Dump the lawyer, get a new one, if you need a good one in the POP area, pm me and I will give you her information.....she doesn't speak the best English, but its not too bad, but a great RE lawyer
Your question seems to be a little confusing in the way you have worded it? If you are selling the house and have a purchase offer on it than a retainer for the attorney to begin processing documents for the completion of the sale is not out of the ordinary. On the other hand if you are selling the house and don't yet have a buyer than I don't know why you would need an attorney, unless you want him or her to draw up a future purchase offer contract.