LLM in Tax Law
Enhance Your Marketability with an LLM in Tax Law
Whether you're a newly admitted attorney looking to distinguish your career in tax law or a seasoned veteran seeking to sharpen your skills in a specific area, the LLM in Tax Law is designed to enhance your marketability and expand career opportunities. Our LLM in Tax Law for practicing lawyers is one of the oldest programs of its kind in the nation, and provides a practical grounding in all major areas of taxation. The program stresses a transactional approach and deals with actual problems encountered in the practice of tax law.
As a result of continuous input from our faculty and advisory board, our focused, relevant curriculum emphasizes the identification of issues and problems, and instills the ability to apply the law creatively to meet the client's goals. Courses are taught by experienced tax practitioners who are engaged in the cutting-edge aspects of their specific fields of tax law expertise, as well as current and former members of the IRS's Office of Chief Counsel.
Requirements
Effective Fall 2020, new students are not being admitted to this program. Please contact the program directly for more information.
LLM in Tax Law candidates must complete 30 credit hours in order to earn their degree. In addition to required courses, you will select elective courses and externships/practicum opportunities.
After completing 10 credit hours in the LLM program, you have the opportunity to apply for one of the tax law externships or practicum. These programs provide first-hand experience in the practice of tax law law. LLM candidates are only allowed to take up to six credits in externships/practicum. Center director approval is required.
Our program attracts recent law graduates and practicing attorneys who desire a better understanding of tax law. Classes are held in the late afternoon and evenings, and on Saturdays. One-week accelerated courses are also offered during the academic year. To accommodate the diverse needs and experiences of degree candidates, the program may be pursued full time or part time. Most of our degree candidates complete the program within two years. Please read the Time Limits on Degree Completion Policy.
Students who matriculated prior to August 16, 2019, are subject to degree requirements in place when they first enrolled, provided they complete those requirements within the time limit for degree completion and do not interrupt their enrollment without formal approval. Students should consult their appropriate Center regarding their degree requirements.
Curriculum
Required Courses
- Advanced Federal Income Tax (TX 520, 3 Credits)
- Civil & Criminal Tax Procedure (TX 533, 2 Credits)
- Corporate Taxation I (TX 517, 3 Credits)*
- Corporate Taxation II (TX 519, 3 Credits)*
- Partnership Taxation (TX 510, 2 Credits)
- Survey of Corporate Taxation (TX 516, 2 Credits)*
- Tax & Employee Benefits Research (TX 511, 2 Credits)
- Wealth Transfer Taxation I (TX 512, 2 Credits)
*Students are required to take only one of these courses.
Elective Courses
- Asset Protection Planning (TX 524, 2 Credits)
- Business Practices for Tax Lawyers (TX 518, 2 Credits)
- Charitable Contributions (TX 521, 2 Credits)
- Estate Planning I (TX 505, 2 Credits)
- Estate Planning II (TX 507, 2 Credits)
- Estate Planning with Insurance Products (TX 523, 1 Credit)
- Estate Settlement & Post-Mortem Trust Administration (TX 514, 2 Credits)
- Externship and Practicum in Tax (TX 550, 1-4 Credits)
- Income Taxation (TX 470, 3 Credits)
- Income Taxation of Estates & Trusts (TX 515, 2 Credits)
- Independent Study in Tax Law (TX 596, 1-2 Credits)
- Personal Financial Planning (TX 522, 2 Credits)
- Special Topics in Tax Law (TX 594, 1-2 Credits)
- State & Local Real Estate Taxation (TX 508, 2 Credits)
- State & Local Taxes (TX 528, 2 Credits)
- Tax Accounting (TX 509, 2 Credits)
- Tax-Exempt Organizations (TX 525, 2 Credits)
- Taxation of Closely Held Businesses (TX 527, 2 Credits)
- Taxation of Intellectual Property (TX 503, 2 Credits)
- U.S. Taxation of International Transactions & Foreign Taxpayers (TX 531, 2 Credits)
- Wealth Transfer Taxation II (TX 513, 1 Credit)
Please review each course description to determine what prerequisites apply.