# How to become a Landman?
**URL:** https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/how-to-become-a-landman/22263
**Category:** Landman Discussion
**Created:** [January 4, 2012, 1:18am UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/how-to-become-a-landman/22263 "2012-01-04T01:18:40Z")
**Posts on this page:** 14
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Traesey\_Horton1](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/Traesey_Horton1)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2012, 1:18am UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/how-to-become-a-landman/22263/1 "2012-01-04T01:18:40Z")
My name is Traesey Horton, I have a BA in Business and Law from DePaul University. I’m the owner of a mineral fee estate. This experience as owner of said estate has given me experience in the following areas listed below:
1. Abstract title opinion
2. Real estate contracts and lease negotiation skills
3. Civil litigation
4. Mineral documentary tax law
I’m looking for companies willing to train me as entry level landman. I’m willing, ready, and able to relocate if given the opportunity to find gainful employment in this field.
Thank you
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### Author:  [@r\_w\_kennedy](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/r_w_kennedy)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2012, 10:24am UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/how-to-become-a-landman/22263/2 "2012-01-04T10:24:53Z")
Would you really leave Palm Springs for the frozen north for an entry-level position? If you really thought you had what it takes, I would say you could go into business for yourself in North Dakota running title for mineral owners, if no one else. I think I could talk unwitting mineral owners into sending me a lease in exchange for a worthless 120-day draft tying up their minerals for 6 months. If you go to work for someone else you may have to do just that. I’m sure I wouldn’t have the stomach for that and it may be a job requirement, or I would look into it myself.
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### Author:  [@charles\_s\_mallory](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/charles_s_mallory)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2012, 12:31pm UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/how-to-become-a-landman/22263/3 "2012-01-04T12:31:34Z")
Traesey:
I would have to agree with RW’s comments but if you’re willing to reside in harsh winter conditions, there should be opportunities in the Williston Basin area. If you elect to hire onto an existing broker, there are plenty of those in the North Dakota area. Also, the Eagle Ford Shale play in South Texas is currently a “hot” play with numerous landman opportunities. Sounds like you have a good foundation for this line of work and you just need some hands-on experience but be sure and get a good reputable company to do work for as some fall in the undesirable category.
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### Author:  [@Stephen\_Lambert](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/Stephen_Lambert)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2012, 9:56pm UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/how-to-become-a-landman/22263/4 "2012-01-05T21:56:44Z")
West Texas (the Permian Basin), South Texas, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Colorado, and other places are all in need of good landmen. I would recommend becoming a member of the AAPL ([landman.org](http://landman.org)) as well as any local landman associations. Taking classes on Petroleum Land Management if you are serious is never a bad idea. I would then look for a solid broker to get on with. All you need to do to find out if a broker is good is ask around locally. Getting online and checking out brokers is probably one of the better ways to find them if you are not local. I would also be sending out resumes to those folks as well. It might be worth it for you to get to a place like Denver, Midland, Texas, Houston, Dallas, or Oklahoma City and try to set up some interviews. It might be hard to get in initially, but if you’re willing to learn and work hard it’s a good job.
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### Author:  [@Buddy\_Cotten](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/Buddy_Cotten)
#### Post date: [February 12, 2012, 7:35am UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/how-to-become-a-landman/22263/5 "2012-02-12T07:35:39Z")
I would do something else, but this is all that I know how to do.
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### Author:  [@Helen\_M\_Smith](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/Helen_M_Smith)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2012, 7:25pm UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/how-to-become-a-landman/22263/6 "2012-08-05T19:25:50Z")
I and my siblings own mineral rights in Mitchell County, West Texas, and we have been contacted several times to lease our mineral rights. Can you tell me whether or not an RL, RPL, or CPL Landman would compose the Memorandum or Option Agreement? Would the single employee of a very recently formed L.L.C. do his own lease contracts? How do we find out which companies are reputable? Any helpful information is appreciated. Thank you, Helen Smith
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### Author:  [@E\_Cooper](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/E_Cooper)
#### Post date: [August 20, 2012, 2:54pm UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/how-to-become-a-landman/22263/7 "2012-08-20T14:54:31Z")
Here’s a site that I found with a ton of brokers that you may want to start contacting, it was a hit/miss with me in Texas but, you never know. Good luck! [http://www.hotfrog.com/Products/Oil-And-Gas-Lease-Brokers](http://www.hotfrog.com/Products/Oil-And-Gas-Lease-Brokers)
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### Author:  [@John\_Anderson\_Andy\_Davis](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/John_Anderson_Andy_Davis)
#### Post date: [October 2, 2012, 3:19am UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/how-to-become-a-landman/22263/8 "2012-10-02T03:19:05Z")
In spite of Buddy’s comment (I’m not sure I believe him!), I am also interested in the profession of landman.
I have a college degree (“musty”, BA from Harvard), have 40+ years in the real estate industry as a broker, including 17 as an appraiser. During this period, I had opportunity to do some title abstract work as well as negotiation of sales and lease of surface rights. I am also a mineral rights owner, of some 380 small holdings in 40 counties spread over 10 states. For a number of years I was a general partner of a family LLC administering these holdings and now handle my own portion of same. In these capacities, I have developed some basic knowledge of the O&G industry and of lease negotiation (from the m.i. owner’s perspective). I have also done some elementary level online instruction in becoming a landman.
Both of these fields have been of great interest to me, but as my interest in the oil & gas industry has developed, I feel I would like to explore the possibility of changing careers by combining my knowledge of the two areas to become a landman. While a California resident, I have no holdings in the state. However, I have been following with interest the recent developments which would indicate a potential resurgence of California’s petroleum industry.
To that end, I would greatly appreciate any suggestions you might have as to how I should go about obtaining a foothold (ie: entry level job) in California.
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### Author:  [@Andrew2](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/Andrew2)
#### Post date: [November 23, 2012, 12:55am UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/how-to-become-a-landman/22263/9 "2012-11-23T00:55:33Z")
Unless you plan to work in the state of Florida, to become a Landman you must walk outside, face West (preferably as the sun is setting), hold your arms out, and say “I am a Landman!”
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### Author:  [@Jennifer\_B](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/Jennifer_B)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2012, 7:32pm UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/how-to-become-a-landman/22263/10 "2012-12-10T19:32:55Z")
Most tend to be reputable, the main thing is to trust your instincts. If they try to be pushy, stand your ground but appear interested. I have been doing the same research that they (landman) for 10 years but don’t get paid what they do, I am not certified but with 10 years experience I have a good idea of how to get the same info they do. The only thing I don’t do is write leases but I do have experience in reading them and telling the difference between a good one or a bad one. If you find a decent landman that is willing to explain things then they are worth their weight in gold, you don’t need to be dealing with jerks when it comes to your mineral interests.
Helen M Smith said:
I and my siblings own mineral rights in Mitchell County, West Texas and we have been contacted several times to lease our mineral rights. Can you tell me whether or not an RL, RPL, or CPL Landman would compose the Memorandum or Option Agreement. Would the single employee of a very recently formed L.L.C. do his own lease contracts? How do we find out which companies are reputable? Any helpful information is appreciated. Thank you, Helen Smith
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### Author:  [@r\_w\_kennedy](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/r_w_kennedy)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2012, 8:06pm UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/how-to-become-a-landman/22263/11 "2012-12-10T20:06:16Z")
Andrew is obviously a very insightful man.
Andrew said:
Unless you plan to work in the state of Florida, to become a Landman you must walk outside, face West (preferably as the sun is setting), hold your arms out, and say “I am a Landman!”
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### Author:  [@Andrew2](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/Andrew2)
#### Post date: [December 12, 2012, 4:30pm UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/how-to-become-a-landman/22263/12 "2012-12-12T16:30:37Z")
On first reading, I couldn’t tell whether or not r.w. kennedy’s comment is sarcastic. That led me to wonder if others were wondering the same thing about my comment.
I didn’t mean to be dismissive of the question. My comment was a tongue-in-cheek way of saying that there are no formal educational or licensing requirements to be a landman except in the State of Florida, where you have to have a real estate license.
If one were interested in becoming a landman, the best path (short of getting a law degree) would be to work for an experienced landman or brokerage company that is experienced in and committed to providing professional education to their employees. It’s hard to beat learning by experience while under the supervision of veteran landmen.
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### Author:  [@r\_w\_kennedy](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/r_w_kennedy)
#### Post date: [December 13, 2012, 3:37am UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/how-to-become-a-landman/22263/13 "2012-12-13T03:37:23Z")
I meant it. I think you did a great job of boiling it down. I am enjoying your posts that I think show experience, common sense and a slight bit of humor. Sometimes the humor falls flat here, but I got it.
Andrew said:
On first reading, I couldn’t tell whether or not r.w. kennedy’s comment is sarcastic. That led me to wonder if others were wondering the same thing about my comment.
I didn’t mean to be dismissive of the question. My comment was a tongue-in-cheek way of saying that there are no formal educational or licensing requirements to be a landman except in the State of Florida, where you have to have a real estate license.
If one were interested in becoming a landman, the best path (short of getting a law degree) would be to work for an experienced landman or brokerage company that is experienced in and committed to providing professional education to their employees. It’s hard to beat learning by experience while under the supervision of veteran landmen.
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### Author:  [@system](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [August 15, 2018, 4:02am UTC](https://www.mineralrightsforum.com/t/how-to-become-a-landman/22263/14 "2018-08-15T04:02:24Z")