Pre-Law Clerk, Two-year Program

About the Role

This two-year Pre-Law Clerk program is designed for motivated recent graduates who plan to attend law school and want meaningful, hands-on experience. The role provides legal support and problem-solving to Newmark's U.S.-based managers and real estate professionals within the legal and compliance department of a global commercial real estate services firm. You will gain experience in commercial real estate contract drafting and negotiation, receive direct mentorship from experienced attorneys, and observe the business operations of a leading firm. The program integrates AI tools into legal work, teaching you to apply them with sound judgment.

Key Responsibilities

• Contract work: Review, draft, and negotiate commercial real estate agreements, including brokerage, listing, engagement, confidentiality, and vendor agreements.
• Legal research and writing: Research legal questions and prepare memos, summaries, and correspondence to support attorney advice.
• Pre-litigation and litigation management: Support attorneys in handling disputes, including preparing correspondence, coordinating with outside counsel, and tracking deadlines.
• M&A and diligence: Assist with due diligence reviews, document organization, and transaction support for acquisitions.
• Strategic projects: Undertake special projects supporting legal department and business priorities, collaborating with attorneys and business leaders.
• AI-assisted legal work: Utilize AI tools for preparing first drafts, markups, summaries, and correspondence from templates, and review and refine this work under supervision.
• Building and adopting AI tools: Help design and refine AI skills (reusable workflows) and assist colleagues in adopting new tools, tracking time saved and adoption.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Location: Hybrid (4 days onsite), New York City
• Start: Summer 2027
• Compensation: Base salary range of $70,000 to $80,000 annually, plus benefits (health, vision, dental insurance, paid time off, 401(k) with employer matching) and potential for discretionary bonuses.

Qualifications

• Education: A bachelor's degree (completed or expected by May/June 2027) in any major.
• Interest in a legal career: You plan to attend law school and seek to understand the profession beforehand.
• Interest in commercial real estate: You are drawn to the industry and wish to learn how real estate transactions are handled from a legal perspective.
• Strong writing: Ability to produce clear and precise writing, essential for legal drafting.
• Attention to detail and communication: Excellent attention to detail and strong communication skills.
• Discretion: Sound judgment when handling confidential information, including with AI tools.
• Curiosity about technology: Interest in AI and ability to learn new software quickly; no advanced technologist background required.
• A builder's mindset: Inclination to identify and improve repetitive tasks for repeatability.
• Fast-paced environment: Ability to manage multiple tasks and an enthusiasm for learning and skill development.

Preferred Qualifications

• Coursework in Law, Public Policy, Political Science, Philosophy, Economics, Data Analysis, or Computer Science.
• Prior exposure to legal work and/or real estate.
• Generative AI experience: Experience using generative AI tools, including building custom assistants or automated workflows.