollment
You retain the firm and your debts are enrolled in the settlement program. Attorney-client privilege applies immediately.
Escrow & Negotiation
Monthly deposits build in escrow while attorneys negotiate with creditors. If a creditor sues, the attorneys respond.
Settlement & Defense
Settlements are negotiated and creditor lawsuits are defended. You approve all settlement terms.
Case Closure
Once all enrolled debts are settled or litigated, the case closes. Typical timeline: 24-48 months.
What They Do
- Debt Settlement
- Creditor Lawsuit Defense
- Debt Negotiation
- Legal Consultation
- Court Representation
Debt Types They Take On
- Credit Cards
- Medical Bills
- Personal Loans
- Store Cards
- Collections
- Judgments
Fee & Cost Structure
Regulatory & Trust
Review Summary
Notable Case Studies
Active Creditor Lawsuit Settled Pre-Trial
Client was sued by Capital One for $18,500 while enrolled in a non-attorney settlement company. The settlement company referred them to an outside attorney. Client switched to Council Law Group, which took over both the lawsuit defense and the settlement of remaining accounts ($34,000 total across 4 accounts).
Judgment Defense and Post-Judgment Settlement
Client had a $12,000 judgment from Discover that included a wage garnishment order. Combined with $21,000 in other unsecured debt. Monthly garnishment of $600 was devastating the client's budget.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Attorney representation provides lawsuit defense, court representation, and legal privileges that settlement companies cannot offer
- Creditors may negotiate more seriously when they know an attorney is handling the opposing side
- In-house lawsuit defense avoids the cost and delay of being referred to an outside attorney mid-program
- AFCC accreditation and BBB A rating indicate industry standards compliance
Cons
- Higher fees (18-25% plus potential litigation charges) than non-attorney settlement companies
- Available in approximately 35 states — attorney licensing requirements limit geographic coverage
- Overkill for consumers not at risk of creditor lawsuits — if no one is suing you, you are paying an attorney premium for settlement work that EAs can do
- Smaller operation (15-25 attorneys) compared to the largest settlement firms
User Reviews (9)
sued by Capital One and they handled it
Was with another settlement company when Cap One sued me. They said "we cannot help with lawsuits, here is an attorney referral." Switched to Council. Their attorney responded to the lawsuit and settled it for less than the settlement company had been trying to get. Having a lawyer made a real difference.
expensive but necessary
Fees were higher than the settlement companies I compared. But two of my creditors were known for suing and sure enough one did. Having Council already on the case was worth every dollar versus scrambling to find an attorney mid-program.
peace of mind
Knowing an actual attorney was handling my case and could respond if creditors sued gave me peace of mind that a regular settlement company could not. Worth the extra cost for the legal protection.
garnishment stopped
Had a wage garnishment from a judgment. Council got it reduced while negotiating a settlement. Garnishment stopped completely when the settlement went through. Could not have done that without an attorney.
good firm
Good firm. Recommended for people being sued.
litigation fee was a surprise
Paid 22% of enrolled debt for the settlement program. Then when Amex sued, there was an additional $1,500 litigation fee. That was in the contract but I missed it. Total cost ended up being about 28% of my enrolled debt. Read the fine print on litigation fees before signing.
ok
ok
overpaid for no lawsuits
Paid the attorney premium expecting to be sued. Never was. Settlements were fine but I probably would have gotten the same results from a cheaper non-attorney company. The legal protection is only worth it if you actually face legal action.
limited coverage
Do not operate in my state (Oregon). Attorney licensing is state-specific so they cannot just cover everywhere. Check before you spend time on a consultation. Frustrating when you are being sued and need help NOW.
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Important Debt Relief Law Firm Disclaimers
- Hiring a debt relief law firm does not guarantee any specific outcome. Results depend on your individual circumstances, applicable state and federal laws, and creditor willingness to negotiate.
- Attorney fees for debt relief cases vary widely. Some firms charge flat fees, others hourly rates, and some work on contingency. Get the fee structure in writing before engaging any firm.
- Attorney-client privilege protections apply when you work with a law firm, which is an advantage over non-attorney debt relief companies. However, privilege does not extend to business advice or financial planning.
- Debt relief attorneys can provide legal defenses against creditor lawsuits, which non-attorney settlement companies cannot. If you are being sued by creditors, an attorney may be more appropriate than a settlement company.
- Some states restrict or regulate debt relief legal services differently from non-attorney debt settlement. Check your state bar association for applicable rules.
- Zogby does not provide legal services. We are an independent comparison service. We do not provide legal advice or represent consumers in legal matters.
This page is informational, not financial or legal advice. Talk to a qualified professional before making any big money decisions.
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