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CitySan MateoStateCaliforniaJob LocationSan Mateo Corp OfficePosition TypeIntern
Are you a law student eager to gain real-world legal experience at an industry-leading real estate investment company? Essex Property Trust, a S&P 500 real estate investment trust (REIT), is offering a 10-week, paid summer internship for highly motivated law students looking to explore in-house legal work in the real estate sector.
This internship will provide hands-on exposure to real estate transactions, legal operations, compliance, and corporate governance while working alongside Essex’s experienced Legal and Risk Management team. If you are ready to apply your legal studies to practical business applications, this is the opportunity for you!
This is a full-time internship, Monday through Friday (hybrid), with a pay rate of $26.00 per hour.
Please note that applications will require submission of a resume, legal writing sample, and transcript.
WHAT YOU WILL DO
As a Legal Intern, you will gain experience in multiple aspects of an in-house legal department, including:
- Legal Document Review & Drafting – Summarize, review, and draft operational and transactional legal documents such as:
- Joint venture agreements
- Purchase and sale agreements
- Loan documents
- Contract communications with outside counsel
- Compliance & Regulatory Analysis – Assist the legal team in analyzing local, state, and federal laws that may impact Essex properties and operations.
- Legal Operations & Policy Development – Support the development and implementation of internal legal procedures and policies.
- Corporate & Risk Management – Gain exposure to corporate governance, risk management, and litigation strategies within a publicly traded company.
- Cross-Departmental Collaboration – Work closely with Asset Management, Operations, Finance, and other key teams to understand how legal decisions impact the business.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED
- Education – Currently enrolled in an ABA-accredited law school. First, second, and third-year law students are encouraged to apply.
- Skills & Attributes – Strong legal writing, research, analytical, communication, and organizational skills.
- Attention to Detail – Ability to review legal documents carefully and critically assess potential risks and implications.
- Work Environment – This is a hybrid role, requiring in-office presence 3 days a week (Monday – Wednesday) at our San Mateo headquarters.
WHAT THE JOB REQUIRES
- A keen interest in real estate law, corporate governance, and risk management.
- The ability to multi-task in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
- Strong interpersonal skills to interact with various business stakeholders.
- A proactive mindset and a willingness to learn from seasoned legal professionals.
WHAT YOU WILL BRING TO THE TABLE
- A passion for the legal field – You’re eager to apply classroom knowledge to real-world situations.
- A problem-solving attitude – You enjoy researching and tackling complex legal questions.
- A team-player mentality – You’re ready to work collaboratively across departments.
- A commitment to excellence – You take pride in producing high-quality work.
All full-time regular associates are offered competitive salaries, experience career growth, and are eligible for benefit packages that include medical, dental, vision, paid parental leave, 401k employer match, excellence rewards, wellness programs, and much more. With our Sunday property operations office closures, 10 paid holidays, and 15 PTO days, work/life balance is a priority! Additionally, most positions are eligible for a housing discount of 20%.
Essex provides great communities in which to live, work and invest. We are a purpose-driven company, and we pride ourselves on promoting an internal culture of growth and opportunity by engaging, enabling, and empowering our teams. Working at Essex is not a destination. It is a journey where you can confidently build your career.
The salary range for this position is $21.60 - $29.33 per hour. New hires generally start between $21.60 - $25.96 per hour. The final salary offer will be determined after reviewing relevant factors, including but not limited to skill sets; relevant experience; internal equity; and other business and organizational needs.
