[LisaB4657]

It's not malpractice as long as the attorney asked for things that he felt would protect your friend. What your friend's attorney did is standard practice. The basic form of broker's contract in NJ contains many provisions that protect the broker but not the buyer or seller and it is customary for the attorneys to send proposed riders that remove those provisions, and also to include provisions that will benefit their clients.

For example, I'm sure that your friend's attorney included in the rider a provision that extended the time for the home inspection, since the standard broker's contract says that it will expire within 10 days after the date the contract is signed. Most attorneys will extend it until 10 days after the date of completion of attorney review. That way your friend wouldn't have to spend $500 on a home inspection when they may not even have a firm contract. Other times were probably extended the same way as well.

Tell your friend that most likely, the attorney did exactly what they were supposed to do. The seller did something that was sleazy, but not illegal.