Alumni Return to Campus to Discuss Real Estate Law Practice

From building commercial structures to financing real estate investments, from leasing commercial buildings to purchasing residential real property, the practice of real estate law in New York is as diverse as the people who make up this great city.

Recently, the N.Y. Real Property Law Journal hosted a dinner and networking event that brought students interested in real estate practice together with St. John’s Law alumni who work in the field.

“By inviting alumni to share their experiences, we sought to create a space for a candid conversation,” says Ian King II '17, the Journal’s associate managing editor. “We achieved this goal and more. The alumni were very generous with their time and their insights, and we all came away with a sharper, real world image of this dynamic practice area.”

The alumni who returned to alma mater for this special event were:

• Bruce DePaola '94, Partner, Paul Hastings LLP
• Christopher Jaskiewicz '96, COO, Gotham Organization; President, Gotham Properties & Hospitality
• Nicole Woolard '09, Associate, Duane Morris LLP

“It was a wonderful and an informative evening,” says Briana Hart '17, the Journal’seditor-in-chief. “I learned that there are many pathways to the profession, and that our career paths naturally evolve over time. Each of our speakers shared how they found the niche that was right for them by taking every learning opportunity they could. They also stressed the importance of maintaining a good balance between being curious about the future and being efficient in our work. That’s practical advice that I can rely on as I start my professional journey.” 

About the Real Property Law Journal
The N.Y. Real Property Law Journal is the official publication of the New York State Bar Association’s Real Property Law Section, which “serves New York real property lawyers and the public, promotes the successful transaction of real estate business in New York State, and contributes to the sound development of real property law in New York State.” As part of its mission, the Section aims to “publish a high quality journal to keep section members informed of developments and the latest thinking in real property law.”

To this end, since the mid-1990s, St. John’s Law students have provided editorial assistance to the Journal. Each year, the student editorial board, in coordination with the Journal’s co-editors, prepares quarterly issues containing articles written by practitioners and law professors in the field. The articles address statutory, regulatory, and administrative changes as well as New York common law.