Intake That Works: What Auto Fraud Attorneys Wish They Knew Sooner

Whether you’re new to auto fraud litigation or a seasoned practitioner looking to refine your client screening process, this CLE offers valuable insights straight from the trenches. Intake is often the most critical phase in an auto fraud case—done right, it can save countless hours and thousands in costs. Done wrong, it can leave you entangled in unworkable cases with little hope of recovery.

This session is designed to be practical, candid, and interactive. Learn from real-world experience and leave with tools you can immediately implement in your practice to improve efficiency, outcomes, and client satisfaction.

What You’ll Learn:

• • How experienced consumer attorneys structure their auto fraud intakes
  • What red flags to watch for early in the process
  • How to spot strong legal claims (even when clients don’t know what went wrong)
  • How to use practical checklists and intake questions that actually work
  • What are common pitfalls: what hasn’t worked and why
  • How to balance empathy with strategy when evaluating potential clients
  • How to sign good cases and avoid the ones that will drain your time and resources

Speakers

Minal Gahlot is a private consumer protection attorney based in Oklahoma City with over a decade of experience advocating for individuals harmed by unfair and deceptive business practices. As the founder of Oklahoma Consumer Law Firm, she represents clients in a wide range of matters, including auto dealer fraud, lemon law violations, solar panel scams, wrongful repossession, credit reporting inaccuracies, abusive debt collection, and identity theft.  Minal has achieved successful outcomes for her clients through jury trials, bench verdicts, arbitration awards, and negotiated settlements. She currently serves as the Oklahoma State Chair for the National Association of Consumer Advocates and has been repeatedly recognized by 405 Magazine as a Top Attorney in Consumer Law.  A frequent speaker at both national and regional conferences, Minal is a passionate advocate for consumer rights and access to justice, dedicating time to volunteer and pro bono efforts across Oklahoma.

Prior to starting her own law firm, Sophia Romero worked as an of counsel attorney at Maier Gutierrez & Associates, focusing on representing individuals in consumer rights matters and personal injury litigation as well as businesses in inter-business litigation matters. Sophia has also worked with organizations like the ACLU of Nevada, where she served as its senior staff attorney, litigating numerous constitutional rights issues,  Prior to joining the ACLU, and since her 2011 admission to the bar, Sophia has litigated all types of consumer rights issues, including automobile fraud, illegal repossession, and FDCPA cases, both individually and on a class-action basis. Sophia has appeared on Good Morning America, been quoted in the New York Times, on MSNBC, and NBC Nightly News speaking on consumer issues. Sophia is also on the faculty of the Practicing Law Institute, where she helps teach: Representing the Pro Bono Client: Consumer Law Basics. Sophia is licensed to practice law in both Nevada and New Mexico. Sophia received a J.D. from Gonzaga in 2011 and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from New Mexico State University in 2007. When not fighting hard for her clients, Sophia enjoys reading and spending time with her family.

Please note that all live NACA webinars are free to members. Higher level members and firm members can also access the recordings at no additional cost. Nonmembers who pay for the webinar are also able to access the recording at no additional cost.