Lawyers map
>1.0k
experienced lawyers
Filter by
5.0
20 Reviews
4.9
202 Reviews
06 Feb, 2025 by Deneen baker
I was going through a difficult time in my life dealing with the grief of my husband, The law firm gently navigated me through my process with my case, Thank you all for everything
Read more
17 Dec, 2024 by T.j. evers
Pat and his team are the best of the best, 10/10 recommend to everyone.
Read more
10 Dec, 2024 by Dale edmonson
Top Notch Attorney! Pat has represented me on multiple occasions with excellent results every time! He knows the law in and out and is a Beast in the courtroom. If you find yourself in a jam dont hesitate to call Pat. He's always quick to respond to calls or texts. Even goes the extra mile to answer on weekends and evenings on his personal family time. I greatly appreciate Pat. And Cindy is wonderful as well working with her to arrange payments and answer any questions i have. Throughout the years Pat has been like a Father to me and i cant give him enough stars. 5 stars would be an understatement!! Thank you Both you are life savers!
Read more
01 Oct, 2020 by Brian sigmon
01 Oct, 2020 by Branton blount
Paul and Adam have assisted us with all our real estate investment needs, to include entity creation, placement memorandums, and SEC compliance. They also make themselves available for advice, as well as all-round great guys. Highly recommend!
Read more
30 Sep, 2020 by Scott burford
24 Nov, 2024 by Kevin goodman
03 Oct, 2024 by Diane dempsey
Daniel was tremendously helpful and responsive to the questions I had concerning my father’s estate and trust. His response time to my emails and phone calls have been very impressive from the first time that I contacted him. I would strongly recommend his services.
Read more
27 Aug, 2024 by Cathe caraway
Daniel McGowan is exactly the attorney you need when a loved one dies without a will (intestate). I found Dan because of his good reviews and I was very pleased. He is very professional, effective, and responsive. He got the job done and saved me thousands will his smart strategies. I would recommend him to anyone. Thank you so much Dan!
Read more
06 Feb, 2025 by Deneen baker
I was going through a difficult time in my life dealing with the grief of my husband, The law firm gently navigated me through my process with my case, Thank you all for everything
Read more
17 Dec, 2024 by T.j. evers
Pat and his team are the best of the best, 10/10 recommend to everyone.
Read more
10 Dec, 2024 by Dale edmonson
Top Notch Attorney! Pat has represented me on multiple occasions with excellent results every time! He knows the law in and out and is a Beast in the courtroom. If you find yourself in a jam dont hesitate to call Pat. He's always quick to respond to calls or texts. Even goes the extra mile to answer on weekends and evenings on his personal family time. I greatly appreciate Pat. And Cindy is wonderful as well working with her to arrange payments and answer any questions i have. Throughout the years Pat has been like a Father to me and i cant give him enough stars. 5 stars would be an understatement!! Thank you Both you are life savers!
Read more
27 Nov, 2024 by Bobby b
Carson is very professional and responsive. Anytime I have a legal question, he is the first person I call
Read more
03 Nov, 2024 by Jean hribar
Carson Law Firm was very responsive and professional; I would highly recommend their services.
Read more
08 Oct, 2024 by Chloe cassem
04 Jan, 2025 by Scott
Schamberg & Associates were very diligent about not allowing the plaintiff to gain any upper hand. The result of this case was satisfactory in my mind.
Read more
13 Dec, 2024 by Rebeccah yingling
13 Dec, 2024 by Sharon keeney
Parents had some issues but the office and Stefen was able to resolve it for them with a great outcome! Courteous and understanding of my parent's situation and their fees are definitely reasonable. Thank you so much!
Read more
07 Jan, 2025 by Tinker tell
13 Dec, 2024 by Monica dixon
I am disable and I hire Arleesha Wilson to help me fight for my house, she lost my case and lost my house because she voluntarily dismissed my case without telling me and lied to me and failed to do a lot of things I now reported her to the board and I am homeless
Read more
02 Dec, 2024 by Ante peric
Is this so called lawyer even in business anymore? She files a lawsuit alleging I did something, then never answers a single call, NEVER SERVED ME PROPERLY, NEVER EVEN SHOWED UP TO COURT! ALL THE POSITIVE REVIEWS ARE FAKE AND HER CREDIBILITY IS ABSOLUTELY SUSPECT
Read more
07 Jan, 2025 by Tinker tell
13 Dec, 2024 by Monica dixon
I am disable and I hire Arleesha Wilson to help me fight for my house, she lost my case and lost my house because she voluntarily dismissed my case without telling me and lied to me and failed to do a lot of things I now reported her to the board and I am homeless
Read more
02 Dec, 2024 by Ante peric
Is this so called lawyer even in business anymore? She files a lawsuit alleging I did something, then never answers a single call, NEVER SERVED ME PROPERLY, NEVER EVEN SHOWED UP TO COURT! ALL THE POSITIVE REVIEWS ARE FAKE AND HER CREDIBILITY IS ABSOLUTELY SUSPECT
Read more
27 Oct, 2024 by Dee mariye
would recommend anything from Jon. He was flexible and helpful throughout the process of my chapter 7
Read more
20 Sep, 2024 by Shaun pierce
great law office
Read more
06 Sep, 2023 by Francisco juarez
30 Oct, 2013 by Anonymous
Very professional and inviting. He dedicated a lot of time to my case. Always offered great advice which did not fail me. I recommend him to everyone.
Read more
03 Jan, 2025 by Eddie
great guy i saw him at mcalpine meadery. 100/10
Read more
12 Dec, 2024 by Bobbi wright
I received great service and received great customer service.
Read more
03 Dec, 2024 by Mike mcclure
I was never a believer is injury lawyers until I worked with Nicholas Dodosh. His professionalism, attention to detail and negotiating abilities provided a very satisfactory resolution after my car accident accident and subsequent treatment. Thank You for representing me, Nicholas!
Read more
3.9
7 Reviews
4.8
817 Reviews
07 Jan, 2025 by Tinker tell
13 Dec, 2024 by Monica dixon
I am disable and I hire Arleesha Wilson to help me fight for my house, she lost my case and lost my house because she voluntarily dismissed my case without telling me and lied to me and failed to do a lot of things I now reported her to the board and I am homeless
Read more
02 Dec, 2024 by Ante peric
Is this so called lawyer even in business anymore? She files a lawsuit alleging I did something, then never answers a single call, NEVER SERVED ME PROPERLY, NEVER EVEN SHOWED UP TO COURT! ALL THE POSITIVE REVIEWS ARE FAKE AND HER CREDIBILITY IS ABSOLUTELY SUSPECT
Read more
19 Nov, 2024 by Vanita bailey
I highly recommend Margolius, Margolius, and Associates’ Law Firm who assisted me with my Social Security disability legal matters. Mrs. Marcia W. Margolius helped me in a tremendous way during the time of my unexpected medical issues that caused me to become disabled. Mrs. Margolius’ legal representation and professionalism was rewarding because I received my Social Security Disability Award Notice within six months. Mrs. Margolius responded to all of my needs by being an effective communicator, provided legal advice as well as emotional support, and guidance. Thank you Mrs. Marcia W. Margolius and the entire Margolius team for your outstanding services!
Read more
19 Nov, 2024 by Heather woods
Mark and his assistants stayed on my case , keeping me updated on all the info the whole time! Even when I called or needed to email to everything ran smooth and was worth all the wait in the end … all the stress was off my shoulders the team handled everything for me. I appreciate the referral from a family member and plan on pushing referrals to colleagues friends and family. If needed for myself again I will return but here’s hoping not much appreciated and meeting everyone
Read more
14 Nov, 2024 by Reviews by robert
Poor.
Read more
22 Nov, 2019 by Shawn
I did some research to find the best business attorney in the area and Brian Mulhall was rated the best. He did more than an OUTSTANDING Job!!!! I had a Very complex business dispute which most attorneys couldn't even wrap their heads around. Not only did he completely understand my case and all the business law surrounding it, but he got me the best possible outcome. I can't recommend someone higher than Mr. Mulhall!!
Read more
28 Apr, 2019 by Renee
Saved me $12,500.00 Headache, won my case. Thank you Brian Mulhall
Live in Columbus Brian won my case without me going to Cleveland Ohio. Hands down #A+
Read more
17 Mar, 2018 by Ruby
Brian Mulhall is my new attorney for life. I found him on Avvo and am so glad I did. He went above and beyond my expectations and will be attorney for any of my legal needs in the future. He is caring, reliable, trustworthy and very professional. He has a passion for his clients and for the law and that reflects in the care that I got. I thank him for all of his hard work and dedication.
Read more
15 Feb, 2020 by Seku
Martin Bielat is reliable, punctual, quick, and very thorough. He is very easy to work with and a solid attorney. I would hire him again to do work for my firm. He stands out in a very crowded industry.
Read more
14 Feb, 2020 by Anonymous
Martin took our case seriously and responded quickly anytime we had questions or concerns. I was impressed with how quickly and competently he responded to evidence presented by the defendant when we were in court. He worked hard on our case, and I believe he did a great job.
Read more
26 Nov, 2019 by Monica
Marin Bielat was amazingly instrumental in the distribution of property after my separation. He was easy to talk to and made time for me without making me feel rushed or pressured. We eventually were able to reach an agreement outside of the court room thanks to all his efforts. He really takes the time to put clients first.
Read more
18 Jan, 2025 by Joel sweitzer
Jeff and team were great to work with for our Estate Planning. Very patient and willing to take the time to explain everything in detail. Highly recommend.
Read more
13 Jan, 2025 by Corky lenny
They make the process so easy. Everyone knows what they need to do and provide to the client for review or signing. It was very easy and I so appreciate that. Everyone is very professional.
Read more
11 Jan, 2025 by Cory kuzemczak
Great Law Firm. Jeffrey made the whole process smooth and there always there for ?’s. Highly recomended
Read more
04 Jul, 2023 by Jim
Fortunate to have Nick not only as a friend but also as a wonderful and dedicated attorney. Highly competent and always available.
Highly recommend!
Read more
16 Feb, 2015 by Tony
Working with Nicholas DeBaltzo has been an absolute pleasure over the many years that I have known him and I can not say enough great things about him that could accurately describe how wonderful he has been on a personal level and in handling my legal affairs. Extremely knowledgeable, he goes over and above the call & always keeps me well informed every step of the way. I highly recommend Nick’s legal services when confidence, trust & expertise are all top priorities.
Read more
06 Feb, 2015 by Dean
I've known and worked with Nick for years. I'd highly recommend him for any and all legal matters. The key with Nick is if it's something he doesn't specialize in, he'll find a legal specialist in that area to make sure the job gets done correctly the first time.
Read more
08 Apr, 2015 by Mike
Mr. Neiss represented my interests during an extended and complicated foreclosure process. I was completely satisfied with his representation, his support staff and was quite happy with the final outcome.
His billed rates were fair and time allocated was efficient and effective.
Read more
24 Feb, 2013 by Mike
Shad has been extremely helpful dealing with our real estate case and truly cares about the impact that it has had on our family. Shad has shown his knowledge of the law and ability to explain our options in a way that we can understand. Shad has also handled our estate planning and has been available to ask legal questions as they arise.
Read more
23 Feb, 2013 by Ron
To say Attorney Neiss is dedicated to his clients would be an understatement. He is tops in his field and an excellent negotiator. He is here for me 24/7. Never misses a beat when it comes to protecting his clients. That is his first priority and he remains that way throughout the case. He has accomplished for me results that "no other attorney could have done" and I mean "no one"! His knowledge far exceeds that of other attorney firms who claim to be the best, but I know in my heart who I would call concerning ANY PROBLEM and that is Shadrach Neiss. He's my attorney for life!!!
Read more
08 Jun, 2016 by Ryan
Michael has helped me on cases big and small and he never disappoints. He always goes beyond what's necessary and there is no one I know who works harder.
Read more
01 Feb, 2016 by Randy
Whenever I have needed a legal consultation from the potentially large litigation issues to small verbiage within a contract, Michael has always been prompt to respond and provided not only sound legal advice, but also knowledge and insights beyond my expectations.
He is an excellent strategist as evidenced by a case that he was able to get a opposing contractor to agree to a $1.00 settlement if we would withdraw our counter-claim. Mike convinced us to hold tight a few days when we approached him about offering a substantially larger amount in order to settle the suit.
We will be using Mike again in our future endeavors.
Read more
30 Jan, 2016 by Chris
Michael has been exceptional helping my firm with business agreements. He continues to be a relied upon resource and voice of reason for us. His professionalism and response time have been very impressive.
Read more
09 May, 2019 by Kathy
Andrew Margolius was so helpful to me during our consultation. He was informed and very professional. And he was kind and empathetic. I felt relieved after talking to him and cared for. I am grateful.
Read more
11 Jan, 2019 by Anonymous
This law firm is awesome and settled a disability claim for me a lot sooner than anyone or me thought! I was referred by my sister and would refer these awesome lawyers to anyone who needs help with anything. I extremely appreciate everything that Marcia and her team has done for me. They are the best!
Read more
26 Dec, 2017 by Amber
My lawyer always kept me informed and kept in contact. Always there when I had questions. That's what makes this team a winner. It was a long process but worth it in the end! Give them a try you wont be disappointed. Thanks team! Keep it up!
Read more
20 Feb, 2018 by Michael
Mr. Ellis took the time to actually answer the phone and give guidance on the first call. Looking to hire him in the near future.
Read more
02 Nov, 2015 by Dale
Michael Ellis was my company's attorney for an M&A event in 2014. Two years later, I'm still struck by the quality of Michael's work. The man was consistently prompt, reliable, meticulous with the details, helpful in advice, and continually driving toward the goal lines. While other firms might have ultimately done the job (we interviewed four), I am pretty certain no one could have done it as well - or with less hassle to the client. A real standout.
Read more
10 Jan, 2013 by Junaid
We recently sold the majority assets of a company which we had for over 10 years.
We were very inexperienced in being part of a transaction of this magnitude.
Michael made us feel very comfortable and protected every step of the way.
We didn't have all our ducks in a row to execute this deal smoothly, but Michael followed up with whoever he needed to get things done.
Michael always made himself available whether it was nights, weekends, holidays, and even on vacation.
I will only use Michael as my attorney in the future and I would highly recommend him to anyone needing counsel.
Read more
15 Nov, 2017 by Erik
I contacted Rochelle because I wanted to leave a business partnership. And I wanted to do this as amicably as possible. Rochelle's advise was instrumental in accomplishing this per my requests. And with her clear guidance on the proper procedure to do this and her suggestions and legal advise it was completed within a short time-frame. I could not be happier with the end result. I would highly recommend Rochelle to anyone who is looking for legal guidance as an attorney that listens to their clients needs and can direct them on the best path to make it happen.
Read more
01 Nov, 2017 by Lori
I needed some documents drawn up for my health care office. Rochelle was efficient and very helpful and had a reasonable fee. She listened and I was more than satisfied with the end product. I would highly recommend her.
Read more
14 Mar, 2017 by Bob
I have had, on two separate occasions, hired Mrs. Apelis to do estate planning and incorporation work. She is professional, accessible, prompt and thorough. She answered all of our questions in detail and made us feel confident that we were being well represented. I would highly recommend her to those in need of legal representation.
Read more
12 Mar, 2015 by Kris
I have had the pleasure of working with Erika for the past year. As a new business owner, she made sure all of my documents went through the transition of ownership smoothly. She has always provided my business with the best service! Erika is very quick and knowledgeable with her answers to my questions. Since being a business owner has been a new adventure in my life, she has made sure everything was in the right place, at the right time and always correct!
Read more
13 May, 2016 by Steve
Chuck has worked with our various entities on over 30 matters. From landlord/tenant disputes (both sides), contract litigation, evictions, multi-million dollar property acquisitions, and even an adverse possession claim, he has handled each matter with professionalism and competence.
For more complex matters, he has built a team of other attorneys and professionals with the skills and experience to get each unique situation resolved. He works diligently on every case, communicating effectively with us along the way. He has gone far above and beyond anything I have ever expected, often handling the roles of attorney, advisor, and negotiator.
Chuck also has a unique ability to keep calm and collected in situations where the opposing litigant (and occasionally the opposing counsel) has been extremely unreasonable and/or aggressive. This calm has allowed us to settle matters that, had cooler heads not prevailed, would have gone to trial, costing us far more in legal expenses and given us an uncertain outcome.
Read more
19 Apr, 2016 by George
Chuck Royer literally saved my practice. Initially, he was brought in as co-council (to avoid being "homered") for the corporate attorney who was originally representing me. As time went on the other attorney became difficult to reach and was delaying a settlement by dragging his feet. When it became painfully apparent that the case was not being handled in a way that was in my best interest, Chuck took over at my request and settled the case within 2 weeks. Not only could the law suit have dragged on another two or three months, but it would have cost me a fortune, and left me bankrupt. Further delay would also have turned the judge against me since my side would have been responsible for the delay in reaching a settlement. Instead of remaining in the backseat and watching my case slip away while still being paid as a bystander (co-council) as a third attorney did, Chuck listened to my concerns, showed compassion for my situation and quietly took charge, while still maintaining good terms with my other attorneys who were nonetheless valuable for arguing the details of my case. Even though he was brought into the case five months after it had begun and as one of three attorneys representing me, Chuck was able to distill the case into its essential parts, identify what key elements had to be accomplished in order to reach a settlement, and then saw to it that all the players (including my other attorneys, the judge, and the opposing council) acted in a timely fashion in order to push the long over due settlement through. Chuck Royer is an extremely competent attorney, but his compassion for me, his client, is what made him uniquely qualified to settle a case that two other attorneys could not. Thank you, Chuck!
Read more
31 Jul, 2024 by Diamond king (dime)
Susan is the best hands down 🐐, she definitely goes above&beyond for her clients. She made me feel comfortable & from the start I trusted everything she was doing & I would highly recommend her to anyone. She has a great sense of humor & she will forever leave a mark on me, I appreciate her so much for what she has done for me & my family & I have nothing but good to say about her.🤍
Read more
08 Nov, 2023 by Mitchellt townsend
Best outcome possible couldn't asked for a better lawyer
Read more
04 Oct, 2022 by Solomon kiflu
Susan Moran is the best representation you can find. I fired my lawyer in Erie county and hired Susan Moran because I found her case work on a web search. The results were AMAZING.
Read more
17 Jul, 2015 by Anonymous
We've used this firm for years with our investment properties and personally. We've always been satisfied.
Read more
07 Mar, 2014 by Anonymous
He was not able to help me by taking the case, but overall gave his opinion and was helpful with guiding me in the right direction.
Read more
19 Nov, 2015 by Maralee
We (my spouse & I) consider ourselves extremely lucky to have hired Robert Edelstein, Esq. for a landlord-tenant dispute. Our tenants - whose financial history turned out to be significantly worse than what we'd been provided when we signed them on & whom we'd had to evict for nonpayment of rent left us with more than a big bill for their unpaid rent: they left us with an uninhabitable house due to damages.
Robert was honest with us from Day 1, warning it was highly unlikely we'd collect the full amount based on the other party's financial track record if nothing else. Getting us a trial date & then working out a settlement agreement for 2/3 the unpaid rent, fees, utilities & damages in ~17 minutes(!) huddled with the previous tenants' attorney worked out really well, since the cost of a trial + the additional court/legal fees would've increased our costs & offset the judgment to almost what we're (contracted) to receive, plus we were able to avoid the added hassle of a trial.
I particularly liked the fact a settlement was his goal from the start since he knew a good one could be financially better than a long trip through the courts. Foremost was the fact there's never a guarantee a judge will see things the landlord's way despite the evidence presented. Second is that in a settlement should the other party fail to make every payment they can be held responsible for the full amount due, a not insignificant fact.
Not only that, but because of his experience and familiarity with real estate system & landlord-tenant law he brought us to a conclusion in record time. We knew of other landlords' horror stories where they'd had to wait 6 months to a year or more just to bring their cases before a judge & then were delayed by multiple continuances (and after that some failed to get even a fraction of their requested amounts.). Robert got the tenants & their lawyer to agree to a settlement in a fraction of the time we had any reason to expect.
If you live in N.E. Ohio I doubt you could find a better legal rep than Robert Edelstein to handle your landlord-tenant affairs.
Read more
09 Feb, 2017 by Angela
Anyone who is looking for a on point, diligent attorney who works steadfast I highly recommend Mr. Lawrence Rich. From the time that I hired Mr. Rich until the end, he worked hard and what seemed effortlessly to make everything go as smooth as they possibly could. Working with him has been an absolute blessing! I've dealt with a lot of attorneys and Mr. Rich is by far the most caring and informative attorney I have had the pleasure of coming across. All my questions & concerns were answered & handled. I never once was left in the dark or was left wondering. Extremely professional and again highly recommended.
Read more
12 Sep, 2018 by Mary
This review is long overdue, in late September 2016 I hired Mr. Hawk to represent me. He was knowledgeable and upfront with my situation. Even with my financial status he assured me that my case would be handled fairly. Basically I had to comply with the radius of the non compete, but doing so was a great advantage for me! Thanks Mr. Hawk
Read more
Discover the ideal lawyer
You can search a lawyer by practice area, lawyer name, city, state, or ZIP code
FAQs
Questions? We have answers
What a Real Estate Lawyer Can Do for You
A real estate lawyer provides legal assistance in transactions and disputes involving property, including residential and commercial real estate. Whether you're buying, selling, leasing, or developing property, a real estate attorney can help ensure that your transactions are legally sound and your rights are protected. They review contracts, perform due diligence, resolve disputes, and provide legal representation in negotiations and litigation involving property matters.
Real estate lawyers are crucial in safeguarding your investment by ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal real estate laws, as well as protecting you from potential legal pitfalls related to property ownership and transactions.
When Should I Hire a Real Estate Lawyer?
Hiring a real estate lawyer is beneficial in various scenarios, including:
- Buying or selling property: When navigating complex real estate contracts, it’s advisable to have a lawyer review and ensure that the terms are favorable and legal.
- Commercial property transactions: For leasing, purchasing, or selling commercial properties, a lawyer can help manage the intricate legal aspects of such transactions.
- Zoning or land use issues: If you're planning to develop property or change its use, a real estate lawyer can guide you through zoning laws and land use regulations.
- Resolving property disputes: For boundary disputes, title issues, or disagreements over property rights, a lawyer can help mediate or litigate the matter.
- Foreclosures or evictions: If you're dealing with foreclosure or managing a tenant eviction, legal representation ensures that the process adheres to local laws and protects your interests.
- Title and deed issues: Lawyers can help clear title disputes, ensure the legitimacy of property deeds, and handle transfers of ownership.
What Does a Real Estate Lawyer Do?
A real estate lawyer provides a range of services to help with property transactions and disputes, including:
- Contract drafting and review: Ensuring that purchase agreements, leases, and other contracts are legally binding, fair, and protect your interests.
- Title search and clearance: Conducting a thorough title search to ensure that the property has no legal claims or liens that could affect ownership.
- Facilitate closing: Managing the closing process in real estate transactions, including reviewing final documents and ensuring that everything is in order before the transfer of ownership.
- Resolve disputes: Handling legal disputes related to property ownership, boundaries, zoning, or tenants.
- Assist in financing: Reviewing loan agreements and mortgage documents to ensure the terms are fair and legally sound.
- Zoning and land use advice: Guiding clients through the complexities of zoning laws and building regulations for property development or renovation projects.
How Are Real Estate Lawyers Paid?
Real estate lawyers typically charge for their services in the following ways:
- Flat fee: Many real estate transactions, such as reviewing a sales contract or assisting with a closing, are charged on a flat-fee basis.
- Hourly rates: If a lawyer is handling complex disputes or litigation, they may charge by the hour. Hourly rates can vary significantly based on the lawyer’s experience and location.
- Contingency fees: In rare cases, such as property disputes or claims for damages, a lawyer may work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they only get paid if you win or settle the case.
- Retainer: For ongoing legal support, some clients may pay a retainer, which is an upfront fee used as a deposit for future legal services.
It's important to clarify the fee structure with your attorney before hiring them to avoid any surprises.
How Much Does a Real Estate Lawyer Cost?
The cost of a real estate lawyer varies based on the complexity of the matter, the location of the property, and the lawyer’s experience. Key factors that affect pricing include:
- Type of transaction or issue: Simple tasks, like contract reviews, typically cost less than handling a complex property dispute or litigation.
- Experience and location: More experienced lawyers or those in high-demand areas, like urban centers, often charge higher rates.
- Billing structure: Lawyers may charge a flat fee for basic services like document review or hourly for more time-intensive work such as disputes or litigation.
Flat fees for straightforward services like closing assistance may range from $500 to $1,500.
Hourly rates can range from $150 to $400 or more, depending on the attorney’s experience and location.
Always discuss fees upfront to understand the overall cost of the legal service you're receiving.
Top Questions to Ask a Real Estate Lawyer
Before hiring a real estate lawyer, ask the following questions to ensure they are the right fit for your legal needs:
-
What experience do you have with real estate law?
Ensure the lawyer has experience in the type of real estate transaction or dispute you’re facing, whether residential, commercial, or development-related. -
What is your fee structure?
Ask how the lawyer charges for services - whether it's a flat fee, hourly rate, or retainer - so there are no surprises later on. -
How long will the process take?
Especially important for real estate transactions or disputes with deadlines, ask for a general estimate of how long the process will last. -
Have you handled cases similar to mine?
Experience with similar transactions or disputes can give you confidence that the lawyer knows how to handle your case. -
Will you handle my case personally, or will it be passed to another attorney?
Confirm who will be handling the bulk of your case work, especially in larger firms where junior lawyers may take on some responsibilities. -
Can you provide references?
Speaking with past clients can give you insight into the lawyer's experience and how they handle cases.
How to Check the Credibility of a Real Estate Lawyer
To ensure you’re hiring a reputable real estate lawyer, take these steps:
- Check with the state bar association: Verify that the lawyer is licensed and in good standing with no disciplinary actions on their record.
- Read online reviews and testimonials: Look for reviews on legal directories and platforms like Avvo or Martindale-Hubbell to see what past clients have said.
- Ask for references: A credible lawyer should have past clients willing to share their experiences.
- Review their track record and expertise: Look at the lawyer’s website or LinkedIn profile for information about their experience in real estate law and any relevant cases they’ve handled.
- Membership in professional organizations: Lawyers who are members of respected legal or real estate organizations, like the American Bar Association’s Real Property Division, often signal credibility and expertise.
What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?
To make your first meeting with a real estate lawyer productive, you should prepare the following materials:
- Relevant property documents: Bring purchase agreements, lease contracts, mortgage documents, zoning permits, or any other paperwork related to your case.
- A summary of the issue or transaction: Be ready to explain the situation, whether it's a property dispute, contract negotiation, or development issue.
- Questions about the legal process: Prepare a list of questions about how the lawyer will handle your case and what steps are involved.
- Financial documents or loan agreements: If the case involves financing or a mortgage, bring any related documents for the lawyer to review.
- Your goals and timeline: Be clear about what outcome you're hoping for, and if there are any deadlines that need to be considered, such as closing dates or legal filings.
By coming prepared, you can ensure that your consultation is efficient and informative, allowing you to assess whether the lawyer is the right fit for your real estate needs.
