The Legal Hotline allows you to submit real estate–related questions directly to NVAR’s Broker & Legal Services team of Associate Attorney Joseph J. Russo, Jr., Esq. and Director of Broker Outreach Shannon Lauterstein, who are well-versed in NVAR Standardized Forms and applicable real estate law.
In most cases, they will respond to your submission with a phone call within a few hours — and no later than one business day. Please be sure to provide an accurate phone number when submitting your request.
The Legal Hotline cannot accept complaints regarding other Realtors®, or tell you whether any Realtor® behavior is a violation of the Code of Ethics. To learn more about filing a complaint, please visit NVAR’s Ethics page.
Information on the Legal Hotline does not replace guidance from your Broker.
About the Team
Joseph J. Russo, Jr., Esq.
Joe brings nearly three decades of real estate law experience across Virginia, Washington, DC, and neighboring jurisdictions. His background reflects a deep command of the issues Realtors® face every day, ranging from contract interpretation and title review to resolving complex settlement and transactional challenges. His expertise directly aligns with our Association’s needs and will allow him to deliver immediate and exceptional value to our members.
Shannon Lauterstein
Shannon possesses a wealth of experience, with a career that spans leadership positions across the Realtor® community. She most recently served as Director of Member Training and Broker Services at the National Association of REALTORS®. Prior to that, she held key leadership roles in the brokerage community, including Broker and Director of Career Development at Keller Williams Realty in Dulles and Supervising Broker at KW United Falls Church. Shannon has also served on several NVAR committees, including Chair of the Standard Forms Committee in 2023.