Ana Bird Legal Search is partnering with a sophisticated transactional boutique seeking a talented Associate Attorney to join its growing practice in Evanston. This opportunity is ideal for an attorney with approximately one to three years of experience who wants meaningful hands-on responsibility across commercial real estate and corporate transactional matters while working closely with experienced attorneys and clients. The firm's practice is entirely transactional and includes a sophisticated mix of commercial real estate, corporate, financing, investment, and residential matters. Approximately 40% of the practice involves commercial real estate matters such as acquisitions, dispositions, lending, and leasing, while another approximately 40% involves related corporate work, including entity formation, partnerships, structuring, financing, and investments. The practice also handles transactions across multiple jurisdictions, giving associates exposure to sophisticated matters beyond a traditional small-firm local practice. What particularly distinguishes this opportunity is the level of experience available to a junior attorney. Rather than remaining several layers removed from clients and transactions, the incoming associate will have the opportunity to work directly with experienced attorneys, participate meaningfully in transactions, interact with clients, and develop practical transactional judgment early in their career. The firm also offers an environment that is intentionally different from a traditional large-law-firm model. The team is small, collaborative, entrepreneurial, and informal while maintaining a sophisticated transactional practice. Attorneys are expected to be responsive, dependable, and willing to take ownership of their work, but the firm does not operate around a traditional high-billable-hour model. For a junior transactional attorney looking for sophisticated work, meaningful mentorship, direct client exposure, and the opportunity to build a well-rounded real estate and corporate practice, this is an opportunity worth exploring. Responsibilities Represent clients in commercial real estate and corporate transactional matters. Assist with acquisitions, dispositions, financing transactions, leasing matters, entity formations, joint ventures, and related transactions. Draft, review, and negotiate purchase agreements, leases, loan documents, operating agreements, and other transactional documents. Conduct legal research and analysis relating to sophisticated real estate and corporate matters. Assist with legal due diligence and coordinate transactional matters through closing. Prepare and review closing documents, closing statements, and related transactional materials. Work directly with clients and develop strong, responsive client relationships. Collaborate closely with experienced attorneys while taking increasing ownership of matters as experience develops. Manage multiple transactional matters while maintaining strong organization, responsiveness, and attention to detail. Why Consider This Opportunity? Join a sophisticated boutique focused entirely on transactional legal work. Develop a broad practice spanning commercial real estate, corporate transactions, financing, investments, leasing, acquisitions and dispositions, entity matters, and related transactions. Gain meaningful hands-on experience rather than remaining several layers removed from transactions. Work directly with experienced attorneys and develop practical transactional judgment through substantive mentorship. Build meaningful client relationships and gain direct client exposure early in your career. Work on sophisticated transactions involving clients and matters across multiple jurisdictions. Join a small, highly collaborative, entrepreneurial team with an informal and approachable culture. No formal annual billable-hour requirement, with workload generally averaging approximately 1,600 hours annually. Hybrid flexibility is generally available after the incoming attorney becomes established with the team, with an initial emphasis on in-person collaboration and training. Competitive base compensation ranging from $100,000 to $150,000, depending on experience, qualifications, and transactional background. Benefits include full health insurance and a 5% 401(k) match, along with paid time off and professional development support.