Well, this isn't 1995!
Making a couple loans to those you know is "private lending".
Going out to REI meetings and publicly seeking borrowers is absolutely not private lending, it is commercial lending. You are then, basically a "hard money lender".
The term, private lending, is anchored in SEC regulations as exceptions to SEC requirements, also in commercial and mortgage brokerage requirements, lending to someone you have a past or current business relationship with, someone known to you where your relationship did not arise from your solicitations for a borrower.
A real estate attorney, specializes in real estate and they may well know how to pull a boiler plate note and deed of trust, they may know how to exchange cash through an escrow account, have a borrower sign and file the note and deed of trust to secure your funds.
I seriously doubt they know laws pertaining to the advertising (which includes the solicitation of loans) origination, processing, qualifying borrowers as to ability to pay, predatory lending and loan servicing matters, the reason for my opinion is that lending is not real estate, it's banking and finance.
Before you hit the streets, you need to obtain the proper licenses. You're in luck, because compared to residential lending, getting set up as a commercial lender is a cake walk.
Why ensure you're compliant with lending laws? Because if you are not, you can easily lose every dime in your loan as well as being fined in addition to your loss. License requirements can begin at a municipal level with a business license and go to state licensing under your state banking authority or department of finance. Every state will have license requirements for a lender, if anyone tells you otherwise, they are wrong, there may be exceptions, but commercial lending is regulated in all states.
Commercial lending has much less regulatory oversight, than consumer lending, but it is not without compliance requirements as it was with some guy writing a check for a loan twenty years ago or even five years ago.
A broker, like Ann B. can keep you out of trouble and save your investment from being lost, a broker may utilize individuals who have funds to make loans without that investor being under license or regulatory issues, you're simply an investor. I assume you're an accredited investor as defined under SEC regulations, that can make a difference in a broker dealing with you.
There are other ways to fund a project other than by lending, becoming a partner is easier and it can be more profitable than being in the shoes of a lender. I assume that you have a general business knowledge, being familiar with partnerships and business entities, going this route, in Texas, you could use a Series LLC and admit members doing projects and do your lending through the Operating Agreement with title to any RE being in the LLC assigned to that member under their "series cell", going this route is not lending per se under banking or lending requirements and your RE attorney can probably accomplish this with fewer complications than getting into the finance arena.
You may be limited to the number of members admitted acting as a finance conduit, but you can form separate LLCs as well.
Another suggestion is to look into "Transactional Funding" simply lending at a closing where your immediate repayment is sitting in escrow from a transaction that is to follow your making a loan, there can be zero risks if done properly as your funds are never disbursed unless good funds are available to pay you off. This is also more "under the radar" but may require a license as well.
Licensing may be as simple as a registration, simply informing the state that you exist, they may require a financial statement or a bond, in this area, experience may not be required.
Regardless, there are pitfalls in commercial lending, it's not just a matter of having the money to lend. Best way to get your feet wet is to get with a broker. I also suggest you not advertise or solicit borrowers until you have covered your legal bases and know what you can and can not say in offering money to lend. Good luck! :)