Getting a lawyer as a REALTOR?

Question

i am going to be speaking with a lawyer this week.  working at KW, it comes with one of their lawyers.  is it worth me getting my own lawyer though?

i want to get a lawyer in case a client or customer try to pull a fast one on me... do real estate lawyers sue? or do they mainly handle paperwork...

what questions should i be asking him when i meet with him this week?

Devin Mann · Answer

@Wayne Brooks

so you were right. the lawyer said its kind of useless for me but i can send clients to him

Wayne Brooks · Answer

Seems like what you need is a real estate related attorney you can refer your clients to, if they need one.  That's a good idea, and your broker or other agents should be able to refer one to you.

Devin Mann · Answer

i mainly want a lawyer so i can represent my clients better. i would like to hope if there is an assessment problem with the city that i can have my lawyer represent my clients a little better to maybe fight it.  When a client works with me i want to show them that i can pull out the big guns and get what we want.  If another agent wants to take my clients escrow check (even if they are in the wrong) id like to still get my clients escrow check because big bank takes little bank.

make sense?

Matthew Kreitzer · Answer

When one is employed by a Real Estate firm, they may or may not get attorney services. However, I would read any provisions related to what kind of cases that attorney contract may cover. It is unlikely to cover all the kinds of disputes that you are going to run into down the line, whether that be issues with your vendors, your clients, etc. First, take a long look at your agreement and decide from there whether you want to go for a consultation with a local attorney. That would be my non-legal advice anyway, seek out a local attorney for a consultation.

Wayne Brooks · Answer

Your first line of defense is.....knowledge.......knowing how to read and understand all contracts involved in your business, and standard operating procedures. When someone wants/does something out of the norm, you need to be able to understand why (EM from Internet lenders, extended inspection periods, etc. point to someone trying to wholesale).  Secondly, your broker will offer guidance and answer questions.  Not sure what kind of "fast one" you're concerned about.  Your biggest problem with clients will be time wasters, as opposed to fraudsters.