Spent $209,000 on Attorney Fees in 2024 – Considering In-House Counsel in 2025

[Jonathan Bombaci]

This year, our management company, which oversees 700+ units in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, spent over $209,000 on attorney fees, primarily related to evictions. It’s gotten me seriously considering bringing an attorney in-house to handle evictions and other legal needs moving forward.

I’m evaluating this from two angles:

1. Cost Efficiency: With the expense as high as it is, having in-house counsel could potentially reduce costs over time. Instead of paying billable hours for every case, a salaried attorney could handle the same volume of work at a more predictable cost.
2. Service Quality: I also see an opportunity to provide better service to ourselves and the owners we represent. An in-house attorney would focus on resolving issues efficiently rather than driving up fees with extra billable hours, which can happen with outside firms.

That said, I’m questioning whether this is the best perspective. Are there risks or hidden costs I might not be considering? For example:

How well does in-house counsel adapt to different jurisdictions, especially if we’re managing properties across multiple states? What happens during periods when the demand for legal work is lower? Is the cost of retaining an in-house attorney still worth it?

Has anyone else made the leap to in-house counsel for property management or other legal needs? If so, what did you learn, both the good and the bad? I’d love to hear your experiences, especially if there were unexpected benefits or challenges.

Looking forward to your insights!