Derek W. Chantler | East Palo Alto Real Estate Lawyer

• United States Federal Court, Northern District of California

Most recently I took on a case of a displaced tenant who had been forced to vacate an illegal and unsafe rental unit when the unit was red tagged by the city. My client, although having a strong legal claim, had been unable to secure representation to assist her because she was not financially able to pay a large retainer and because her fragile state of mental health made her difficult to work with at times. I took on the case and was able to secure a judgment for her. Although this was not a multi-million dollar judgment in the context of a low-income displaced tenant it was a very large sum which will enable my client and her family to make a fresh start.

There are many different factors which a client should consider in choosing someone to represent their interests. Cost, of course, is a factor. It doesn't matter if the attorney is the best attorney in the world if you cannot afford for them to help you. That is why I operate my practice on a sliding scale. Of course an attorney needs to know enough about the relevant body of law to represent you properly. An attorney also needs to make an ongoing commitment to staying up to date with changes in the law within their chosen field of expertise. Most importantly, when choosing your attorney you need to choose someone that you can work with, someone with whom you are confident of developing a strong working relationship and someone whom you can trust to give you good advice, even if it isn't what you want to hear.

Local knowledge is critical. In the world of real estate litigation, where I spend most of my professional time, the knowledge of local ordinances and regulations is often the difference between winning a case for a client and losing.

During an initial consultation I attempt to provide answers to general questions about the state of the law and, where possible, general advice. I can often provide an estimate of the overall cost of a case and the legal merit of a case. I also offer my new clients the option of an in person, face to face initial free consultation, for those times when seeing documents or meeting face to face is critical.

In order to get an accurate picture and give good advice I need enough information to understand the problem. Sometimes I need to understand the terms and conditions of a lease agreement or other contract, sometimes I need to understand a story about what has happened. The exact nature of the information needed varies from case to case. There is no one-size-fits-all answer that will apply to every potential client. The bottom line is, if you think it is important it probably is and I need to know about it.

I currently serve my community as a Hearing Examiner, hearing petitions from members of my local community, under the authority of local rent control ordinance and assist with resolving disputes between landlord and tenants within the city. I also ensure that I serve the community by partnering with local community based legal organizations and by making sure that I provide pro-bono services to those who need representation but do not have the financial ability to retain an attorney.