Fred W. Schwinn

Fred W. Schwinn is a licensed attorney admitted to practice in the States of California and Kansas. Fred is the founder, owner, and managing attorney of Consumer Law Center, Inc. His practice is dedicated exclusively to representing consumer debtors in bankruptcy, stopping predatory and abusive consumer lending practices, and protecting consumers from illegal debt collection activity.

In addition to being admitted to practice in California and Kansas state and federal courts, Fred is admitted to the bars of the Supreme Court of the United States, and the 9th and 10th Circuit Courts of Appeal. He was born in Ottawa, Kansas, in 1966 and lives in San Jose, California. Before going to college, Fred worked as a Machinist in a machine shop and as a Maintenance Mechanic in a book bindery.

Fred is a 1994 graduate magna cum laude of Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, and a 1997 graduate of Washburn University School

of Law. In 1995, Fred passed the Uniform Certified Public Accountant’s examination and was granted a Certified Public Accountant certificate from the Kansas Board of Accountancy. He is a member of the State Bar of California, Santa Clara County Bar Association, National Association of Consumer Advocates, National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys, California Bankruptcy Forum, and a former Treasurer of the Topeka Area Bankruptcy Council.

Fred has been interviewed, and quoted, by the New York Times, San Jose Mercury News, California Lawyer magazine, California Watch, and The Pacific Northwest Inlander. He has given a number of lectures to consumers and professional groups on consumer law issues, including the Volunteer Legal Service Program of The Bar Association of San Francisco, Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto, Silicon Valley Pro Bono Project and Fair Housing Law Project in San Jose, California.

Fred has been honored as “Attorney of the Year” in 2013 by Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto. He was also honored as “Outstanding Volunteer Attorney” in 2011 and 2012 by the Volunteer Legal Services Program of the San Francisco County Bar Association. Fred has an “AV Preeminent” rating by Martindale-Hubbell’s Peer Review Ratings system in 2012-2016, and a “Superb Rating” by Avvo.com in 2011-2016 with a perfect 10.0 rating each year.

Fred has assisted numerous consumers in both chapter 7 and chapter 13 bankruptcies, and been involved in many consumer cases involving a range of consumer protection laws. He has handled several consumer cases that have resulted in reported decisions favorable to consumers. Fred maintains an ongoing pro-bono legal services commitment in the area of consumer and debtor rights.