Published on 11, Oct 2022

Autistic Lawyer Finds Niche Helping People Facing Foreclosure

Columbus, Ohio foreclosure defense and real estate attorney Troy Doucet of The Law Office of Doucet Gerling Co., LPA is using his recent Autism diagnosis to leverage his innate qualities to better serve his clients. What Doucet once viewed as a personal defect is now elevating his capacity to perform well as a lawyer. With a new perspective and a sense of acceptance, the benefits of being neurodivergent are no longer overshadowed by the challenges it has often created for Doucet his entire life. 

Starting from a young age, Doucet struggled with social interactions, as most Autistic people do. Missing social cues and struggling to inherently understand people resulted in bullying and adverse experiences. This, combined with an ongoing internal battle riddled with confusion during his formidable years, led him to focus on self-reflection. Doucet explains, “I have worked hard to better understand new social environments. I’m always trying to figure out how to be better and do things better. The flip side to my challenges is a talent that has allowed me to do well as a lawyer. I can focus considerable energy on specific topics. Law is one of my special interests, so I’ve been able to learn and apply it on a deep level. It has also created a relatively comfortable space for me to operate because I am able to communicate well on topics in which I have a good understanding.” 

Doucet appears to be the first openly autistic lawyer in Ohio and among a small handful in the United States who are open about their diagnosis.  Doucet hopes his openness about autism helps to break the stigmas and misinformation often associated with those who are neurodivergent. 

Earlier this year, Doucet began seeking answers to better understand himself and how his brain functions. He came across free online quizzes that test for autism markers. After the results consistently indicated markers for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), he found a psychologist whose practice focused on Autism. He goes on to explain, “I figured someone focused on the space would be more likely to be able to diagnose an adult, thinking that it’s not as common. Then I went through a formal interview and test process with them.”  That led to his formal diagnosis.

Doucet has been focused on helping his clients defend against foreclosure with proven success for over a decade. Several of his cases have set state and U.S. federal precedence. Additionally, in 2021, with hopes to help those who need to fight foreclosure or to educate prospective homebuyers, Doucet and his business partner, Andy Gerling, published a second edition of the how-to book, 27 Legal Defenses To Foreclosure: How To Beat The Bank in any State. The guide features recommended defensive strategies and checklists that make it easy to understand. 

Doucet and Gerling also launched Complete Foreclosure Defense Course, which offers 45 lessons and 20 hours of online coursework that provides subscribers with the information needed to successfully defend against foreclosure. It covers the broad background of the process, specific tools needed for court proceedings, and video lessons on defenses available in all 50 states. 

Doucet reveals that his recent diagnosis has inspired him to consider possibly expanding his practice to help the neurodivergent community.  However at this point, he is focusing on speaking about autism and sharing his story through social media.  He says, “This is all new so it may take some time before I land on a specific way I can use my skillset to help the community the most.”

In the meantime, Doucet adds, “I hope my disclosure helps others find the confidence to share their own stories.” Those who know us can better appreciate that we approach situations with good intentions, even if our perspective is poorly delivered from time to time. Those who don’t know us should appreciate that good people who happen to be neurodiverse are all around you, in forms that you may or may not expect.” 

To learn more about Troy Doucet please visit https://www.loanlawyer.law or contact:

Website: www.doucetgerling.com

Phone: 888-200-9824

Contact: Troy Doucet