Real Estate Lawyer - Career Guide

The core mission of a real estate lawyer is to ensure that every property transaction and operation is legally sound. 

To achieve this, they:

• Advise clients on transactions : they guide buyers, sellers, and investors through the legal aspects of real estate sales, acquisitions, and leases, protecting their interests throughout each stage.
• Draft and review contracts : real estate lawyer prepare and analyze legal documents such as sales agreements, lease contracts, and construction permits to ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Negotiate and resolve disputes : they intervene in the event of conflicts, mediate between parties, and propose fair and lawful solutions to prevent litigation.
• Ensure legal compliance: they make sure all transactions adhere to urban planning, environmental, and property laws, helping clients avoid costly errors.
• Stay up to date with legislation : those professionals continuously monitor changes in property law and regulations to provide relevant, current advice to their clients.

Real estate lawyers act as trusted advisors who combine legal precision with business understanding to protect and enhance their clients’ property assets.

Real estate lawyers can work across a variety of environments, depending on their expertise and clients.

Most commonly, they work in companies :

• Law firms: providing legal advice and representation to individuals, companies, or property developers on a wide range of real estate issues.
• Corporate legal departments: managing property portfolios, overseeing leases, and ensuring compliance with property and environmental regulations.

They can work within organization

In organizations, real estate lawyers are typically part of the legal or compliance departments, working closely with project managers, financial experts, and external law firms to secure the company’s real estate interests.

They can also work independently 

Experienced real estate lawyers may set up their own consultancy, working as legal advisors for private or corporate clients.

To become a property lawyer, you must have a four-year or five-year degree in property law. Several training programs are available, and proficiency in English may be required for some job offers.

Three-year degree programs:

After completing secondary school, students can begin their studies with a bachelor’s degree in law or a BTS (advanced vocational training certificate) before specialising with a master’s degree in real estate. The bachelor’s degree in Real Estate at ISC Paris is also an option to consider, valued for its professional focus, which facilitates entry into the job market.

Five-year degree programs :

Students can then continue with a master’s degree in real estate law, environmental law or urban planning law. After completing a real estate program, it is also possible to enter the job market with the Master’s in Law and Fiscal Expertise from ISC Paris. The latter is available as an initial program or as a work-study program to gain professional experience and thus enrich the training of a future real estate lawyer.

In large organizations, lawyers may be eligible for management positions. They then become responsible for the real estate legal department and coordinate various stakeholders to cover a broader range of activities (technical, management, administrative, financial, etc.).

After several years in salaried employment, many real estate law specialists choose to set up their own businesses and become independent. They mainly assist individuals with their real estate transactions, but may also be contacted by professionals for expert advice on specific projects, such as the purchase of new premises.

Thanks to the expertise acquired through their work, real estate lawyers can launch their own real estate law consulting or support firm. They can do so alone or by choosing to form a partnership. Their daily life becomes that of a founder and director, which adds a significant managerial aspect to their work.