An important part of buying or selling real estate is the legal process, and therefore finding the right real estate lawyer for your purchase or sale is integral to a successful real estate experience. A good place to start your search is online, where you may – using search engines or dedicated lawyer search websites – plug in your location and what your needs are.
In searching through your search results, it’s important to note that lawyers within the general umbrella of “real estate law” have specified areas of expertise, including residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, and landlord-tenant law. Expertise in one of these areas does not guarantee expertise in all areas, so it’s important that you know which type of law a lawyer practices. It’s also important to note that there are two types of real estate lawyers: litigators, who handle lawsuits, and transactional lawyers, who handle contracts. While some lawyers handle both, if you are involved in or anticipate a lawsuit in your future, you should make sure you have a litigator. Otherwise, a transactional lawyer is probably the type of lawyer you will be working with.
Narrow your search down to three or four possible contenders. In evaluating each, go to their law firm’s website and read their biographies. Verify that they have expertise in the specific field of real estate law that you need, and also explore what type of experience they have. It’s likely that you’ll want someone with at least a few years of experience, and someone that has practiced in your area. You should also explore each candidate’s list of prior or current clients. Are the lawyer’s clients in line with your principles? Does the list contain the types of clients you would want to be represented alongside?
Once you have gained information on the lawyer from the lawyer’s firm itself, you should take to the internet at large and look for reviews and other pieces of information pertaining to each lawyer. Do any previous clients have firsthand accounts of their experiences with the lawyer to offer? Search news publications. Are there any articles published pertaining to the lawyer or his or her firm? If so, what was the situation? You may consider pulling out the phone book and looking through the law pages within it. Does the lawyer you’re considering have paid advertisements in the phone book? If so, do you find the advertisements compelling?
In vetting a lawyer, it’s a good idea to check with your state bar association to verify his or her standing. Bar associations also generally have a list of affiliations that lawyers are associated with that could be of assistance to your specific needs.
Of course, it’s always important to check references on a lawyer you are considering working with. Recommendations from family and friends are helpful, but it’s most important that you talk to people who can really speak to the lawyer’s trustworthiness. The lawyer should be able to provide you with the names of relevant references to your specific needs, such as real estate agents, escrow companies, and contractors.