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As a third year corporate attorney looking to transfer to real estate, how should I approach this?

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published July 21, 2014

By Harrison Barnes, CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search

Question:

I'm a third year corporate attorney with solid transactional and finance experience. I am looking to transition into real estate law. How should I approach this when submitting to a law firm?

Answer:

We are currently in a real estate attorney boom, so right now is the perfect time to make this transition. Though firms can be extremely tough on credentials and may not typically be open to a shift in practice area, there are times when the market dictates an exception - right now one of those exceptions is real estate law.

SEARCH CORPORATE JOBS ON BCG ATTORNEY SEARCH

Here's the reason why: the recession created somewhat of a vortex for real estate. Hardly anyone graduating from law school in 2009 through 2011 went into real estate law, since there was no work in this area. Now that the market is recovering (particularly in the field of real estate), there is a high demand for attorneys with these skills, but there are very few attorneys with the "goods." This situation has created optimal opportunity for those looking to transition into this field.

How to address the issue in your cover letter and resume:
Interested in these kinds of jobs? Click here to find Real Estate jobs.
Determine your relatable skills and highlight them. Look at the description of the position that interests you. Does it call for real estate finance? (Real estate finance is a very HOT area at the moment). If so, you will want to highlight your finance background on your resume, even though it does not immediately relate to real estate. These are skills that are transferable. The same is true for any other transactional skills they pinpoint in the job order. If you have exposure to these areas (even if it's not in a real estate sense), put it on there - front and center.

Feature any non legal real estate experience. If you have any non legal exposure to the area of real estate, you will want to include this on your resume. This could consist of past experience as a real estate agent, that you have a real estate license, real estate investments, or if your family has a real estate business. Anything you can document in this area will also serve to convince the firm of your true enthusiasm for the area.

You are quick to learn new skills. This point is best expressed in the cover letter. You know and they know that you do not have the immediately transferable skills the firm is ideally seeking. Your responsibility is to show them what you DO have and follow that with the fact that you are quick on your feet and pick up new skills expediently. The firm will have to train you in this new area, so put them at ease by letting them know that this training should not take too much time or effort. Address in the cover that you are quick to learn new things and include examples of how you picked skills up swiftly in the past. See if you can incorporate any quotes or comments that support this assertion from supervising attorneys, clients, past employers, or even law school professors.

Be open taking a haircut with respect to your entry year level. Understand that you are transferring into a new practice area that will require some training. In all actuality, you will not be at the level of a third year attorney that started his or her career in the real estate arena. Be open to negotiating your entry level from the outset. By addressing this in the cover letter, you advise the firm that you are well aware of the extra hurdle and respect their position. If you make this transition, it can actually be beneficial to your career in the long run to take the haircut now because this will work to assure that you are on a partnership track at your new firm. You do not want to be considered a third year real estate attorney if the other third years at the firm all have more real estate experience than you do (or if a second year at the firm has more real estate experience than you do).

Transitioning to a new law practice is never easy. As a third year, you want to make this shift sooner rather than later. It will become more difficult as you get more senior, especially as you move from a mid level to a senior associate. Now, you have the market on your side, so go for it!

Sometimes, it all comes down to supply and demand.

Click Here to Read BCG Attorney Search’s Guide to Corporate and Finance Job Search Categories for More Information.

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Interested in these kinds of jobs? Click here to find Real Estate jobs.

About Harrison Barnes

No legal recruiter in the United States has placed more attorneys at top law firms across every practice area than Harrison Barnes. His unmatched expertise, industry connections, and proven placement strategies have made him the most influential legal career advisor for attorneys seeking success in Big Law, elite boutiques, mid-sized firms, small firms, firms in the largest and smallest markets, and in over 350 separate practice areas.

A Reach Unlike Any Other Legal Recruiter

Most legal recruiters focus only on placing attorneys in large markets or specific practice areas, but Harrison places attorneys at all levels, in all practice areas, and in all locations—from the most prestigious firms in New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., to small and mid-sized firms in rural markets. Every week, he successfully places attorneys not only in high-demand practice areas like corporate and litigation but also in niche and less commonly recruited areas such as:

Immigration law
Workers’ compensation
Insurance defense
Family law
Trusts & estates
Municipal law
And many more...

This breadth of placements is unheard of in the legal recruiting industry and is a testament to his extraordinary ability to connect attorneys with the right firms, regardless of market size or practice area.

Proven Success at All Levels

With over 25 years of experience, Harrison has successfully placed attorneys at over 1,000 law firms, including:

Top Am Law 100 firms such including Sullivan and Cromwell, and almost every AmLaw 100 and AmLaw 200 law firm.
Elite boutique firms with specialized practices
Mid-sized firms looking to expand their practice areas
Growing firms in small and rural markets

He has also placed hundreds of law firm partners and has worked on firm and practice area mergers, helping law firms strategically grow their teams.

Unmatched Commitment to Attorney Success – The Story of BCG Attorney Search

Harrison Barnes is not just the most effective legal recruiter in the country, he is also the founder of BCG Attorney Search, a recruiting powerhouse that has helped thousands of attorneys transform their careers. His vision for BCG goes beyond just job placement; it is built on a mission to provide attorneys with opportunities they would never have access to otherwise. Unlike traditional recruiting firms, BCG Attorney Search operates as a career partner, not just a placement service. The firm’s unparalleled resources, including a team of over 150 employees, enable it to offer customized job searches, direct outreach to firms, and market intelligence that no other legal recruiting service provides. Attorneys working with Harrison and BCG gain access to hidden opportunities, real-time insights on firm hiring trends, and guidance from a team that truly understands the legal market. You can read more about how BCG Attorney Search revolutionizes legal recruiting here: The Story of BCG Attorney Search and What We Do for You.

The Most Trusted Career Advisor for Attorneys

Harrison’s legal career insights are the most widely followed in the profession.

His articles on BCG Search alone are read by over 150,000 attorneys per month, making his guidance the most sought-after in the legal field. Read his latest insights here.
He has conducted hundreds of hours of career development webinars, available here: Harrison Barnes Webinar Replays.
His placement success is unmatched—see examples here: Harrison Barnes' Attorney Placements.
He has created numerous comprehensive career development courses, including BigLaw Breakthrough, designed to help attorneys land positions at elite law firms.

Submit Your Resume to Work with Harrison Barnes

If you are serious about advancing your legal career and want access to the most sought-after law firm opportunities, Harrison Barnes is the most powerful recruiter to have on your side.

Submit your resume today to start working with him: Submit Resume Here.

With an unmatched track record of success, a vast team of over 150 dedicated employees, and a reach into every market and practice area, Harrison Barnes is the recruiter who makes career transformations happen and has the talent and resources behind him to make this happen.

A Relentless Commitment to Attorney Success

Unlike most recruiters who work with only a narrow subset of attorneys, Harrison Barnes works with lawyers at all stages of their careers, from junior associates to senior partners, in every practice area imaginable. His placements are not limited to only those with "elite" credentials—he has helped thousands of attorneys, including those who thought it was impossible to move firms, find their next great opportunity.

Harrison’s work is backed by a team of over 150 professionals who work around the clock to uncover hidden job opportunities at law firms across the country. His team:

Finds and creates job openings that aren’t publicly listed, giving attorneys access to exclusive opportunities.
Works closely with candidates to ensure their resumes and applications stand out.
Provides ongoing guidance and career coaching to help attorneys navigate interviews, negotiations, and transitions successfully.

This level of dedicated support is unmatched in the legal recruiting industry.

A Legal Recruiter Who Changes Lives

Harrison believes that every attorney—no matter their background, law school, or previous experience—has the potential to find success in the right law firm environment. Many attorneys come to him feeling stuck in their careers, underpaid, or unsure of their next steps. Through his unique ability to identify the right opportunities, he helps attorneys transform their careers in ways they never thought possible.

He has worked with:

Attorneys making below-market salaries who went on to double or triple their earnings at new firms.
Senior attorneys who believed they were “too experienced” to make a move and found better roles with firms eager for their expertise.
Attorneys in small or remote markets who assumed they had no options—only to be placed at strong firms they never knew existed.
Partners looking for a better platform or more autonomy who successfully transitioned to firms where they could grow their practice.

For attorneys who think their options are limited, Harrison Barnes has proven time and time again that opportunities exist—often in places they never expected.

Submit Your Resume Today – Start Your Career Transformation

If you want to explore new career opportunities, Harrison Barnes and BCG Attorney Search are your best resources. Whether you are looking for a BigLaw position, a boutique firm, or a move to a better work environment, Harrison’s expertise will help you take control of your future.

? Submit Your Resume Here to get started with Harrison Barnes today.

Alternative Summary

Harrison is the founder of BCG Attorney Search and several companies in the legal employment space that collectively gets thousands of attorneys jobs each year. Harrison’s writings about attorney careers and placement attract millions of reads each year. Harrison is widely considered the most successful recruiter in the United States and personally places multiple attorneys most weeks. His articles on legal search and placement are read by attorneys, law students and others millions of times per year.

More about Harrison

About LawCrossing

LawCrossing has received tens of thousands of attorneys jobs and has been the leading legal job board in the United States for almost two decades. LawCrossing helps attorneys dramatically improve their careers by locating every legal job opening in the market. Unlike other job sites, LawCrossing consolidates every job in the legal market and posts jobs regardless of whether or not an employer is paying. LawCrossing takes your legal career seriously and understands the legal profession. For more information, please visit www.LawCrossing.com.

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