When you hire a real estate lawyer, their job is to make sure the process of legally transferring the property occurs from seller to the homebuyer. Their tasks may be varied, depending on the deal, but they must adhere to all state (and sometimes local) laws. Typically they prepare and review documents, oversee the transfer of funds and hold them in an escrow account, and make themselves available to answer questions. A real estate lawyer often negotiates with the seller/buyer's lawyer in lieu of the seller/buyer speaking directly to one another, during what can be an emotional process.