Real Estate Associate — Philadelphia, PA

plug-legal; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Premium medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with profit-sharing

Paid parental leave

Short- and long-term disability

Life insurance

Annual professional development allowance

Job summary

plug-legal, a top national firm, is seeking a mid-level Transactional Real Estate Associate in Philadelphia. This role involves handling sophisticated real estate matters and provides a clear pathway to partnership.

You will draft and negotiate agreements and guide complex transactions across the U.S. The firm advocates a collaborative work culture and offers a hybrid model with three days onsite.

Competitive compensation includes comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• 3 to 4 years of dedicated commercial real estate experience.
• Exceptional attention to detail and strong academic pedigree.
• Experience in property-backed acquisitions or financing preferred.

Responsibilities

• Draft, structure, and negotiate complex purchase and sale agreements.
• Direct acquisitions and dispositions from inception to closing.
• Advise on sophisticated real estate development matters.

Skills

Commercial real estate transactions

Attention to detail

Negotiation skills

Education

JD from an accredited law school

Job description

A premier, AmLaw 50 national firm is seeking a transactional Real Estate Associate to join its established practice group in Philadelphia. This is a rare, partner-track opportunity structured for a mid-level attorney who wants to elevate their practice from localized transactions to high-value, multi-jurisdictional real estate portfolios across the United States.

The Work

You will step immediately into a sophisticated transactional role, handling sophisticated real estate matters on a national scale. The firm's platform ensures you will be doing true front-line transactional work rather than just standard diligence.

• National Portfolio Management: Draft, structure, and negotiate complex purchase and sale agreements, commercial leases, and financing structures for properties across the country.
• End-to-End Asset Lifecycle: Direct acquisitions, dispositions, and complex multi-party ancillary agreements from inception to successful closing.
• Development & Permitting: Advise on sophisticated real estate development matters and navigate the land use permitting process for high-stakes projects.

Who This Is For

You are a mid-level associate with 3 to 4 years of dedicated commercial real estate experience who possesses exceptional attention to detail and a strong academic pedigree.

Funnel Hook: While a traditional commercial real estate transactional background is the baseline, this group also welcomes inquiries from corporate transactional associates or project finance attorneys who have spent at least 50% of their billable hours focused on property-backed acquisitions, asset-level joint ventures, or real estate financing, and who want to fully specialize within an elite national property practice.

The Platform

This firm offers the financial stability, vast resource network, and elite brand recognition of a top-tier national platform, paired with a distinctively collaborative, non-siloed office culture. The group explicitly hires with long-term career progression in mind, providing an authentic, transparent pathway to partnership. Additionally, the firm champions a modernized, predictable hybrid model—asking for three days per week in-office—ensuring you maintain direct partner mentorship and team collaboration without sacrificing individual flexibility.

Compensation and Benefits

• Base Salary: Competitive with leading national AmLaw 50 firms and commensurate with class year and depth of transactional experience.
• Benefits: Comprehensive market-standard package representative of an elite national firm, including premium medical, dental, and vision insurance; 401(k) with profit‑sharing plans; paid parental leave; short‑ and long‑term disability; life insurance; Employee Assistance Program (EAP); and a dedicated annual professional development and CLE allowance.