Jerry Miller
Arbitration Specialist — BMA Law
Avondale neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois
Education
J.D., Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. B.A. in Sociology, University of Illinois at Chicago. Participated in the consumer law clinic and served as a staff editor on the Northwestern Journal of Law and Social Policy. Focused coursework on creditor-debtor issues and consumer statutory frameworks.
Experience
15 years in consumer debt disputes and collection enforcement. Started at Whitfield & Keane, a Chicago consumer advocacy firm, litigating FDCPA and TCPA cases in federal court for five years — primarily representing consumers against third-party debt collectors and credit reporting agencies. Spent two years at Lindgren Novak LLP, a two-partner practice handling predatory lending disputes and auto finance enforcement actions. Joined BMA Law to focus on arbitration after concluding that the cost of litigation made it impractical for most consumers with valid claims. Has handled over 250 consumer debt and billing-related arbitration matters — FDCPA violations, credit reporting errors, predatory lending claims, and unauthorized collection fee disputes across the Chicago area.
Arbitration Focus Areas
Debt collection enforcement, consumer billing disputes, FDCPA compliance, credit bureau dispute procedures, and fee disclosure failures. Most of his cases involve disputes where repayment terms and fee structures were contested between consumers and creditors.
Bar Admission & Memberships
Illinois State Bar. Member, American Arbitration Association; National Association of Consumer Advocates; Chicago Bar Association.
Publications
Published in the Chicago Bar Record and the Journal of Consumer & Commercial Law on debt collection arbitration, consumer protection trends, and collection fee enforceability.
Community Involvement
Volunteers with Working Credit NFP, a Chicago financial literacy nonprofit serving underbanked communities. Pro bono mediator through the Center for Conflict Resolution in Chicago.
Based in the Avondale neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. Holds Cicerone Certified Beer Server status and judges at the Great American Beer Festival. Collects and paints Warhammer 40k miniatures with intricate detailing. Drafts Magic: The Gathering with friends and climbs at indoor rock gyms on weekends. Follows the Chicago Bears.
A Case That Stayed With Jerry
One of the more complex matters Jerry handled involved a patient who was sent to collections over a $1,200 charge that had already been paid — the servicer had applied the payment to the wrong account, and the correction request sat in a queue for eleven months. Cases like this are what reinforced his belief that arbitration is often the only realistic path to resolution for disputes where the facts are buried in operational records.
What Shaped His Approach
Jerry credits a consumer rights attorney at Whitfield & Keane who made every associate spend their first month reading nothing but collection agency compliance manuals — a miserable exercise that proved invaluable. That principle still guides how he prepares cases and communicates with clients.
Where He Draws the Line
Jerry was asked to represent a payday lending company in an arbitration where the interest rate exceeded what he considered defensible — he declined even though the legal arguments were viable. He views these decisions as non-negotiable — the work only has value if the integrity behind it is consistent.
Building Something That Lasts
Beyond individual cases, Jerry has developed a fee-audit methodology for consumer debt arbitration that has been cited in two published arbitration decisions as a model for how billing disputes should be documented. He considers this type of systemic contribution more meaningful than any single case outcome.
The Path to Law
Jerry worked as a debt collector for two years before law school — an experience he does not enjoy talking about but considers essential to understanding how the system actually works.
Beyond the Practice
Jerry co-founded a financial literacy workshop series in Chicago’s Avondale neighborhood that has served over three hundred families since 2019.
How He Works
Jerry maintains a strict policy of never charging consultation fees to consumers who are trying to figure out whether they even have a case — because the people who need help most are usually the ones who can least afford to ask for it.
Jerry taught himself credit reporting system architecture to better understand how errors propagate across bureaus — a technical skill that changed how he builds evidence in credit dispute cases.
Practice Notes
Jerry has developed particular depth in financial agreements, where he has seen the widest range of dispute patterns. Jerry is generally described as practical in his approach to case management. His general approach leans toward structured resolution — getting parties to a decision point before costs compound.
Need Help With a Dispute?
If you’re dealing with a dispute and want to explore arbitration, BMA Law can help you understand your options and get started.
