When the University of Miami School of Law launched its online Master of Legal Studies program in 2024, it did so with a clear mission: to equip professionals working in law-adjacent fields with practical legal knowledge they could apply immediately in their careers. This May, the program celebrates a major milestone as its inaugural class of graduates walks across the stage joining a global community of more than 23,000 Miami Law alumni.
Among those first graduates is Alexia Iglesias, a Contracts Oversight Planner for Universal Orlando Resort, whose academic and professional journey exemplifies the promise of the M.L.S. program.
Designed for professionals in compliance, risk management, and other law-adjacent roles, the online M.L.S. program allows students to put theory into practice in real time. Core courses, including Foundations in U.S. Law and Regulation, Legal Research and Writing, Analysis Skills, and Corporate Compliance & Enterprise Risk Management, are structured so that participants can take today’s classroom learning back to the office tomorrow.
Coursework Relevant to Industry
For Iglesias, that immediacy has made a meaningful difference. “Studying my M.L.S. degree at the University of Miami School of Law has moved my career forward by opening doors of opportunity academically and professionally,” she said. Through the program, she developed a strong foundation in real estate, risk assessments, compliance, and AI governance—while sharpening research and analytical skills essential to navigating real-world legal scenarios.
In her role at Universal Orlando Resort, Iglesias is responsible for vendor compliance and contract oversight, work that demands careful risk identification and resolution. “This program has enhanced my understanding of vendor compliance by continuously reviewing the steps to identifying a risk and the process of resolving it,” she explained, noting how the coursework connected to her daily responsibilities.
Focus on Real Estate, Construction, Technology
In the online M.L.S. program, students can select tracks to tailor their studies to their industry. Iglesias pursued both the Real Estate and Construction Law and Regulation track and Law and Technology track which offers courses in Cybersecurity, Information Privacy, AI and more.
For Iglesias, one course stood out. “AI, Machine Learning and Law, taught by Professor Beau Howard, was the most impactful,” she said. Beyond exploring policy and regulatory considerations tied to AI governance, the course examined broad ranging legal, regulatory, and policy challenges arising from emergent technologies, including artificial intelligence and machine learning.
The experience sharpened her focus on the intersection of technology, risk, and the law—knowledge she sees as especially valuable with her interest in the future as a real estate attorney. “AI governance can help detect legal risks in both commercial and residential real estate practice,” she noted.
As the first M.L.S. class prepares to graduate, Iglesias is quick to recommend the program to other professionals looking to elevate their careers. “The M.L.S. program at Miami Law is an academic investment in your career development,” she said. “It helps you understand the ‘why’ behind policies and regulations that are current in many organizations prospective students may work for today.”
She added that the program’s analytical rigor is intentional and transformative. “The critical challenges in each module are designed to successfully develop your next step in your legal career.”
Iglesias entered the program with a strong academic background, having earned a B.S. in Legal Studies from the University of Central Florida and a paralegal certificate from Boston University. The M.L.S. degree allowed her to deepen that foundation and expand into emerging areas of law.
For Iglesias and her classmates, commencement marks not just the completion of a degree, but the beginning of a new chapter—one grounded in practical legal knowledge, professional growth, and a lifelong connection to Miami Law.
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