to do creative legal writing. If consulting an attorney helps you sleep at night: You may have the world's easiest deal. Still, if you feel more comfortable having a lawyer review the contract, your peace of mind certainly is worth the cost of an hour or two of legal time. If you decide that you need a lawyer, interview several before making your selection. Real estate law, like medicine, is highly specialized. A corporate attorney or the lawyer who handled your neighbour's divorce isn't necessarily the best choice for your real estate team. Get a lawyer who specializes in residential real estate transactions. Good agents and brokers usually are excellent referral sources because they work with real estate lawyers all the time in their transactions. A lawyer working for you needs to have the following qualities in her favour: Is a full-time lawyer and licensed to practice law in your state or territory. Is local talent: Real estate law, like real estate brokerage, not only varies from state to state, it also changes from area to area within the same state. Rent control laws, condominium conversion statutes, and zoning codes, for example, usually are formulated and adopted by governing agencies. A good local lawyer knows these laws and has working relationships with people who administer them in your area. Has a realistic fee schedule: Lawyers' fees vary widely. A good lawyer gives you an estimate of how much it costs to handle your situation. As with financial and tax advisors,