When you hire an attorney to help you go through a bankruptcy chapter, the attorney’s role is to guide you from the very first moment, you engage in the bankruptcy process. To represent you in front of the federal bankruptcy court and judges, and to interface with the United States Trustee Department, which is an arm of the justice department. Having an attorney means that you stand on the same footing, as all other participants in the process. It’s key to a successful bankruptcy, although it’s not required.