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John Clayton Colwell
About John
Biography
Attorney John C. Colwell is a Certified Legal Specialist in Bankruptcy Law. This prestigious honor was bestowed upon him by the CA Board of Legal Specialization of the State Bar of CA. John C. Colwell is one of only 12 certified legal specialists in San Diego County for Bankruptcy Law. Attorney Colwell is also the Immediate Past President of the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys (NACBA) and has dedicated his practice to consumer bankruptcy since 1985.
Practice Areas
3
Practice Areas
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
34%
42 years | 3,000 cases
Bankruptcy and Debt
33%
42 years | 10,000 cases
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
33%
42 years | 7,000 cases
Fees and Rates
Cost
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Check
- Credit Card
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in California for 40 years
State: California
Acquired: 1985
No misconduct found
Location
Debt Relief Legal Clinic
121 Broadway, Ste. 533, San Diego, CA, 92101-5022
Debt Relief Legal Clinic
46 Third AVe., Ste. D, Chula Vista, CA, 91910
Debt Relief Legal Clinic
122 Civic Center Drive, Ste. 204, Vista, CA, 92084
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John Clayton Colwell's Reviews
Showing 1 - 5 of 26 client reviews from Avvo
Posted by Nathanael | February 12, 2026 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
John
In my opinion he’s the best there is. Instantly made me feel comfortable and at ease. Quality man and knows his stuff.
Posted by Wendy | December 5, 2025 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Help with financial stability with Debt Relief Legal Clinic
Mr. Caldwell works hard to get all paperwork finalized at my pace. He never pushes the customer as he truly understands the meaning of the customer is always right. I've been working with him for over 20 years. Since I was 21 when I had medical bills I couldn't pay and now trying to recover the covid...
John Colwell
Replied last December 6, 2025Thank you very much for your kind words and recommendation. As you know, reviews can be very helpful for folks who are in financial pain but have no idea where to turn. Your experience has been drawn out, but thankfully solutions do exist, even in the most dire situations. Glad to have been of service and congratulations on your fresh start! John C. Colwell, Attorney, 877-663-3287 Debt Relief Legal Clinic [email protected] www.DEBTCLINIC.com
Posted by anonymous | November 19, 2025 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
If I could give this firm 10 stars, I would!
I was really hesitant about filing for bankruptcy and had consultations lined up with a few different lawyers. After my consultation with John, I canceled the rest right away and decided to move forward with him. What stood out was his experience, confidence, empathy, and the way he actually listen...
John Colwell
Replied last November 23, 2025Thank you so much for your kind review and the high praise for our entire Debt Relief Legal Clinic team. We are honored that we could provide the reassurance and efficient service needed to make a stressful process feel manageable. Providing compassionate, responsive support to clients like you is exactly what we strive for, and your feedback confirms we are achieving our goal. John C. Colwell, Attorney, 877-663-3287 Debt Relief Legal Clinic [email protected] www.DEBTCLINIC.com
Posted by D | November 3, 2025 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hire them if you’re questioning!!
Very simple process , got everything done quickly and in the exact time frame I was given . 10/10 would recommend. I’m now debt free and have a fresh start! Plus my credit score already went up 200 points in the first two months !!
John Colwell
Replied last November 8, 2025Thank you for your review of your experience with the discharge of debt in bankruptcy and with our office, in particular. You 'reaching out' will help others in financial pain also 'reach out' to us for their own questions to be answered and find a path forward. John C. Colwell, Attorney, 877-663-3287 Debt Relief Legal Clinic [email protected] www.DEBTCLINIC.com
Posted by anonymous | September 26, 2025 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Awesome experience
I was told by other lawyers I made too much money for chapter 7. This was not the case.The whole team was incredible and now I’m debt free and have that massive monkey off my back.
John Colwell
Replied last September 27, 2025The 'means' test is complicated, and even experienced practitioners will get caught up in the mathematics. The common misconception is that if you are 'over the line' for your household size, you can't file a bankruptcy. That is simply not true. If one is higher income and over the line, the math becomes more difficult, certainly, and sometimes it is true, there's too much money for Ch. 7 (leading to a Ch. 13 payment plan, instead), but, like a tax return, if the applicable deductions are applied correctly, many times folks can be brought back down 'below the line' and pass the means test for Ch. 7 eligibility. We're very glad that the numbers were calculated such that you did pass the 'means' test and your Ch. 7 case was successful and has gone to discharge of debts. Congratulations! John C. Colwell, Attorney, 877-663-3287 Debt Relief Legal Clinic [email protected] www.DEBTCLINIC.com
John Clayton Colwell's Lawyer Endorsements
"I highly recommend John Colwell. Not only is he a well-respected bankruptcy attorney in his community, he is known nationwide as a leader in the bankruptcy area of law. He's been the President of the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys (NACBA) for two terms. He worked with Senator Wieckowski's office to help change California's homestead exemption laws to protect homeowners. He's worked on and is working on legislative efforts at the federal level, as well. His experience and the compassion he shows his clients is extraordinary. I am honored to be his colleague."
"I endorse this lawyer. Why? If all attorneys providing answers on AVVO took the time to completely try and answer a question in detail showing like Mr. Colwell does, their knowledge, accurate and complete and thorough advice, then AVVO would have the cream of the crop. Look at all his answers to questions and you can see why John is entitled to such a great endorsement. Great job and appreciated by a peer in Washington State. I highly recommend this attorney for any bankruptcy-related work."
"John Colwell is an excellent bankruptcy attorney. He provides his clients with wonderful representation. He is knowledgeable and hardworking. John is a real leader in the national bankruptcy community. It is a pleasure to work with him. I endorse this lawyer!"
"I endorse this lawyer. I've known John for many years. He is an outstanding consumer bankruptcy lawyer with a national reputation. He is a director of the National Assn. of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys, a 5000-member attorney group, and he speaks regularly on bankruptcy issues."
Jenny Doling
Bankruptcy and debt lawyer
Melanie Pennycuff
Bankruptcy and debt lawyer
Pamela Stewart
Bankruptcy and debt lawyer
Experience
Honors
2018
AV Preeminent Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2018
Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2011
Certified Specialist, State Bar of California
Work Experience
2000 - Present
Managing Attorney, Law Offices of John C. Colwell, a PLC dba Debt Relief Legal Clinic
1994 - 2000
Associate Attorney, Debt Relief Legal Clinic - Reed V. Langlois
1989 - 1993
Associate Attorney, Debt Relief Legal Clinic - George Ritner
1985 - 1988
Associate Attorney, Law Offices of Michael H Dodge
Associations
1994 - Present
National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy AttorneysMember, Board of Directors, President 2017 -
Education
N/A
California Western School of Law
JD - Juris Doctor
N/A
Ripon College
BA - Bachelor of Arts
Speaking Engagements
2009
21st Annual Winter Leadership Conference
Should Congress Reform Bankruptcy Reform?
2000
Unknown
San Diego County Bar Association Free Law Day
2000
The debtor’s perspective
CA Credit Union Collectors Council Convention
1999
Nat. Assoc. Of Cons.
Bankruptcy Attorneys Convention
1997
Panel on Bankruptcy
Continuing Legal Education
Languages
Spanish
Activity
Legal Answers
Legal Answers
Q&A
Checking to see if I can still keep my truck on a seven or 13 bankruptcy
26 Sep 2025
Q&A
Can I no longer use a debt relief program so that I can file bankruptcy?
17 Apr 2025
Q&A
I did a chapter 7 bankruptcy in January 2018 it was discharge when can I file another bankruptcy any alternative I can do ?
24 Oct 2024