First let me state that I am not an attorney. I have run The Mediation Centers of America for the last 2 years, so I do know the loan modification industry inside and out.  On average, most attorneys engaging in loan mods are merely fronts for call centers or small independent operators looking to make a fast buck and not realizing the labor required or time to do it right.  I have trained several attorneys to practice in the area of loan mods and most drop the process after realizing how labor intensive it is. 

That being said Attorneys do play a major role in the legal process and that role revolves best around "The Wrongful Foreclosure Lawsuit".   An attorney who knows this lawsuit process can often bring the bank back to the negotiating table.  I have seen foreclosure sales reversed and evictions halted thru this process.  In addition with a valid case a simple TRO will stop a foreclosure sale dead in the water.  The result of the pending lawsuit often forces a "Streamlined Loan Mod" from the bank. 

Bottom line is that over the past few years the Loan Modification process just doesn't work. I say "Pull out a big stick and start swinging",  It seems to be the only thing the banks respond to.

I know this doesn't necessarily comfort all you realtors out there, but when you can't get the sale pushed thru your client does have legal remedies and this should be in your "bag of tricks" to thwart the banks aggressive foreclosure activity.  And it certainly beats sending your client to a bankruptcy attorney to avoid foreclosure. Good luck in sales.