Real estate development with a JD

Has anyone ever recently seen a JD with big law RE experience make the move over to the development side? Is it more lucrative? What firms are open to JDs lateraling or hire from top JD programs?

5 Comments
 
Most Helpful

100% yes. You'll need to learn a million things but law is a good foundation from what I've seen in the affordable housing development space. If I were you I'd just go in house legal for a developer or try for an associate role. Just get deal experience and start reviewing every piece of diligence on the checklist, particularly things like the appraisal, market study, phase 1, and of course the construction budget and pro forma. I also know an attorney who is basically a development consultant to mid size developers and runs the entire lender/investor due diligence/underwriting process as well as the legal stuff. He's basically a one stop shop and adds tons of value. Good luck.

 

Aperiam qui consequatur cupiditate dicta rerum. Eos commodi a voluptates vel. Dignissimos tenetur qui facere quasi cum.

Est ea dolor omnis omnis ipsam ipsam iste. Quia non amet at dolorem reprehenderit vel laboriosam.

Corporis et quisquam aut et sint sed. Veritatis vel est perferendis ipsam saepe a. Ratione necessitatibus reprehenderit enim.

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”