Choosing the best real estate law school requires research, reading school resources, and interviewing students and professionals. Most law schools offer real estate courses, but some have stronger programs. LL.M programs in real estate are often seen as preeminent, but it’s important to ensure resources are available. Research top real estate law firms and attend informational meetings with admissions representatives to determine a school’s strengths. Knowing how many graduates become real estate attorneys and if the school offers placement or internship programs is also important.
Choosing the best real estate law schools is usually a matter of doing a little research in the field, reading each school’s real estate resources, and interviewing students and professionals to get an idea of each one’s strengths and weaknesses. Law schools are generally not divided into specific areas. As such, there are no true “real estate law schools”, at least insofar as there are no schools that teach only real estate law. Most institutions offer some courses in the discipline of real estate, although some have schools with particularly strong real estate programs.
The first thing to realize when looking for a law school is that, with few exceptions, you can practice any type of law after you graduate and pass your jurisdiction’s licensing exam. This means you can get into real estate law even if you didn’t attend a top real estate law school. Likewise, if you know real estate is where you want to focus, it’s a good idea to hone in on schools that have stronger programs.
Schools that have advanced degree programs in real estate are often best suited to prepare students for careers as real estate attorneys, but not always. Law schools typically focus their resources on their doctor of law program, which leads to the doctoral degree (JD). More differentiated programs for post-JD students are common in specific legal fields, including real estate, at the master’s level. These programs usually lead to the degree of legum magister (LL.M.).
Law schools offering LL.M programs in real estate are often seen as preeminent law schools in real estate. That may be true for advanced students, but these resources aren’t always available to people still working on JD. Before deciding to enroll in a law school based solely on your LL.M resources, you must be sure that these resources will be available to you as well.
A good place to start is with real estate law experts in your area or the area you hope to work in. See where they studied and ask for advice on real estate law schools. Business law school prep books also sometimes list schools by areas of strength, although it is generally a good idea to verify this information with real professionals.
You should also do some research on the top real estate law firms in your target area. The programs these companies hire new recruits from are generally good places to apply. Most of this information is readily available on law firm websites.
Once you’ve identified a few promising real estate law schools, schedule informational meetings with your admissions representatives. Ask to attend a real estate law class to get a feel for how the material is presented, and ask about any of the school’s specific strengths in real estate. This may include particularly distinguished professors, real estate law clinic programs, or other resources.
Knowing how many graduates become real estate attorneys can also be useful information, and is often an indication of a program’s overall strength. Some schools may even put you in touch with recent graduates to answer deeper questions about how they felt prepared for the contours of their work. Be sure to find out if the school offers real estate placement or school-led internship programs, which often help students and recent graduates break into the field.
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