Is it beneficial to have a brokers license when pursuing a career as a real estate attorney?

I am a first year law student seeking a career in real estate law. I am having a hard time picking up a summer position with exposure to transactional work. Would it be beneficial for me to spend the summer after my first year getting a brokers license? Would a judicial internship be more beneficial even though I want to do transactional work? I would appreciate any response.

Hi Gabe,

I am a real estate attorney practicing in California. Most real estate attorneys have broker's licenses but they rarely use it. Finding a job doing transactional work in real estate, in California, will be extremely difficult right now considering the market. The real estate field has shifted and so where I use to do basically all transaction work, I am not primarily focused on litigation and foreclosure issues. A judicial internship wouldn't be that helpful, unless you are working for a judge that only does real estate issues. What would help you is to get some training in loan modifications- especially commerical modifications. The commerical market will be the next hardest hit and so you'll need to know how to do a commerical loan workout. If you can't find a job then volunteer in a firm or an agency that handles real estate issues. Good luck.

Hi Gabe,

I am a real estate attorney practicing in California. Most real estate attorneys have broker's licenses but they rarely use it. Finding a job doing transactional work in real estate, in California, will be extremely difficult right now considering the market. The real estate field has shifted and so where I use to do basically all transaction work, I am now primarily focused on litigation and foreclosure issues. A judicial internship wouldn't be that helpful, unless you are working for a judge that only does real estate issues. What would help you is to get some training in loan modifications- especially commerical modifications. The commerical market will be the next hardest hit and so you'll need to know how to do a commerical loan workout. If you can't find a job then volunteer in a firm or an agency that handles real estate issues. Good luck.