I decided to pursue law school because my work as a real estate developer constantly intersects with the law: contract law, property law, state regulations, the court system—it's all part of my daily responsibilities. The alternative was to learn through trial and error, but I felt it was more prudent to build a solid foundation through formal coursework rather than learning from my own mistakes. My father is a lawyer. Watching him navigate the intersection of law and real estate throughout my career has been truly inspiring and has shown me the value of having a strong legal foundation.

 

Touro’s FlexTime JD Program, which is located near my workplace, offers the flexibility I needed to continue working full-time while pursuing my law degree, which was paramount for me. The program has definitely met my expectations and allowed me to pursue my legal education without putting my career on hold.

 

Currently, I am a Director at the Crest Group, where I am tasked with managing acquisitions, dispositions, capital management, and entitlement across the firm. I have been in real estate since I graduated from Georgetown, and I previously worked at Blackstone in their real estate asset management department. I also sit on the Steers Center Board, a component of the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown, which advises the university on its real estate and Global Real Assets programming. 

 

I've developed strong relationships with my fellow FlexTime students. Additionally, as I've taken more electives, I've had the opportunity to interact with full-time students as well, which has been a great experience. The professors have been excellent, and I've enjoyed the experience so far. 

 

How quickly the pace of coursework moves and the analytical thinking it requires of you. It's notably different from traditional undergraduate coursework—the way you need to process and apply information is on another level entirely.

 

It requires strong time management and diligence. Essentially, it means early mornings and late nights devoted to reading, along with efficient study methods that help me get to the heart of the material without getting bogged down in overly complicated content. As the coursework has become more familiar, it's definitely gotten easier. My professional experience has been invaluable—I can immediately see how the concepts we learn apply to real-world situations I encounter every day.

 

This is a question I get asked a lot lately! Simply, I think my level of dedication comes from an underlying desire to get as much out of life as possible. Knowledge and an understanding of how things work around me have always been a part of that, and I felt that if I did not pursue an education in the law that I would miss something. On a deeper level, I think the underlying desire to get as much out of life as possible stems from the fact that my family immigrated to this country; culturally, it was significant to us growing up, and it instilled in me a sense of purpose in being here (one that was not to be wasted or to taken for granted). If we didn’t work hard, there are plenty of other people who would work as hard as possible to be here instead of us. This might seem silly, but it made sense to me growing up, and it kind of stuck with me. 

 

I plan to continue my work in real estate development, but with the added advantage of legal expertise that will enhance my effectiveness in my field.

 

I would encourage them to give it a shot. It's manageable and absolutely doable for anyone who sees a law degree as a valuable tool in their professional arsenal. If you're willing to put in the work and manage your time effectively, the FlexTime program provides an excellent pathway to achieving your legal education while maintaining your career.