Back in the 1960s, professor Philip E. Heckerling launched a specialized program at the Americana Hotel on Miami Beach to address a growing need for education in estate planning. He never looked back. Now, 60 years later, the University of Miami School of Law is preparing to celebrate a diamond anniversary of the institute that followed, highlighting not only a history of academic rigor, but a future defined by the great wealth transfer.
As the baby boomer generation ages, setting the stage for the largest intergenerational transfer of wealth in history, the demand for attorneys with specialized expertise in estate planning has skyrocketed. Standing at the intersection of this demand is Miami Law’s Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning and its Heckerling Graduate Program in Estate Planning.
A pipeline of talent
The School of Law’s program remains the only law school-based graduate program in the United States leading to an LL.M. degree specifically in estate planning. Distinct from a standard Tax LL.M., this program offers a unique combination of tax and non-tax courses unavailable elsewhere, taught by over 30 nationally recognized experts.
The success of this specialized curriculum is best evidenced by its alumni, who are making immediate impacts across the country.
Jared Hoover, a recent graduate of the LL.M. program, exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit the program fosters. On Oct. 1, 2025, Hoover launched his own firm, Hoover Estate Counsel LLC, in Canton, Ohio, focusing on estate planning and trust administration for modest to high-net-worth families. While based in Ohio, Hoover’s licensure allows him to continue servicing Florida clients—a dual-jurisdiction capability often cultivated in the School of Law program.
The program’s reach extends well beyond sole practitioners. Recent May 2025 graduates are securing positions at some of the nation's most prestigious firms. Maira Pigna has joined the Miami office of Holland & Knight. Meanwhile, Alden Kas-Mikha, another May 2025 graduate, relocated to Michigan to join the firm of Giarmarco, Mullins & Horton, P.C. In a testament to the program's vast network, Kas-Mikha is working alongside fellow LL.M. alumnus John Giamarco—a double-header of Miami Law talent in a single firm. Similarly, Dunwoody, a prominent firm, is home to many LL.M. graduates, including May 2025 graduate Jo-Anna Enriquez.
The 60th Annual Institute: Looking ahead
These rising stars join a community that will converge in Orlando from Jan. 12 – 16, 2026, for the 60th Annual Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning.
The upcoming Institute promises to be a comprehensive gathering, addressing the most unpredictable economic and legal environments facing planners today. The 2026 programming reflects the modern complexities of the field. A technology track will explore the intersection of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and ethics, offering live demos and advice for estate planners navigating the digital age.
Other specialized tracks include:
- Planning with Trusts: Focusing on Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts and asset protection.
- Elder Law: Addressing the growing gaps in care for the elderly and strategies for clients facing declining public benefits.
- Business and Financial Assets: Covering the evolution of Qualified Small Business Stock and the impacts of the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”
The Institute will also feature a recent development panel analyzing significant tax and non-tax developments from 2025, followed by a Q&A session with the experts.
A vision realized
The longevity of the institute and the success of the LL.M. graduates are a direct tribute to the vision of the late Philip E. Heckerling. A Miami Law faculty member from 1963 to 1983, Heckerling possessed a passion for improving the technical competence of estate planners.
He not only created the institute, nurturing it into the nation’s leading continuing education provider, but he also established the graduate LL.M. program that bears his name. Today, with options ranging from the standalone LL.M. to a triple degree—(J.D/MBA/LLM), Heckerling's commitment to excellence ensures that a new generation of attorneys is ready to guide families through the complexities of modern wealth.
As the legal community prepares to gather at the Orlando World Center Marriott in 2026, they celebrate not just a conference, but a thriving ecosystem of education and professional excellence that started six decades ago.
Read more about Miami Law’s Estate Planning area of study.
