This LLM program — widely regarded as the nation's best — is for the law student or attorney who wants expertise in planning, structuring, and financing real estate projects, either as a practitioner, owner, or developer. Given the increased complexity of real estate development, pursuing a specialized degree is one of the most effective ways to acquire the necessary breadth and depth of experience. Real estate is cyclical — in the up cycles, a practitioner or a developer/entrepreneur focuses on creating assets — in down cycles the focus is on protecting assets or finding opportunities in distressed markets. The well-trained real estate lawyer understands these cycles and is able successfully to navigate them.
Who Should Consider This Degree?
Attorneys in the U.S. and internationally, looking for a flexible, online LLM program in real estate development
Real estate professionals who need to acquire or upgrade knowledge
Practitioners interested in making a career pivot and seeking an efficient way to gain expertise in the area
Law students who have identified real estate as an area of interest and wish to obtain a JD/LLM
Recent law graduates who want to complete further instruction in real estate prior to entering the field
Non U.S. trained attorneys who need to understand U.S. based real estate law and practice
The faculty includes top professors and scholars in the field, adjuncts who are partners of prominent law firms, and general counsels of major real estate companies – experts from all over the U.S. The program director counsels students individually on internship placements and course selection at the beginning of each term to arrange a schedule that provides the appropriate course of study for each student.
Visits to real estate projects allow students to learn from the perspectives of experts in zoning and environmental issues, architects, developers, lenders or tenants. Full-time students participate in a lawyer-supervised internship, at law firms of various sizes or with private developers or public sector entities.
The program has a board that brings together an impressive roster of C-level executives and partners of major firms representing different sectors of the South Florida real estate marketplace. The board works to promote collaborations between the community and students and provides professional support through mentoring and internships.
Through a unique collaboration with our premier graduate schools, the LLM Director, faculty, and advisory board work closely with counterparts at the University of Miami’s School of Architecture and School of Business to offer integrated curricular experiences and placement outreach. This way students understand all sides of a real estate development project.
“The [online] LL.M. has been instrumental in shaping my professional development and career. The program’s curriculum strikes the right balance, focused enough to explore nuanced areas like construction law, yet broad enough to provide a cohesive understanding of related fields such as condominium law and real estate tax. No matter which practice area you ultimately pursue, the knowledge gained from courses taught by industry-leading attorneys and academics will set you apart as an attorney.”
Clark Girges, LLM ‘24 Associate, Carlton Fields Miami, FL
“Day one, when I walked into a large sophisticated real estate development project of the developer I was working for, I would sit in a meeting, and I wasn’t lost. I understood a lot of broad base issues, knew the language, and could see where the landmines were. One of the assets of the LLM program is that the professors are the lawyers working in this select area."
Anthony Soto, LLM '18 VP of Development and Investments, Fort Partners, LLC Miami, FL
“I chose to pursue this LLM program because I have a passion for learning and a commitment to staying knowledgeable in my area of practice. As my real estate law practice continues to grow, these classes help me support my associate attorneys better and ensure that we are providing the best possible service to our clients.”
Barbara Brown, LLM '25 Owner, Brown & Kimpton, P.A. Tampa, FL
“The program has been an invaluable experience and really helped to pull back the curtain on practical insights into real estate development through a city and region that leads the country on innovative development. The ability to learn from so many well-regarded practitioners has been amazing, and as a distance learner, the connections I have made with current and future practitioners will continue to serve me well into the future.”
Michael Ricci, LLM '20 Principal and Director, Rampart/Wurth Holding, Inc. Metairie, LA
“Having had the chance to go through the details of [complex real estate transactions] has made me more confident, practical and inventive. I enjoyed being exposed to different real estate laws and perspectives, best practices, and real cases, all of which has expanded my capacity to execute with judgment, knowledge, and confidence. In sum, I could not be more grateful for the RPD LLM.”
“The RPD program was a great experience that went beyond academics. It gave me the chance to learn from and connect with some of the most knowledgeable real estate professionals in Miami. I truly realized how valuable those connections were after graduating, when they helped me take my first steps in the real estate market. To me, the RPD program is more than just an LLM—it's a community that you become part of for your entire career.”
“The RPD Program was an invaluable experience, offering a perfect balance of advanced classroom instruction with ample networking opportunities. It deepened my knowledge and skills as a practicing real estate attorney, and it opened doors I was not expecting to open. Looking back, enrolling in the RPD Program was one of the best career decisions I’ve made thus far.”
Kevin M. Koushel, LLM '23 Attorney, Bilzin Sumberg Miami, FL
“The LLM greatly enriched my background as an international student pursuing a career in the distressed debt industry. Over the course of the program, which I loved pursuing because of the wonderful internship, educational and networking opportunities as well as the guidance, warmth and encouragement from the program's members, I've gained invaluable knowledge, self-confidence and indispensable skills to help me successfully navigate the professional world."
Mahalaxmi Subramanian, JD/LLM ’20 Octus, Legal News Specialist New York, NY
