Basics of Mechanic's Liens | Practical Skills 2025
Basics of Mechanic’s Liens | Practical SkillsThis program will cover the practical skills attorneys need to know about the basics of mechanic’s liens.Speaker: Israel Klein, Esq.,…
WHO WE ARE
We are knowledgeable and involved attorneys who encourage new members and law students to join the Real Property Law Section (RPLS) to enjoy its benefits and participate in its Committees.
The RPLS’s mission cuts across all aspects of real property law and includes:
- Commenting on and encouraging appropriate legislation;
- Working with title insurance companies, brokers, surveyors and other related industry professionals to improve transactional practices;
- Identifying problems in the real estate industry and working to solve them;
- Educating the public about the attorney’s role in protecting their interests in real property transactions;
Timely CLE Programing
The RPLS regularly offers high quality CLE programs. Members receive biweekly emails alerting them to CLE events. For detailed information on upcoming CLEs, including program overviews and faculty listings, see the Live Events & On Demand Archives tab of www.nysba.org/realproperty.
Online Community
The RPLS’s highly active online community is a vital resource for practitioners to address practice questions quickly and thoroughly. Our members enjoy one of the most interactive online communities of NYBSA with daily posts by members and multiple responses to most. The RPLS community can also provide access to an attorney with a particular specialty necessary to assist you with a client or matter.
Section Content
RPLS members also receive the Real Property Law Journal (RPLJ) published quarterly each year. The RPLJ has articles on a range of real estate topics including contracts, condominiums, recent decisions, ethics, and much more. There is also a regular column on foreclosures provided by Bruce T. Bergman. Section members are encouraged to submit articles for publication. See the Publications link for more information about the RPLJ as well as an archive of prior articles and contact information for the editors.
Committee Membership
We encourage our members to become involved in our committees and build relationships with new members who always have much to contribute. Currently, we have more than 3,800 members and 30 Committees. Each Committee devotes itself to a specific practice area within the real estate community such as Construction; Real Estate Finance; Condominiums and Cooperatives and Foreclosures, to name but a few. After joining the RPLS, you may join a Committee through your NYSBA Membership profile.
Contact the Real Property Law Section Liaison
To learn more about this Section, please contact Amy Jasiewicz
ajasiewicz@nysba.org
(518) 487-5682
Please do not contact the Section liaison with a request for legal advice or an attorney referral. You can instead visit our ‘Public Resources’ or ‘Lawyer Referral Service’ page for this type of request.
Shelby D. Green
Professor of Law, The Class of 2003 Faculty Scholar, at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, White Plains, N.Y. She is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center. She teaches and writes in the areas of property, real estate transactions, housing and historic preservation. In addition to Chair of the Real Property Section of the New York State Bar Association, she is chair of the Legal Education and Uniform Laws Group of the Real Property Trust and Estate Section of the American Bar Association, editor of the Keeping Current-Property column in the section’s Probate & Property magazine, and an organizer, occasional presenter and regular moderator for the monthly webinar, Professors’ Corner, offered by the same section. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Jay Heritage Center, which manages the John Jay Estate, a National Historic Landmark in Rye, N.Y., as well as on the Board of Trustees of Westchester Parks Foundation.
Live Events
Register Now
Protecting the American Dream: Understanding Diversity in Land Ownership to Build Effective Business Models
This course will explore the historical roots of racial discrimination in real estate and the ongoing challenges that current policies aim to address. The discussion…
Land Use Update 2025
Join us for this 1.5 hour CLE webinar, Land Use Update 2025. Topics to be discussed include:• Public Utility Doctrine and Climate Leadership and Community…
Adverse Possession Update | Analyzing the Final Unexamined Frontier of the New Law: Permissive Encroachments
Since the significant 2008 revisions to New York’s Adverse Possession Law, courts and practitioners have grappled with their impact on property disputes. In this program,…
Real Property Law Section Summer Meeting 2025
Join the Real Property Law Section at its Summer Meeting at the spectacular Grand Cascades Lodge, New Jersey’s #1 rated resort! Perched along the Appalachian…
On Demand Programs
Basics of Mortgage Foreclosures | Practical Skills
Basics of Mortgage Foreclosures | Practical Skills | Video ReplayThis program will cover the practical skills attorneys need to know about the basics of Mortgage…
Basics of Real Estate Transactions - Commercial Property | Practical Skills
Basics of Real Estate Transactions – Commercial Property | Practical SkillsThis program will cover the practical skills attorneys need to know about the basics of…
2025 NYSBA Annual Meeting
New York State Bar Association Annual Meeting 2025January 14-17, 2025New York Hilton Midtown Join us for the premier legal event of the year, the Annual Meeting…
NYSBA Sections Holiday Party
Come learn more about the benefits of being a NYSBA Section member,help celebrate the end of year holiday season, have fun, and networkat what we…
Advanced and Hot Real Estate Topics
Highly knowledgeable practitioners will present several current and sophisticated topics in the area of advanced real estate practice, including the latest hot topics in Real…
2024 Law Student Section Meet and Greet (4 of 7)
2024 Law Student Section Meet and Greets (Session 4 of 7) Join us each week throughout November and into December for the Law Student Section Meet…
IOT for Lawyers: Unlocking the Potential of Connected Devices in Legal Practice
IOT for Lawyers: Unlocking the Potential of Connected Devices in Legal Practice
A Guide to Residential Real Estate Closings in the Greater Capital Region (2024)
A Guide to Residential Real Estate Closings in the Greater Capital Region (2024)
Online Community
Real Property Law Section Publications
Newly released issues are restricted to Section & Committee Members only for the first 90 days, after which they become available to all members.
The N.Y. Real Property Law Journal features substantive articles relating to the practice of real property law on various topics including property transactions, leases, zoning, disclosure, and cooperatives and condominiums. Also included are a regular column entitled, “Bergman on Mortgage Foreclosures” as well as updates on Section news, programs and events. Co-edited by members of the Publications Committee, with editorial assistance from a St. John’s Law School student editorial board under the leadership of Prof. Robert J. Sein, the N.Y. Real Property Law Journal is published by the Real Property Law Section and distributed to Section Members free of charge.
The Journal is published as a benefit for members of the Real Property Law Section and is copyrighted by the New York State Bar Association.
The N.Y. Real Property Law Journal encourages article submissions on topics of interest to members of the Section. Writing an article for a NYSBA Section publication is a great way to get your name out in the legal community and advertise your knowledge. Our authors are respected state-wide for their legal expertise in such areas as property transactions, leases, zoning, disclosure and cooperatives and condominiums.
Article Library
Looking for specific articles from our issues? Explore our library of individual articles, available from current and past editions.
View article library- A Guide to the Real Property Law Section
- Real Property Law Section Blog Archive 2007 – 2013
- Contract of Sale— Condominium Unit
Explanatory Notes Accompanying Revisions to Standard Form Condo Contract
- Owner’s Rider to Standard Form of Agreement Between Owner and Architect (AIA Document B104-2007)
- Commentary to Owner’s Rider to Standard Form of Agreement Between Owner and Contractor (AIA Document A107 – 2007)
- Commentary to Owner’s Rider to Standard Form of Agreement Between Owner and Architect for Projects of Limited Scope (AIA Document B104 – 2007)
Local Practice Guide for Residential Real Estate Transactions
Even though we all practice law in the same state, many aspects of a residential real estate transaction differ depending on where a property is located. Particularly Upstate, closing customs and practices vary widely from one county to the next. These practices include whether a contract is drafted by a realtor or an attorney, if a realtor-drafted contract is subject to attorney approval or disapproval, the length of the required title search, who orders and pays for title searches and even the type of deed.
An attorney who works on a transaction outside of his/her own home county may be at a disadvantage because local attorneys, title agents and realtors have different expectations about how the transaction will be conducted. Conversely, a local attorney may have difficulty convincing an attorney from outside of the area that “this is how we do things here.” This Local Practice Guide is designed to help bridge this gap. The Guide is organized on a county by county basis and will serve as a reference to the various local real estate customs and practices as well as provide a guide to local mapping and tax reference resources.
This Guide is provided exclusively as a benefit of membership in the NYSBA Real Property Law Section.
Real Property Law Section Diversity & Inclusion Plan – January 2021
Real Property Law Section New Section Committee Chair Guide
Real Property Law Section District Representative Guide
Real Property Law Section Bylaws – Updated 2018
Resolution of the Real Property Law Section Concerning Real Estate Closings During COVID-19
Legislation
- Chart of Legislation
- Status of Pending Legislation
- Guidelines for Reviewing Legislation
- Guidelines for RPLS Legislation Memos
Real Property Law Section Committee
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Attorney Opinion Letters Committee (Real Property Law)
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CLE Committee (Real Property Law)
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Climate Change Committee (Real Property Law)
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Commercial Leasing Committee
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Commercial Leasing Sub: Case Law Update
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Commercial Leasing Sub: Legislative Update
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Condemnation & Certiorari Committee
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Condominiums & Cooperatives Committee
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Condos & Coops Sub: Attorney’s Income Tax Opinion
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Condos & Coops Sub: Board and Governance Issues
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Condos & Coops Sub: Developer & Sponsor Issues
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Condos & Coops Sub: Policy and Legislation
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Condos & Coops Sub: Tax
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Construction Committee
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Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee (Real Property Law)
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ESG Committee (Environmental, Social & Governance)
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Ethics and Professionalism Committee (Real Property Law)
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Executive Committee (Real Property Law)
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Internship Committee (Real Property Law)
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Land Use and Environmental Law Committee
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Landlord & Tenant Sub: Rent Administration
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Landlord and Tenant Proceedings Committee
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Legislation Committee (Real Property Law)
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Low Income & Affordable Housing Committee
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Membership Committee (Real Property Law)
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Not-for-Profit Entities and Concerns Committee (Real Property Law)
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Public Interest Committee (Real Property Law)
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Publications Committee (Real Property Law)
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Real Estate Financing Committee
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Social Media Task Force (Real Property Law)
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Sponsorship Committee (Real Property Law)
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Student Affairs Committee (Real Property Law)
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Title and Transfer Committee
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Website and Communications Committee (Real Property Law)
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Workouts and Bankruptcy Committee (Real Property Law)
Student Internship Program
The Real Property Law Section (RPLS) has partnered with law schools in New York State to create an RPLS Student Internship Program. The purpose of this clinical program is to give second and third year law students interested in transactional real estate (including environmental and sustainability issues) and real estate litigation a semester of work experience in a law firm or corporate law department.
Attorney Professionalism Award
Each year, the Real Property Law Section has honored an outstanding individual real estate practitioner with its Professionalism Award. The Section’s Award Committee presents the award during the Section’s Annual Meeting.
Outstanding Community Contributor Award
The Section created the Outstanding Community Contributor Award to recognize members who have made significant contributions to the Community, and to express its appreciation. The award will be presented virtually during the Section’s Annual Meeting.
Real Property Law Section Annual Student Writing Competition
The Real Property Law Section sponsors an annual Student Writing Competition, open to all students who are candidates for the JD or LLM degree at an accredited law school in New York State during the year in which the article is submitted.
Scholarships
The Real Property Law Section will be accepting applications this summer for its two law student scholarships in the amount of $5,000 each. The scholarships will be awarded virtually at the Section’s Annual Meeting.
Legal Links of Interest
GENERAL LEGAL RESOURCES
- Practice Resources (New York State Bar Association)
- Legal Engine
- Legal Information Institute (Real Property)
- New York Legal Materials
- Real Property Materials
- State Statutes
- Legal-Pad
- Legal WEB and Database Searches, (“Lawcrawler”)
- Legislative Information on the Internet (“THOMAS”)
- Mortgage 101
- New York Law Journal
- State Home Pages, (Global Computing)
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
BANKRUPTCY
- Banrkuptcy Resources, Legal Information Institute
- Internet Bankruptcy Library
- Official Bankruptcy Forms
CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION
- Findlaw’s Continuing Legal Education index
- New York State Mandatory CLE Requirements
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
- NYSBA Environmental and Energy Law Section
- ABA Section of Environment, Energy and Resources
- New York City Watershed Agreement and Regulations
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Guide to Enforcement Hearings
ETHICS AND PROFESSIONALISM
GOVERNMENT RESOURCES
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
- Code of Federal Regulations , Index
- Department of Housing and Urban Development
- Code of Federal Regulations ,Title 24
- Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
- Internal Revenue Service
- Office of Foreign Assets Control , Treasury Department
- Public Lands –43 CFR
- Supreme Court
- U.S. Code, Legal Information Institute
NEW YORK CITY
- Assessments
- City Council
- Local Laws
- City of New York Home Page
- Department of Buildings
- Department of City Planning
- Department of Finance
- Online Owner’s Registration
- Tax Rates
- Department of Housing Preservation and Development
- Department of Transportation. Sidewalk Violations
- Landmarks Preservation Commission
- Rent Guidelines Board
- Zoning Resolution of the City of New York
NEW YORK STATE
- Attorney General
- Real Estate Financing Bureau
- Real Estate Policy Statements
- Institutional History of Banks
- Court of Appeals
- Department of Financial Services
- Department of Taxation & Finance
Tax Forms
Interest Rates
Publications and Technical Bulletins
Division of Tax Appeals/Tax Appeals Tribunal - Department of Environmental Conservation
- National Society of Professional Surveyors
- Division of Housing and Community Renewal
- Government Information Locator Service
- Office of Real Property Tax Services (“ORPTS”)
- Secretary of State
OTHER STATES AND MUNICIPALITIES
LANDLORD AND TENANT (RESIDENTIAL)
- Rent Guidelines Board, New York City
- TENANT.NET – Online Legal Resource for Legal Residential Tenants
- New York City Housing Court Decisions
- New York State Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law
- New York State Multiple-Dwelling Law
LAND USE AND PLANNING
ORGANIZATIONS
- American Bar Association
- American Bar Association, Section of Real Property, Probate and Trust Law
- American College of Mortgage Attorneys
- American College of Real Estate Lawyers
- Association of Real Estate Women
- Council of New York Cooperatives & Condominiums
- “DIRT”
- Freddie Mac
- Fannie Mae
- “MERS”
- Mortgage Bankers Association
- National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts
SURVEYS
TITLE INSURANCE
- American Land Title Association (“ALTA”)
- New York State Land Title Association (“NYSLTA”)
- Title Insurance Rate Service Association, Inc . (“TIRSA”)
TRANSFER TAX FORMS
- New York City Real Property Transfer Tax Return and instructions “RPT”
- New York State Real Estate Transfer Tax Return “TP-584”
- Supplemental Form “TP-584.1” and Instructions
UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE
- Commissioners on Uniform State Laws
- EAGLE 9 TM UCC Insurance Policy
- International Association of Commercial Administrators
- New York Department of State
- Revised Article 9 Resource Center
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