I think it could be helpful if more lawyers were open about the fact that they made a consumer proposal to deal with debt (student or otherwise), it that they have contemplated it and sought advice from a trustee in bankruptcy.

*and, not it. Sigh.

I had a cancer scare. I was a single mother parenting two kids with high needs and medical issues. I was not receiving support or financial help with medical costs and I was incurring legal fees to try to settle my matrimonial matters.

I was also running a full time practice while effectively working part time. I spoke to a trustee because I knew if I was sick that everything would fall apart. We reviewed where I was with my finances and what might happen if I was sick.

I’m not sick. I didn’t need to go further. But I would have if I needed to miss work to deal with an illness.

I do ok. I’ve taken control of my financial future. I am now pretty much personally debt free and I’m saving or have saved enough for retirement and education. I can buy nice shoes if I want. But I doubt there will ever be a pile of money around.

I don't share these things for pity or attention or whatever, but because this is what real life is like for a lot of lawyers and pretending we all drive fancy cars or wear fancy clothes and are dripping with money is doing a disservice to ourselves and our colleagues.