There are many things the lawyers do for you.
1. Check on status of buyers/sellers or buyers/developer's background for bankruptcy, etc.
2. Check on the unit, house, etc which you are buying whether is the land subjected to be taken back by govt, etc for whatever reasons (Match with masterplan).
3. Liaise with banks for disbursement of funds
4. Liaise with developer/seller's lawyers to complete sales
5. Write to developer should the buyer request for certain things like type of tiles, amendments to the position of the door, etc
6. Be the central party to keep the funds and await the correct time, etc to release them either to developer or seller
7. Attend to any complaints or dissatisfactions the buyer might have concerning the unit he/she's buying. No need to directly confront developer or seller or even the agent to reduce confrontations and further disputes. Just get the lawyer to represent the buyer but if legal measures are required to take the erring party to task, probably further charges apply!
8. Walk through with the buyers on the thick documents from banks and developers concerning the purchase of a property, from OTP to S&P, etc. Legal documents are really a pain to read through!
9. Write to CPF to advise them on the use of cpf funds for monthly servcing of the mortgage loan or for the payment of stamp duty fee!
10. Settle any outstanding funds (sinking funds or maintenance fee) or car disc, etc by the seller with the estate office (some lawyers will tell the seller to diy but some actually will contact the estate office directly to get the exact figures)
I may just add that most of these cases, it is the signature of the lawyer that is most important. Many of those things above can be easily done by the lawyer's secretary but its the signature that is recognised by the relevant authorities.
I've also encountered many different types of lawyers with weird working styles. One told me he'll only see me when I ask for it. Otherwise he'll do the work but the secretary will meet me to go through all the stuff, etc. Another lawyer just meet me and quickly go through the paper work without rendering me advice if I don't ask...
All sorts of lawyers around! Best are those who take your money and run. Good thing I haven't met any of those!