Real Estate Associate/Senior Associate - 4+ PQE

QED Legal Recruitment Limited; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

QED Legal Recruitment Limited is seeking Commercial Real Estate Solicitors in Edinburgh with around 4 years PQE who are ready to take on more ownership. The role promises high-quality Scottish property work across investment, development, leasing and asset management, with opportunities to manage matters and clients independently.

Join a firm with momentum, where progression means more autonomy, closer client contact, and a clearer route forward in your career.

Job description

There is a point in a property lawyer’s career where being “busy” stops being particularly impressive.

By 4+ PQE, you know how to get a deal over the line.

You’ve handled acquisitions, disposals, leases, asset management and probably enough title reports to last a lifetime.

The more important question is what you are actually being trusted with.

Your own transactions?

Your own clients?

The chance to make decisions rather than simply execute them?

And a clear idea of where the next promotion comes from?

I’m looking to speak with Commercial Real Estate Solicitors in Edinburgh from around 4 years PQE upwards who feel ready for more ownership.

There is good-quality property work in the Scottish market at the moment across investment, development, leasing and asset management, and some firms are looking for lawyers who can step into a role where they are expected to manage matters rather than simply support them.

One firm in particular stands out to me.

Pound for pound, I think they are on one of the most impressive upswings in the Scottish market right now.

Not because they are shouting the loudest.

Because the quality of the hires, the direction of travel and the confidence behind the growth all feel very real.

That matters if you are considering a move.

Because joining a firm with momentum can be very different from joining one that is simply maintaining what it already has.

At this stage of your career, the move should not just be about finding another firm with another pile of transactions.

It should be about getting closer to clients, taking more responsibility and putting yourself in a position where Associate and Senior Associate actually mean something beyond the title on your email signature.

The Edinburgh real estate market remains strong enough to give good lawyers options.

And if your current role has become comfortable rather than developmental, there is no harm in testing what else is out there.

You may decide you are exactly where you should be.

Or you may discover there is a role offering broader work, more autonomy and a clearer route forward.