Solo Practice University®

Kira Fonteneau is a landlord tenant attorney primarily representing landlords. She will teach a course about Landlord/Tenant Law at Solo Practice University®.

Ms. Fonteneau is Licensed to practice law in Alabama, Georgia and Virginia, but focuses her practice in Alabama running The Fonteneau Firm, LLC. As part of her practice, Kira routinely and successfully represents clients from across the country with legal issues in Alabama in unlawful detainer, ejectment, premises liability and other disputes arising out of the landlord and tenant relationship. Ms. Fonteneau also advises her clients concerning landlord best practices to avoid tenant claims and protracted litigation.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts from The University of Virginia and a Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia School of Law.  Kira is also an accomplished speaker focusing her presentations on employment topics like the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Racial and Sexual Harassment, Proper Discharge Procedures and Leadership.

Syllabus – Landlord Tenant Law Practice Basics

1. Building Your Landlord Tenant Practice
   • Why Landlord Tenant law?
   • The Lawyer’s Value Proposition to Clients
   • Finding Landlord Clients
   • Finding Tenant Clients
2. Surveying the Legal Landscape
   • Common Law Landlord and Tenant Law
   • The Uniform Landlord Tenant Act
3. Traps for the Unwary Landlord I: The Federal Framework
   • Tenant Screening using Credit Checks Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act
   • Housing Discrimination Under the Fair Housing Act
4. Traps for the Unwary Landlord II: State Law Considerations
   • Unlawful Ouster
   • Habitability
   • Premises liability
   • Retaliation
5. Traps for the Unwary Landlord III: Ownership Interests
   • Lease Purchase Agreements
   • Option to Buy Contracts
   • Foreclosures
6. The Pro Se Problem
   • DIY Landlords
   • Unrepresented defendants
7. Anatomy of an Unlawful Detainer
   • Giving Notice
   • Filing Suit
     • Common Defenses
     • Common Counter claims
   • Possession
   • Money Judgments
   • Tenant Removal
   • Collections
8. Managing the Relationship: The Proper Care and Feeding of Tenants
   • Lease Agreements
   • Landlord Rules
   • Non-Monetary Breaches of the Lease
   • Abandonment
   • Security Deposits
   • Inspections, Maintenance and Entering the Leased Premises
   • Landlord’s Liens

About the Author

Susan Cartier Liebel is the Founder & CEO of Solo Practice University®, the only web-based educational and professional networking community for solo lawyers and law students. It is her personal mission, through education and authorship, to change the way law schools educate their students and the way the legal community receives solos. Website | Bio | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Google+

View all posts by Susan Cartier Liebel →

Kira Fonteneau is a landlord tenant attorney primarily representing landlords. She will teach a course about Landlord/Tenant Law at Solo Practice University®. Ms. Fonteneau is Licensed to practice law in Alabama, Georgia and Virginia, but focuses her practice in Alabama running The Fonteneau Firm, LLC. As part of her practice, Kira routinely and successfully represents [...]