Thomas DuMary, who graduated from TJSL in May 2013, is working as a Project Coordinator at Crest Real Estate, LLC. And after he passes the bar, he will become Crest’s Legal Counsel.
DuMary told us about his position:
“I provide code consulting for various types of construction and real estate endeavors in the Los Angeles area, with a focus in Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Santa Monica and Malibu. I act as an agent of the property owner and coordinate with the construction team, architects, engineers, real estate agents, designers and any other person involved in the project. I go to the City on their behalf and submit plans and forms necessary to obtain all of the various permits needed during the life of the project. Most of the time I will be involved throughout the project from the initial conceptual stages until the final inspection sign off. However, some clients will bring us in to address specific problems they may be encountering. The main purpose of the company is to maximize efficiency for our clients. Our expertise of how each city deals with permits and other issues allows us to get things done faster and more efficiently.
“I also go before discretionary boards to present our clients cases for variances, use permits and any other type of project that requires discretionary review.
“I also work with clients that wish to obtain property for development. We find properties that provide a developer with unique opportunities to maximize profits and efficiency. As an expert on certain codes, I am able to see what types of construction/development will be available and what will be limited due to codes. These are generally done in our Property Development Analysis reports.
“After passing the Bar, my duties will likely expand and I will be drafting contracts, brokering real estate deals and overseeing all of the company’s legal activity.”
DuMary says that his law degree has been a real asset in the real estate industry, and that his experience at TJSL has also helped him create a work ethic that’s a blueprint for success. Among other jobs during law school that helped him get where he is – he worked as a law clerk in the legal department of Applied Underwriters, a Berkshire Hathaway company that sells workers compensation insurance.
“I think that law school helped me be able to manage multiple projects at the same time without becoming overwhelmed,” added. “There are times where I have 15-20 different projects going on at one time and I need to account for all of them. Also, law school has helped in my ability to take confusing code and articulate them in a way that clients will understand.
“TJSL helped me prepare for this opportunity by showing me that if you want to be successful, you need to make your own decisions and be confident in yourself. I have been offered more traditional legal jobs in the past, but I decided to take a chance and do something that I was passionate about. This opportunity is something that can take me places that other jobs cannot.”
website: www.CrestRealEstate.com
