Jean Shrem is honest, knowledgeable, and very helpful. She is truly an expert. Look no further for a solid and straightforward attorney who really knows their stuff! read more

I have worked in law for years and I have spoken to many lawyers all over the bay who specialize in landlord/tenant law. I myself know a lot about landlord/tenant law from being a tenant for many years in the Bay Area and a landlord. I know the ins and outs, tenant rights, and landlord rights. I know regulations specific to each county and different types of buildings. When I found myself in need of legal services I called all over the Bay Area from fancy law firms in San Francisco to single practitioners in the East Bay. Not one lawyer proved to me to know more about the ins and outs of landlord/tenant law in the Bay Area like Jean Shrem did, right off the bat from the first few minutes on the phone! She was the one who won my confidence instantly (and she was also recommended by several lawyers whom I deeply respect). She basically had me at hello. Yes, she has a high retainer but she did the work. I got the result I wanted and I knew that every "i" was dotted and every "t" was crossed. The legal work she did for me was solid and I have faith that it will not haunt me down the road. I highly recommend Jean Shrem! read more

My husband and I found ourselves in a very complex situation that required legal assistance. We found Jean on Yelp and are very glad we did. She is not just adept at the nitty-gritty legal details, but she also asked smart "big picture" questions and helped us think through all the steps of our plan. She helped us navigate a lot of moving parts on a tight timeline during a shelter-in-place ordinance where going to county offices in person was not possible. She also offered different levels of assistance in terms of us doing more or less on our own (at different pricing levels) -- we appreciated that flexible style and her honesty. We are grateful for her deft assistance and recommend her services. read more

I met with Jean Shrem of Shrem Law Group recently regarding the short sale of my home. Jean's insight, experience and calm were most helpful. After our meeting and her advise I feel I have a much clearer idea of how to approach this situation, as my home is under water. Jean helped us to understand the maze of legalities surrounding the whole short sale process. Jean's knowledge in this area gave me peace of mind to work out all the emotional stuff...probably the much tougher part at the end of the day! read more

Having to consult with a lawyer is kind of like going to the dentist. Most people don't want to have to go to the dentist, but if its necessary, you want someone who knows what they're doing. You want someone who won't make mistakes, inside your mouth, or with things vital to your well-being. A dentist deals with something essential to you, and so does a lawyer. So you want someone who's smart, and competent, and it helps if you think the dentist or lawyer is a cool person, someone with goodness in them, and integrity, and if you like them its easier to make the call. Jean Shrem is all those things. I consulted her recently to get out of a real estate contract I regretted signing, almost immediately; it was an intense situation, especially psychologically, and Jean was cool, and empathic, and I actually enjoyed hearing her talk about the details of the contract, and found relief from my stress knowing that she knew what she was doing. I came to have more of an appreciation for the practice of the law, for its values of clarity and accuracy. I don't look forward to the next time I may need to talk to a lawyer--because of whatever that situation may be--but I'll be grateful she's there. read more

Jean was recommended to me by my realtor, and was a great help when I needed quick advice on a time-sensitive real estate issue. When I called her office number, I expected to get a voicemail or at best, speak with an office manager to set up an appointment for a later date, but instead Jean herself answered the phone and gave me the advice I needed on the spot. I will definitely keep her in mind should I need more extensive legal advice in the future! read more

I've been working with Jean Shrem for years, referring numerous clients in her direction who she has always graciously and expertly assisted. She understands complex local laws, and has a straight forward down to earth approach. Most importantly, I can trust that whoever I refer to her will be taken care of. Look no further for expert legal advice. read more

Our real estate agent referred us to Jean for some legal advice regarding our rental home. She called us back right away, talked to us for 20 minutes (for free), answered all of our questions, and we will certainly be in touch with her if we need more in depth assistance. Thanks, Jean! read more

I Found Jean on Yelp and contacted her for a consultation about a foreclosure on my rental property. She was very friendly and informative and took time out of her day to consult me for free! Thanks Jean. read more

Jean Shrem is a gem. As a Realtor with decades of experience in the East Bay, I've seen just about everything that can go wrong with a real estate transaction. A great real estate lawyer is hard to find, and one as responsive, ethical, communicative, informed, and professional as Jean Shrem is almost unheard of. I trust her completely and I never hesitate in referring clients to her. When you call her you can be assured she really has your back, and she will do whatever it takes to resolve things quickly without extra fees. She is a true find. read more

I had the opportunity to have a consultation with Lara Smith and after our first meeting, I felt confident she was who I wanted to go with. So far she has been courteous, upfront and doesn't waste my time racking up minutes. I would recommend her to anyone in need of legal advice or legal representation. She's a very smart woman! read more

I have been very lucky to have worked with Jean on two matters combining her two professions--law and real estate. She is an efficient, non-nonsense professional. Yet she's friendly and willing to share her expertise and discuss matters clearly and at length. I consider myself lucky to have found such a great resource. I highly recommend her. read more

I'm a home inspector and Jean has referred me to her clients for many home inspections over the years. I enjoy working with Jean because she is honest, extremely knowledgeable and absolutely dedicated to her clients. Her legal credentials combined with her real estate knowledge, make her my choice when I have a client that needs a real estate attorney. One example where Jean has helped my clients is "for sale by owner" properties. She knows what reports are needed, the ins and outs of the contract and can work with all parties involved. Definitely my recommendation to clients and for my own legal questions about real estate. read more

Jean Shrem - "She's the solution" I have known Jean since 2002 when she represented me in the purchase of my home. She is knowledgeable, personable, and full of integrity. I have also known Jean to be levelheaded in a dispute or negotiation. Jean performs flat fee real estate transactions for buyers or sellers without real estate agents. This is significantly cheaper than the usual broker fee and I believe, also fairer. I recommend her to my clients, because it is very rewarding to match a need to a solution. I think that sums up how I feel about Jean - she's the solution." read more

Several months ago, my wife & I were looking to purchase the house we rented in El Cerrito from our landlady. I found Jean through Google/Yelp and we made an appointment. We spent an hour with her to have her help us understand some of the specifics of a purchase contract. We used this information to prepare an offer, which (after some back & forth) was eventually accepted and resulted in a transaction. That hour with Jean was very useful for us. I wouldn't hesitate to solicit her services again. read more

Found out about Jean on Berkeley Parents Network, and got WAY more than $400 worth of advice about what to do with our underwater house during my flat-fee consultation today. She knows a lot of useful information, and delivers the information in a clear, calm, non-judgmental way. Here's my advice for homeowners. Go to Zillow.com and find out what your house is worth. If what you owe on your mortgage(s) is more than what the house is worth, make an appointment with Jean to find out what your options are. Even if you don't plan to do anything about your house right now, at some point being underwater is going to matter to you, and you'll save much more than $400 by handling it in the smartest way. Which is what Jean can help you do. It's also great that we now have smart, reasonably-priced person to help us with our follow up questions as we navigate this mess! read more

I worked with Jean recently on a by-owner sale contract. She charges a flat-fee to do what a real estate agent would charge 6% of the sales price to do. She's efficient, accessible and does a good job representing both sides of the deal. Unfortunately, in this matter, the deal fell through at the last minute due to no fault of Jean's. Had the deal gone through, I would have saved thousands in fees. When the deal didn't go through, there was no judgement. In fact, in a situation that could ordinarily be difficult (unrepresented buyer and seller), Jean helped to diffuse the potential conflicts with her calm demeanor. I would not hesitate to recommend her to anyone looking for an attorney to represent them in a similar situation. read more

Great lawyer! I was stressed out in a lanlord tenant dispute. I thought there was no hope in me getting out of the lease until I hired Jean! She got to work on it right away and within 3 days, my landlord had offered to release me from the lease. read more

I met Jean through a BNI network but never expected to have to call upon her for legal advice. When I did, she was as clear and concise as any attorney I have ever spoken with. She listened to my questions and concerns and gave me feedback and input that fit the situation correctly. She was also quite quick, leaving me well at ease about the time required and cost, a most pleasant and refreshing approach. For business legal matters I highly recommend Jean. read more

My wife and I went to Jean to get perspective on our home mortgage future. She gave solid advice, provide excellent reference for question outside of her expertise and followed up to clarify "fuzzy" legal/governmental issues. She was also sensitive to our time constrains and offered rapid fire, concise answers. Her information made it possible for my wife and I to proceed in a rational fashion as we navigate our home ownership future. read more

I found out about Jean through the Berkeley Parents Network. I had an approval letter for a short sale that I wanted read by a real estate lawyer. She was very personable,knowledgable,quick and decisive. I was very happy to learn that all the debts would be forgiven and I can now go on with my life. I would highly recommend her for all areas of law. read more

I really appreciated how quick Jean answered a question I had about a rental agreement. She is very knowledgable and very clear in her answers. I also referred her to a friend regarding a tenant occupied duplex that he wanted to sell. She was very helpful in clarifying his options and he was successful in working something out with the tenants. read more

Jean was extremely responsive after I requested advice. Although Jean was unable to handle my case, Jean did point me in the right direction so I could contact the expertise I needed for my situation. Thank you Jean! read more

When I needed help and saw how uniformly stunning Jean's reviews were, I phoned her immediately. A day later a friend with a big firm in the city said they'd heard "fantastic" things about her as well. Every good thing in the reviews was my experience and it felt so good to KNOW I was in good hands being guided with incredibly skill, intelligence about people, and legal expertise. I'd gained enough trust in her so that when she made a suggestion that seemed bolder and braver than how I felt, I went ahead with it and . . . problem solved. Looking back on the difficulty that led me to her, it's gratifying to have an overriding sense of having been seen, understood, and helped. That's what I'm left with, in addition to a few of her letters which I've shown my friends and always lead to emphatic admiration, ie "Wow -- I wish I could write like that! Would you read it again?" Super appreciative. Thanks. read more

I am a property owner in Oakland and recently needed a rental agreement that allowed my master tenant to have roommates. This a rather touchy subject because I did not want to set up a relationship with the subtenants but wanted the ability to vet them. Jean understood what I needed and within minutes I had a rental agreement and Subtenant agreement that did exactly what I wanted it to do. Jean is a no fuss attorney that gets what you need and has it at her fingertips. I highly recommend her for tenant landlord questions. read more

Jean and I went back in forth over email a few times to set up my free 30 minute consultation. She was very flexible with her schedule and called me to discuss the possible foreclosure of my home - which is currently on short sale. She gave some good advice on my options and said I could use her services if in fact I did go through with the short sale. However, if in the future I still had more questions, she made herself available for more advice. With all the financial ramifications of foreclosures and short sales, I wanted to make sure I knew what my options were. So I definitely appreciated her advice! read more

We consulted Jean Shrem regarding a real-estate issue and were very pleased with the helpful information she provided.

I have used both Jean and Lara for legal councel and representation. One time for a real estate syndication and one time for a legal dispute with an employee. I appreciate how down-to-earth and professional they both are. Most recently we worked with Lara and she made an intimidating legal process painless and got things resolved quickly. I have heard nightmare stories from other people about lawyers racking up hours and unfair billing - my experience was quite the opposite with Lara. She was fair, treated us well, got things resolved in a reasonable manner. When it was all done I emailed her and told her I was very thankful to have her on our team. I can't recommend these two highly enough. read more

I was referred to Jean from my real estate agent. She quickly worked to resolve the dispute with calmness and certainty. I highly recommend working with her! read more

I have been a Realtor since 1996. I have recently referred Jean to buyers purchasing bank owned (REO) properties. She reviewed the addendums provided by the banks, advised buyers regarding potential risks and issues to be aware of and gave the buyers a list of what research to do. She then drafted an addendum to provide to the bank which minimized the buyers' risks that the bank actually signed! After researching what several attorneys charge, I found Jean's rates to be a great value for the services that she provides. Especially for clients with limited funds. Her work product was excellent, as was her response time and follow through. I will continue to recommend her to all of my clients and friends. read more

I was in the middle of a complicated foreclosed real estate deal and Jean totally helped me out. I had to deal woth quasi-legal contracts from out-of-state banks on an immediate basis. Many other lawyers turned me down, but Jean read through it all and translated the salient points into understandable language in a 24-hour period. On another occasion she also got back to me with an urgent question while she was on vacation! So helpful. read more

I am a seasoned realtor in the East Bay and have referred many clients to Jean Shrem since the economy has unhinged local homeowners. The banks have made it very difficult to navigate any current process to help these homeowners as the process itself seems to continually change. Jean has shown great skill in keeping up on the most recent information for getting through this process and has helped educate many clients so that they can then make the best decisions for their individual situation. Each is different and having Jean on your side is definitely beneficial. I have high regards for her knowledge and her "straight-shooting". I encourage anyone in a difficult real estate/financial situation to reach out to her. She is well worth her fee. read more

A professional through and through. Brings to the table for YOUR benefit integrity,intelligence and insight. read more

Jean came to my rescue with a calming influence when I was in panic mode dealing with an outcome from Wells Fargo and another lawyer regarding my home. She was communicative, knowledgeable and dedicated to my needs. She was supportive and understanding while explaining my rights as well as the rights of the "other side". When you find yourself in a "this sucks" situation, a lawyer you can trust helps you feel that you are not alone. I highly recommend Jean for her talent, knowledge and professionalism. read more

We are very grateful for Jean's invaluable guidance through the murky waters of selling a house without an agent. Due to her wide experience with real estate transactions, she has much knowledge of contracts and disclosures which was very helpful to us. She had an excellent relationship with the title company -- clearly a result of her honesty and intelligence. She helped make our recent experience selling our house as low stress as possible. We highly recommend her! read more

I have been the fortunate recipient of Jean Shrem's legal counsel both personally and professionally: As a Realtor, I have referred clients to her many times. The feedback was consistently positive. Personally, I was lucky enough to have her support on an issue which she helped resolve expediently, and with terrific professionalism. Jean focuses on helping, not in racking up billable hours. read more

My wife and I were pointed in the direction of Jean from a real estate agent in regards to short selling our townhouse... or not. Jean provided us very good information in a way we could easily understand and she was very easy to speak with and ask questions. An hour well spent, time and cost, and we would suggest anyone needing some advice to please consider Jean. We're glad we did. read more

I am truly impressed by the legal knowledge Jean Shrem has, as well as her working style. I sought for her professional help to resolve a dispute resulted by a failed real estate transaction. During our first (and the only) meeting, I told Jean what had happened and what I wished to achieve through her help. Jean listened carefully, glanced at some basic documents I presented, immediately she saw legal grounds for my case. Within a few minutes of our conversation I gained a strong confidence in her: Jean was precise, sharp, and very knowledgeable. I decided, right away, to have her represent me. What impressed me the most was the letter Jean argued for my case. It was so persuasive that when I read it, I knew I'd win the case, because nobody would be able to counter-argue such a powerful and meticulous legal presentation. It was written with precision of facts, solid logic, and profound knowledge of the law(s). I had tremendous pleasure reading it, for it is a textbook example of a well argued case and, it gave me a great intellectual stimulation to meet such a brilliant mind. In fact, with this letter, Jean solved the dispute, and I got what I hoped for. Working with Jean was amazingly pleasant. She was highly intelligent, timely responsive, and humanly sensitive. Jean was expensive in terms of legal fees, yet she saves your money at the end by getting dispute resolved efficiently. I'd recommend Jean Shrem to any of my friend who encounters any sort of unfortunate situation in their transactions. read more

I ran into issues with a non performing seller on a real estate transaction. Having worked with Jean on and off for more than 10 years and always having a great experience she was my first call. The only way I can really describe it is Jean hit a home run for us and got the transaction that had been in limbo for 90+ days back on track and closed within a week. I could not more highly recommend Jean and the services she provides. read more

Jean advised my partner and me in the purchase of our first home. She was extremely knowledgeable, communicative, responsive and dedicated. We could not have imagined better representation, and are so happy with the outcome! I would recommend Jean as an advisor and representative for any home buyer. read more