Brokerage Advice needed: New Part-time Real Estate Salesperson

[James Hernandez]

Greetings, thank you for your time and attention. I'm coming here with humility to ask for your perspective because I don't have any.  I'm giving you my questions first just in case you don't want to read the whole post:

My questions are: 

1) Does my law license make me a more valuable prospect for a brokerage or a mentor? 

2) Should I focus on a specific area of real estate sales because of my background such as probate sales or short sales, or something else I haven't identified? Or 

3) Does my limited availability hamper my desirability to a broker or mentor, to the point where my legal experience cannot compensate for my current commitments?

Here is my dilemma, I working a full-time job and have family obligations so I can only commit to Real estate part-time.  I'm hoping to find a brokerage in Orange County, California (southern CA) that can utilize my skills despite my limited availability.  Also I'm not sure whether I should start with a working from the bottom and take anything mentality or whether because of my work experience, I should try to get into a niche area of real estate.

I'll try to keep my background brief: Part of the family business growing up was rental properties.  We had about 20 doors.  I soured on the real estate business because growing in the 80's technology wasn't around to make our lives easier and trying to figure out drywalling and pluming as an 8 year old by yourself on the weekends was not fun.  So instead I went to school, got a job (lawyer) and invested in a 401(k) as Robert Kiyosaki would say.  Well after reading RIch Dad Poor Dad and now that the kids are older and the family is healthy, I have come to accept that I actually really enjoy the real estate business.  So I started studying and this week I passed my CA real estate salesperson test.  

Currently, I'm an attorney with the Federal Government. Previously, I had a small side practice in the area of Estate Planning (wills trusts, no probate).  I'm still proficient in area but I do not actively seek clients.  Now I would like to practice real estate sales part-time.  

From reading various blogs, part-time real estate agents' success is limited in that a good portion of clients may want to contact their agent or see a property during the day and during the week.  Fortunately, I can have some availability during the day and week in my current employment with enough advanced planning to obtain permission from my supervisor.  I hope that is enough flexibility for a limited number of clients.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read any portion of this post.  Any input, advice or directions you are willing to share will be most appreciated.  

Take care, 

[James Hernandez]

Thank you very much Mr. Massopust.  As for right now I would prefer to focus on the sales agent role. I currently have an investment property and would love more in the future, but that is more of a 5 year plan after I get established and settled as a sales agent.  Again I appreciate your input and will definitely look more in probate sales.  Also thank you for your offer.  I will make sure to connect with you on BP. 

Take care,