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Attorney
By
Attorney
Career Profiles of the Profession
Who?
What?
Primary Practice Area & Subspecialty Fields:
Real Estate Litigation, Real Estate, Title Insurance, Corporate Law
When?
Years in Practice Area:
Since 1994
Years in the Legal Profession:
Since 1991
Where?
Employer:
Peck Bloom Austriaco & Mitchell, LLC
Size/Sector:
Medium sized / Private
City/State:
Chicago, IL
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Law School:
DePaul University College of Law
Undergraduate School/Degree:
DePaul University/ B.S. Finance
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Why?
Pluses/Challenges of Practice Area:
Real Estate is always going to be a basic area of practice. Everyone will eventually buy and sell residential and commercial real estate, not once but many times. It is a very interesting area of law especially when you get to the complicated real estate transactions. It is challenging. The challenge is to constantly be aware of new laws and cases that come about affecting real estate.
Core Skills/Key Knowledge Needed in Your Practice Area:
An in-depth understanding of real property law, title insurance, negotiation skills and a lot of people skills.
Advice to Lawyers and Law Students Interested in Your Practice Area:
In any given practice, one must diligently learn the basics of that area of law as well as consistently educate himself/herself about the current changes in law. Civility, civility, civility is a must. A lawyer can accomplish a lot for his client in an efficient and cost-effective manner by treating other lawyers with civility.
How?
Career Path to Current Position:
Expand your network, attend CLE seminars to enhance your practice skills and knowledge; be active in bar associations to increase visibility for yourself and your firm which can eventually lead to business referrals; be creative in solving problems and seek out a mentor or mentors that you can brainstorm/bounce ideas off-most of all, remember to help others as you have been helped.
Influences and Mentors:
My parents have influenced me a lot and taught me a lot. Professionally, my mentors are Harold Levine and Peter Birnbaum.
Suggested Reading About Your Practice Area:
How To Build A Successful Real Estate Practice (publication by the Chicago Bar Association Young lawyers Section); IICLE book on Real Estate Practice and Real Estate Litigation.
Job Search Techniques Used in Finding Your Position(s):
I was a law clerk at ATGF while I was in law school. Firms or corporations will hire people who have exhibited their work ethic and capability over people they don't know.
Bar Affiliations and Activities:
Immediate past Chair, Young Lawyers Section of the Chicago Bar Association; Board member, Chicago Bar Foundation; Board member, Center for Conflict Resolution; member, Asian American Bar Association; Board member, Illinois Real Estate Lawyers Association; Director, ABA/YLD; Committee Chair, ABA Real Property Probate and Trust Section; Fellow, American Bar Foundation; YLD Member to TIPS Now-ABA Tort and Insurance Practice Section.
Recent Professional Publications:
How To Build A Successful Real Estate Practice, May 2000; House Closing Repairs, ABA Journal, July 1998; The New Federal Lead Based Paint Regulations, DuPage County Bar Brief, Dec/Jan 1997; IICLE, Basic Real Estate Practice, Asst. Editor 1993; IICLE, Real Estate Litigation, Asst. Editor 1993.
Recent Professional Presentations:
Navigating A Real Estate Transaction, Seminar- Dec. 1997; ABA Real Property Probate & Trust CLE-Title Insurance, Spring 1997; ABA Real Property Probate & Trust Annual Meeting- Federal Nonjudicial Foreclosure Laws, August 1997; ISBA Pro Bono Program- Seller Disclosure Act & Lead Based Paint, 1996.
Memorable Career Moment:
When I was sworn in as Chair of the Young Lawyers Section of the Chicago Bar Assn. and I was promoted to Corporate Counsel.
Intriguing Interests:
I collect money bills from all over the world in 2, 20, 200 and 2000 denominations.
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