About Us
Attorney John Steed
John Steed is a Maine native and graduate of Deer Isle Stonington High School, Antioch College (2004, economics), and Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law, where he earned a full tuition scholarship and graduated with honors. During law school, he clerked for a federal judge and received a City of Philadelphia fellowship, working at the Department of Human Services representing social services professionals. He is also a graduate of the Trial Lawyers College in Wyoming, founded by Gerry Spence. John previously served as a Selectman for his hometown of Stonington, Maine.
After returning to Maine, John worked as a public defender, arguing hundreds of criminal cases, and represented clients in foreclosure defense. Those experiences brought him into direct contact with Mainers facing serious financial hardship, which led him to found Better Way Bankruptcy. Better Way helps individuals get out from under crushing debt and get a fresh financial start.
A Message from the Founder
A better world is possible. I think about that most days — and as a lawyer, I wanted to find a way to actually build it, one person at a time. That's why I started Better Way.
Bankruptcy is about hope. There are few areas of law that deliver more immediate, tangible relief to the people who need it. Debt can feel suffocating. People come to me drowning in it — constantly stressed, with nothing left at the end of the month. After a successful filing, they leave with breathing room, a cleaner slate, and a real path forward. I've won complex cases and sat through intense trials, but that moment — when someone realizes the weight has been lifted — is one of the most rewarding things I get to be a part of.
I believe there are many people struggling under debt who don't realize bankruptcy could help them, or that it's more accessible and affordable than they think. It can be the fastest and most effective way out of a situation that feels impossible.
I'll be honest: I've had my own struggles with debt. My credit score has been in the 500s, and I've seriously considered filing myself. So when I say there's no shame in debt, I mean it. Debt relief is woven into our Constitution and into the traditions of many cultures and religions around the world. It exists because all people deserve a fresh start.
Better Way is built on that belief. We're here to provide powerful debt relief with dignity — and to reach the people who need it but don't yet know help is within reach.
— John Steed, Founder
