How to choose a real estate attorney
From a home closing to a portfolio deal. Licensing checks, fee structures, conflicts, and how far law-firm rankings reach.
Published 2026-10-21. All guides · Real estate law firms hub
Our perspective
The rankings we use answer a narrow question. Chambers USA, The Legal 500 and SEC-filed deal releases describe large firms on large transactions, which is why every firm we profile can be scored. For a home purchase or a small commercial lease, those sources say little; your state’s licensing and discipline records matter more. (American Bar Association, Lawyer Licensing (links to each state’s licensing agency)) Whether you need a lawyer at closing also depends on the state: the CFPB notes that some states, particularly in the Northeast and South, require a closing attorney. (CFPB, Shop for title insurance and other closing services)
Checklist
- Confirm the lawyer is licensed and in good standing in the state where the property is, using the state agency linked from the ABA’s lawyer licensing page. (American Bar Association, Lawyer Licensing (links to each state’s licensing agency))
- Ask whether your state or transaction requires an attorney at closing. (CFPB, Shop for title insurance and other closing services)
- Get an engagement letter with scope, fee structure (flat, hourly or capped), who does the work and how expenses are billed.
- Ask the firm to confirm in writing that it has run a conflict check.
- If the attorney requires you to use a particular title agent, expect a written disclosure of any affiliation when the attorney is engaged. (CFPB, Regulation X § 1024.15, affiliated business arrangements)
- For large deals, compare the specific partners’ recent matters, not only the firm’s ranking.
Questions to ask
- How many transactions like mine have you handled in this state in the last year?
- Is your fee flat or hourly, and what could make it go up?
- Who on your team will handle my file day to day?
- Do you have any relationship with the title company, lender or other party?
- What is your typical response time, and how will you keep me updated?
Red flags worth clarifying
None of these proves a problem on its own. Each is a reason to ask for an explanation in writing before you sign.
- No written engagement letter or fee terms.
- A license you cannot find, or one that is not in the property’s state.
- Representing more than one party without explaining the arrangement and getting your consent in writing.
- Undisclosed affiliation with a title agency.
- Guarantees about outcomes.
What the public record can and can’t tell you
Can show
- Chambers USA and Legal 500 rankings for large-firm real estate practices
- Named roles on SEC-filed REIT deals
- License status and public discipline (state agencies)
Can’t show
- Fees on your matter
- Quality of work on small residential closings
- Client satisfaction beyond the research guides’ interviews
How our scores work here
Firms here get a public-record score: a number out of 10 with its breakdown, built only from audited filings, regulator and court records, and rankings researched by third parties. Criteria and weights: Chambers USA Real Estate (nationwide) (35%); Chambers USA REITs (nationwide) (25%); The Legal 500 US, real estate (25%); Named roles on SEC-filed REIT deals (15%). Today 9 of the 9 firms we profile in this section can be scored; the others show “Not yet scored”, which means the public record does not cover every criterion. It says nothing about service quality. We attach no label, tier or recommendation to a score, and a lower number is not a judgment of how a firm treats clients. Use it to see what is documented, then do the checks below.
Explore
Real estate law firms hub · Transactions · REIT counsel · Private equity buyers · Kirkland & Ellis · Latham & Watkins · Goodwin · Fried Frank · Greenberg Traurig · Simpson Thacher · Goodwin vs Latham & Watkins · Fried Frank vs Greenberg Traurig · Kirkland & Ellis vs Simpson Thacher
Questions
Do I need a lawyer to buy a house?
It depends on the state. The CFPB notes that some states, particularly in the Northeast and South, require a closing attorney; in much of the country a settlement or escrow agent conducts the closing.
How do I check a lawyer’s license?
Lawyers are licensed by states. The ABA’s lawyer licensing page links to each state’s agency.
Are the firms on this site the right fit for a home closing?
The firms we profile are ranked for large transactions. For a home closing, buyers usually look for a local real estate attorney licensed in their state.
What does the law firm score measure?
Chambers USA real estate and REIT bands, Legal 500 tiers and named roles on SEC-filed deals. A number out of 10, not a recommendation.
Regulatory and legal points summarize the linked primary sources as read on 2026-10-21. Rules vary by state and change over time; this guide is general information, not legal or financial advice.
Sources
- American Bar Association, Lawyer Licensing (links to each state’s licensing agency) · accessed 2026-10-20
- CFPB, Shop for title insurance and other closing services · accessed 2026-10-20
- CFPB, Regulation X § 1024.15, affiliated business arrangements · accessed 2026-10-20
Last verified 2026-10-21. Figures were re-read from the linked sources that day.
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- Guide published.