Orlando Cardoza is a partner at BLP in its Nicaragua office. He specializes in intellectual property and health product registrations. With more than 20 years of experience, he manages trademark and patent portfolios, as well as copyright, advertising and anti-counterfeiting matters for clients from various industries. He coordinates trademark registration and enforcement strategies in Nicaragua and abroad. He is an expert in regulatory law and health registrations, guaranteeing regulatory compliance for clients.
He completed an online LL.M. in Intellectual Property Law this past spring from the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law.
Below is an excerpt from an interview completed earlier this year as he shares about his experience with online legal education.
What is it like doing an LL.M. program online?
In simple terms, it’s a lot of work. It’s been a very humbling experience. While the on-campus experience is unique, the online learning experience has been great thanks to the technological tools available now. You get to interact with students and professors, so it’s not as one-dimensional as I thought before enrolling.
Why did you choose an online LL.M. route versus in-person?
Completing an LL.M. program online has been both challenging and rewarding. I chose the online route for its flexibility, allowing me to balance my professional and personal responsibilities with my academic pursuits. The online format offers access to high-quality education without the need to relocate or disrupt my work schedule and family commitments.
Thoughts about your experience? Pros and cons?
The pros of the experience include the flexibility to manage work, study, and personal life; access to diverse resources and faculty expertise from anywhere in the world; and the opportunity to network with international peers and professionals.
Being a member of INTA since 2008, I was already familiar with Franklin Pierce’s strong ties to the organization — that’s actually how I first learned about the program. It’s been great to now have the opportunity to connect with members of the alumni community at INTA events.
The only con I have is that its online and that requires strong self-discipline and time-management skills. If you don’t develop a routine and stick to it, it is going to get very frustrating and overwhelming fast.
Advice to anyone considering an online LL.M.?
If you’re considering an online LL.M., be prepared to stay organized and self-motivated. Make sure to take advantage of all the available resources, participate actively in discussions, and network with your peers and professors.
Balancing work, study, and personal life can be demanding, but the flexibility and global connections you gain are well worth it. The key is to develop discipline, a daily routine and stick to it.
For instance, I got up at 5 a.m., dropped my daughter off at school at 7 a.m. and studied from until about 8:30 a.m. Then I studied a couple more hours during lunch and one hour at night. I took Fridays off work to dedicate the entire day to assignments and studying, and I finished off each module on Saturdays (1-2 hours). That’s the system that worked for me.
What are you doing now for work? How has your LL.M. helped?
I am currently working as an attorney with more than 20 years of experience, primarily in trademark law. I am a partner at a Central American law firm called BLP, and I lead the IP team in Nicaragua. I provide advice on IP matters to domestic and foreign clients.
Pursuing the LL.M. in Intellectual Property has deepened my expertise in this field and opened new opportunities for professional growth. It has equipped me with advanced knowledge and skills that are directly applicable to my practice, enhancing my ability to serve my clients more effectively and stay updated with the latest developments in intellectual property law.
For a while, I had been thinking about academia, possibly teaching, but without the support that an LL.M. like this one provides, it was going to be hard. Amazingly, I had my first article published by a Latin American legal review in June. That wouldn’t have happened without this program. If anything, my only regret is not taking the leap earlier.
For more personal accounts of online LL.M. programs, read the article in the 2025 Spring issue of The National Jurist.
