When you seek the advice of an attorney who specializes in real estate law, you should ask a few pre-screening questions. Getting this information upfront will help you determine if the lawyer is the right fit for your situation.
Table of Contents
Experience
Typically, the more experience a lawyer has, the better. Find out how long the attorney has been practicing. If you are working with a specific type of property, such as residential, commercial, or multifamily units, you will want to find a legal professional with experience in that particular branch of real estate.
When you opt for someone who is well versed in the area you will be dealing with, they will likely be able to handle challenging or complicated issues quicker and with greater ease.
References
You should not be shy when it comes to asking for references. A real estate attorney like the ones at LegalShield should be comfortable giving you these also. The referrals might come from past or current clients, other lawyers or legal professionals, or family and friends.
You can search for any online reviews about the person or the law office, but these should carry little weight in your final decision. The remarks may not be from vetted sources.
Communication
Find out how the office will communicate with you. If an assistant will be contacting you, meet that person. Ask if you will be receiving updates or will they just call you when they need to. Find out if they will be sending you emails so that you will know to be on the lookout for them.
If you have a problem or question and want to get a hold of them, ask how you should communicate with them. Some offices will accept emails, while others may want you to call or make an appointment.
Other Services
Real estate attorneys work hand-in-hand with title officers, and some attorneys are title agents themselves, or they have one on staff.
Many documents pass between the lawyer and title company, so it can save time and confusion if there is an in-house title professional or a preferred partner.
Supporting Staff
It is not uncommon for a busy real estate attorney to have auxiliary staff, but you want to know if the lawyer will be working on your case or will be passed down to someone else. If so, find out who these other people are and their titles. They might be paralegals or junior attorneys. In many cases, this is fine. They can often handle the routine paperwork, and if something different comes up, the principal lawyer can step in.
If a team is working on your file, get their names and contact information. It can be helpful to have more than one point of contact at a law office. The attorney you hire is responsible for the entire transaction.
Finding a lawyer who specializes in the complicated matters surrounding real estate is not a difficult process if you know what to ask. These few tips can make finding the right legal team for your needs quicker and easier.
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Mats Wolff says
Its great when you said that real estate attorneys work hand-in-hand with title officers. One of my friend wants to rent a house so he wants to contact a real estate lawyer to help him do so. Thanks for the information on real estate lawyers and I hope that my friend can find a good house for himself soon.
Charlotte Fleet says
It is good to know how you said that a lawyer will be better the more experience that they have. My mom and dad need to hire a real estate attorney for the business that they own. I will suggest that they look for an attorney with many years in real estate law.