In addition, Maine and every other state has a complex condominium enabling act, and there is a growing body of "case law" interpreting the legal relationships involved.

For these reasons, homeowner association law is becoming a specialty. Homeowner's associations should be careful in picking legal counsel to choose someone who already has experience in that field.

Homeowner association practice requires a different mindset than that of a litigation attorney. The emphasis should to be on prevention, with a good dose of people skills aimed at helping people resolve conflict in a constructive way. After all, they will probably still be neighbors when all is said and done.

Since a condominium association is really a town government writ small, an association attorney should be familiar with governance issues and parliamentary procedure.