The world has been in the middle of a pandemic for much of 2020, and it is undeniable that many industries have been adversely affected. Despite the struggles, of the economy, the real estate industry has consistently strengthened, supported by the combination of interest rates and inventory both being at an all-time low. In these trying times, Andrew Delory has been a beacon giving buyers faith in the strength of the market. 

Andrew Delory is the second part of the dynamic father-and-son duo behind Delory Law, a legal firm that specializes in helping people buy & sell real estate. They handle a range of legal affairs including zoning, development, condominium conversions, leases, evictions, and some civil litigation. 

I got a chance to catch up with Andrew recently, and he goes deep into his story and how he became the successful attorney we all admire today.

How did you make the decision to become a real estate attorney? What was your educational journey?

I went to a small Catholic High School where I was the Captain of 3 varsity sports teams, Junior Class President, and a co-anchor of the school’s own morning news show. I was really into Journalism. Coupled with my love of sports, I thought for sure I would work on ESPN one day.

I enrolled in the University of Rhode Island in the fall of 2005 seeking a Communications Studies major specializing in Journalism. Halfway through college, Journalism got its own school separate from Communications.  Instead of having to retake many of the same general elective style courses to get a Journalism degree, I turned my attention towards using my Communications Studies background to focus on marketing/advertising.  

I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications Studies in 2009, then enrolled at the Massachusetts School of Law in the fall of 2010 as a night student because I was working full time during the day as a paralegal.  I worked extremely hard and successfully completed my studies in May 2013. Then I took the bar exams, passed, and was sworn in as an Attorney in November 2013.

So you run Delory Law alongside your dad. Was it always clear that you were going to join the family business?

I never intended to work with my dad, the circumstances just kind of presented itself. I enrolled in law school as a night student in the fall of 2010 and continued to work full time during the day. Unfortunately, after I completed my first semester I was laid off from the firm I was working at.

While I was searching for a new job, my father, who is an attorney, offered me the opportunity to start working in his office part-time, allowing me to transition to a full-time law school student. The rest is history. 

By working together, we are able to deliver better service to his existing clients while also having the tools of the trade necessary to attract a new and younger generation of clients. This is critical for our growth as an office because Millenials are now reaching their prime life stage to purchase their first home, and our office is ready to serve them!

You mentioned working as a paralegal and eventually getting laid off. What was that experience like?

I graduated from college with a plan to leverage my Communications Studies degree to land a job in the advertising/marketing field.  Unfortunately, in 2009 we were in the midst of a brutal economic recession that made it really difficult to find even an entry-level job. 

A friend of mine reached out and said she worked at a law firm that had an opening for a paralegal. I interviewed and got the job!

The firm specialized in mortgage foreclosures but the job itself was very mechanical. After a few months, I had basically learned everything I could. The lawyers I was assigned to work for basically started rubber-stamping my work without even really reviewing. That’s when I decided I wanted to take control and get into business more for myself. 

I decided that law school was the best option for me because I could venture into business for myself but could use my legal background to write strong contracts.

Do you have any final advice for anyone who wants to grow and succeed in their life right now?

If you want something in life, you have to go after it.  Wake up every day and work towards your goals.  Enjoy what you have accomplished but remember nothing is promised.  You can’t get to the next level by spending all your time celebrating that you’ve reached the level you’re on.

You can follow Andrew’s journey on his IG, Facebook, and Twitter: @delorylaw