When hiring real estate attorneys, law firms seek personal characteristics that would enable employees to thrive in the job. They are also seeking practical talents that will allow people to perform their jobs properly. A strong academic record is important, but it is no longer enough to make the shortlist. Knowing what law firms look for when recruiting real estate attorneys will help you develop the necessary abilities and traits to differentiate yourself from other candidates.
What Qualities Do Employers Look For When Hiring New Real Estate Attorneys?
When employing real estate attorneys, law firms search for abilities and characteristics that will position them for future growth and profitability. While high academic qualifications are still required, they are no longer sufficient to even be considered for an interview. Law companies are looking for determined and resilient real estate lawyers who are willing to work long hours to achieve their objectives. They are seeking great negotiators to get the best bargains for their clients.
Communication Skills
As a real estate attorney, you will be responsible for communicating with clients, colleagues, and other parties engaged in real estate transactions. You should be able to simplify and explain legal concepts in understandable language. You can do it if you are a great communicator. Excellent communication skills can also help you build professional relationships with clients.
Communication is more than just speaking. It also requires diligent listening. You should showcase these abilities during the interview process. This demonstration requires you to pay close attention and talk only when your turn comes.
Research Skills
A real estate attorney should be able to look for and correctly evaluate information from many sources. Research abilities are useful while looking for applicable statutes and precedents for your client’s case. They are also required when conducting due diligence before selling or leasing properties. This due diligence could include researching public records to confirm property ownership and uncover pending tax liens.
Writing Abilities
As a real estate attorney, you’ll be responsible for producing legal documents including agreements and contracts. They also include preparing letters and emails to keep customers updated on the status of their cases or to explain statutes that are pertinent to their situations. In addition, you may be required to submit written reports on the outcomes of client cases. All of these responsibilities necessitate great writing skills.
To boost your chances of being hired by a law firm, you must display superior writing skills. Your CV, cover letter, and legal writing sample should demonstrate your outstanding writing skills. Ensure that these materials are properly written, grammatically correct, and error-free.
Negotiation Skills
Real estate transactions rely heavily on negotiation. Negotiation skills are required when assisting buyers and sellers, landlords and tenants, or property developers and builders in reaching a legally binding agreement. They are also critical in attaining the maximum possible value from a real estate transaction.
During the interview, you can demonstrate that you are a strong negotiator by providing examples from your law practice when you used your negotiation abilities to get a favorable outcome. These instances include negotiating a contract or agreement for your customer and finishing a difficult transaction. Your goal is to demonstrate that you are a compelling and confident attorney who can help your client achieve a positive outcome in any transaction.
Analytical Skills
Analytical skills are the capacity to evaluate a situation and propose relevant solutions. These abilities are required while examining contracts, searching for property information, and reviewing legislation applicable to your client’s situation. They are also useful in advising clients on what steps to follow at each stage of a real estate transaction.
To demonstrate your analytical skills during an interview, you must provide realistic instances of how you have handled various issues in your legal career as a real estate attorney. You could, for example, explain that you typically evaluate various possibilities before settling on one. You can then use a practical example from your legal practice to demonstrate this point.
Noticing Little Things
The ability to notice little but important characteristics that many people overlook is a valuable skill in the real estate industry. This ability will assist you in capturing little but valuable information in both written and verbal communication. It will also assist you in identifying and correcting flaws and omissions that may otherwise affect the intended meaning of a contract or agreement.
The greatest method to exhibit meticulous attention to detail is to submit a flawless application. This demonstration entails carefully editing your application to remove any spelling, punctuation, or grammatical errors before emailing it.
Organizational Skills
In your cover letter, demonstrate your organizing skills by referencing your supervisor’s assessment of your work style. Submit a neat and well-organized CV to better demonstrate your organizational talents. During the interview, present all of your documents in order. This will demonstrate that your behaviors are consistent with what you stated on paper. When replying to questions, make sure your answers are clear and well-organized.
Litigation Skills
Law firms prefer real estate attorney applicants who have demonstrated litigation skills over those with little or no courtroom experience. You can exhibit your exceptional litigation skills during the interview by presenting a legal practice portfolio that includes some of the favorable rulings you have obtained for your clients.
