<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr" style="font-size:12.8px">It can be done - I've been doing it in one way or another for about a decade. Here is a quick-n-dirty list of the issues:<div><ol><li style="margin-left:15px">Query whether everything you will do falls within the exemption to the licensing statute as an attorney. If you do anything that clearly isn't the practice of law and falls within "real estate brokerage services" then I suspect the DOL would say the exemption doesn't apply at least as to those activities. The DOL may be wrong, but you'd have to litigate the enforcement action to find out. The alternative is to get your license. But see No. 3.</li><li style="margin-left:15px">Even if the exemption applies, you almost certainly won't be entitled to the commission, unless you are a licensed real estate broker and member of the NWMLS. The former is a requirement typically of new construction, and only by the latter do you have a contractual right to that fee. Maybe the seller will agree to pay you the same funds, but that is a negotiated term, not automatic, unless you are in the NWMLS.</li><li style="margin-left:15px">By my analysis, one cannot act as a broker and as an attorney at the same time for the same client. The legal and ethical obligations are inconsistent. Easiest example: If someone from the DOL comes to your office and asks for your client files, as a broker you must provide them. As an attorney, the very fact of representation is confidential and there is no way you can provide an agent of the state with the client's file, not without a court order.</li><li style="margin-left:15px">Be aware of the laws around a rebate. Generally speaking, it must be disclosed on the settlement statement and if not you are likely running afoul of federal law. No "cash back" outside of escrow...</li></ol><div>Good luck!</div></div><div><br></div><div>Craig</div><div><br></div></div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br clear="all"><div><div class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div><div style="font-size:12.8px">Craig Blackmon, Attorney at Law</div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><a href="http://www.seattlepropertylawyer.com/" target="_blank">Seattle Real Estate Lawyer</a></font></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><span style="color:rgb(33,33,33)"><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">92 Lenora St. (The Makers Space, a shared work environment) </font></span></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><span style="color:rgb(33,33,33)"><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Seattle WA 98121</font></span><br></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><span style="color:rgb(33,33,33)"><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Office/Cell: </font></span><span style="font-size:12.8px">(206) 369-5949 </span><span style="font-size:12.8px">Fax: (206) 770-7328 </span></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><span style="font-size:12.8px"><a href="https://twitter.com/LawyerBroker" target="_blank">@LawyerBroker</a></span><span style="font-size:12.8px"><br></span></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><span style="font-size:12.8px"><a href="http://www.seattlepropertylawyer.com/blog?category=Buy+without+an+Agent" target="_blank">How to Buy Without an Agent</a> | </span><span style="font-size:12.8px"><a href="http://www.seattlepropertylawyer.com/blog?category=Sell+FSBO" target="_blank">How to Sell FSBO</a> | <a href="http://www.seattlepropertylawyer.com/blog?category=Real+Estate+Glossary" target="_blank">RE Glossary</a></span></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><span style="font-size:12.8px">CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This communication is a private, confidential electronic communication encompassed by 18 USC 2510. It is for the sole use of the intended recipient and receipt by anyone other than the intended recipient does not constitute a loss of its confidential or privileged nature. Any review or distribution by others is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient please inform the sender and destroy all copies.</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
<br><div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Sep 26, 2016 at 1:14 PM, Jared Hawkins <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:jared@hawklaw.biz" target="_blank">jared@hawklaw.biz</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
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<p class="MsoNormal">Distinguished colleagues: I’ve been approached by a client that would like me to serve as his agent in a real estate transaction so that I can qualify for the buyer’s broker’s commission and then rebate a portion of the commission back
to him. I have reviewed Chapter 18.85 Revised Code of Washington (regarding broker licensing) and see that attorneys are exempt from the broker licensing requirements.<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Does anyone have experience acting in this capacity? Does anyone advise against doing this (or are there issues I’m missing)? I don’t feel real comfortable with the idea so I am exploring the relevant issues before I decide what to do.<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks for your help.<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#0b242c">Jared N. Hawkins, Attorney at Law<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><a href="mailto:jared@hawklaw.biz" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#d7b853">jared@hawklaw.biz</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#0b242c"><br>
Hawkins Law, PLLC<br>
Phone <a href="tel:509-529-5175" value="+15095295175" target="_blank">509-529-5175</a> / Fax <a href="tel:509-529-2564" value="+15095292564" target="_blank">509-529-2564</a><br>
2225 Isaacs, Suite A/ Walla Walla, WA 99362<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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