Learning to buy from owner - no realtor

[Katrin Willoughby]

I have found a good deal on an off-market home in Galveston County TX and am looking into buying the home from the owner.  From the research I have done the buyer typically has a real estate lawyer work with them and both parties chose a title company to work with.   I haven't had business hours to call a real estate lawyer yet, so started communication with email. The first two to respond have not really told me what they actually do in this process and I only got their hourly rate with a "This should take less than 5 hours."  The total bill for there services would then be much more then what I have been seeing in forums. Can someone help me better understand what the real estate lawyer does, and is there anything else I am missing from the big picture?  Any tips for buying without a real estate agent? Any suggestions for a real estate lawyer or title company in the Galveston or Clear Lake area in Texas?