Richard Lovell | Ozone Park Real Estate Lawyer

• Member | New York State Bar Association
• Board of Directors | New York Association of Mortgage Brokers

• Board Member of the Year NY Association of Mortgage Brokers
  2002

My office tries to go "that extra mile" for the benefit of our clients. We have traveled to hospitals or homes for the execution of a Last Will and Testament when having an valid Will was truly an emergency. Recently, in a "routine" real estate transaction, a boundary issue arose between our client, the Seller, and their immediate neighbor. If we couldn't close on the house immediately our client would have suffered a big financial loss. Not only did we prepare the legal documents necessary to resolve the issue, we even visited with the elderly neighbor at their home to make sure that the paperwork was properly signed and notarized.

Like any "business", it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to build a successful law practice. One must understand that every client is an individual with matters that are extremely important to THEM! While some legal issues have more serious consequences than others to the people involved, EVERY client's own legal issues are what matters most to that client and a we can never lose sight of that. Every client MUST be given the respect that THEY deserve and every matter given the attention that IT deserves.

Clearly EXPERIENCE and the ability to LISTEN is extremely important. Being able to LISTEN carefully to what the client is telling you and, then, being able to evaluate their facts and situation, is paramount. If I were looking for an attorney I would want to make sure that he or she is really paying attention to the details of MY matter.

It depends on the type of case. With regard to Real Estate Matters, a LOCAL attorney is VERY important. While the laws are the same throughout New York State (and Florida where I am also admitted to practice law), local custom can often play a huge role in how a matter is handled. Even the simple matter of preparing a Deed can be different as local custom often dictates the particular form to use. In, say a Probate (Will) matter, while the laws are the same throughout New York State, knowing which local forms to use and building a rapport with those who work in the Courts can make a difference. This would be true in the Criminal arena as well.

During the initial telephone call we can usually determine if it is the type of matter that we are best suited to take on. Perhaps, after listening to the issues, we might determine that it involves a legal issue that our firm doesn't handle. We then might be able to point the person in the right direction. We can also make the potential client feel comfortable both with us and the issues that they facing.

All relevant information of course. However, this can be easier said than done. A potential client should organize their thoughts, perhaps in an outline, before contacting us. Sometimes people get nervous on the phone and might omit important details.

There are many good lawyers in our community and my office has worked well with many of them. Perhaps one of the reasons we have done well, and our clients like working with us, is the fact that we virtually never have staff turnover - no one ever leaves except for retirement. One of my paralegals retired after being here for 25 years. My current paralegal was barely out of high school when she started. She has now been with me for going on 21 years (and earned a BS Degree in the process). The other lawyer in my office has now been with me for over four years. Our ability to provide a continuity of representation with our clients makes for better representation. When a client calls after a number of years on a new matter they know us - and we know them!

I don't consider being a lawyer a job - many lawyers just have a job. It is a career. I have made my career making a difference in peoples lives and that is what is rewarding.

Paramount are my three amazing grandchildren (two of whom live on Long Island and the third in Florida). I never realized how rewarding being a (young) grandparent can be. Besides Family, I am a runner. I run half marathons from time to time but consistently run five to six miles, four times a week. On alternative days I am at the gym. I am also a political junkie and, along with every member of my family, am an avid sports fan.