The boom in oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) has resulted in many recently licensed attorneys finding employment as title attorneys, often with little to no background or training. The title attorney identifies ownership of the surface, executive rights, minerals, royalty and leasehold pertaining to the land under examination; points out defects in title and possible conflicting claims thereto; and suggests the means to cure such issues, among other responsibilities. The document containing a statement of ownership, addressing known title defects and the means by which to cure them is known as a title opinion.
One way to get started as a title attorney is to work as a landman. Both careers share common goals: determination of mineral ownership, identification of potential title defects and adverse claims, and resolution of those issues so as to mitigate risk.
