Thursday, May 17, 2018

Legal Protections for Escrow Deposits in Florida


After practicing real estate law in Boston for nearly 10 years, attorney Henrietta Feldman opened her own law office in Palm Beach, Florida. Henrietta Feldman provides legal counsel and services to clients involved in commercial and residential real estate transactions and disputes. 

During real estate transactions, buyers can demonstrate their interest in a property by putting down a small deposit. In Florida, this deposit is generally placed in an escrow account and managed by a third-party escrow agent. Only real estate agents licensed in the state of Florida can act as escrow agents. If the buyer closes the deal, the amount in escrow is applied to the final purchase price. 

However, if the sale doesn’t happen, the deposit must remain in escrow until approved for release by both parties. Though funds are usually returned to the buyer, there are certain situations where the seller is entitled to the escrow amount. This could include breaches of contract or a lapsed deadline. Deposit disputes can be resolved in several ways. Some common routes are arbitration, mediation, or civil actions.

Tuesday, May 8, 2018

Student Success at the Boston University School of Law


Real estate attorney Henrietta Feldman practices law at her own firm in Palm Beach, Florida. Before that, Henrietta “Hattie” Feldman practiced in Boston, where she earned her law degree.

Since 1872, the Boston University School of Law has been providing a top-tier education to its students in a range of different areas of law. U.S. News and World Report ranked BU Law at number 22 of the best law schools in the nation, and the faculty was ranked third in a 2017 Princeton Review report. 

BU Law was ranked at number 16 by a Law School Transparency report for its graduates’ ability to achieve work within the field of law. A full 91 percent of the school’s graduates passed the bar in New York or Massachusetts on the first attempt in 2015. 

BU Law offers its students 24 options for clinics and externships along with 21 opportunities to study internationally. Every year, students are invited to participate in the Spring Break Pro Bono Service Trip, in which they have an opportunity to apply their skills and gain real-world experience by helping people in need. 

Last year’s spring break trip sent students to Puerto Rico to help people with housing problems after the damage of Hurricane Maria. Students also visited Louisiana to provide legal support to the Southeast Immigrant Freedom Initiative.