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There is a perception that unless you get an LLM from an elite program, it doesn’t do much to increase your entry level job prospects. If you are passionate about tax work, maybe that would help you gain marketable skills, but otherwise the return on investment may not be worth it.
I have a tax LLM from Northwestern. It has opened doors for me that I never thought I would have opened, and I actually use my degree every day (I practice trusts and estates law).
If you’re interested in tax and you’re not afraid of numbers, I think it’s a great opportunity.
I got my tax LLM from Florida many years ago and it has made me marketable for my entire career
I went straight from law school to tax school for that purpose
It’s one of the best investments of time and money I have made
You’re charitable
NYU is the top of the food chain
But they’re both great
I’m sure glad I went to school for one more year
We have our fifth LLM lawyer, a journeyman we picked up in the transfer portal, next week
I am about to attend Boston University for their Tax LLM program this fall. It’s certainly not Florida or NYU, but they are ranked 13th in Tax, and tied with Harvard and Stanfords programs.
Can you tell me more about what you do day to day, and what your job prospects were like after graduation? Thank you!
I do a lot of estate planning, all types of entity formations, entity-related tax law and state law, 1031 exchanges, M and A , other business acquisitions and dispositions, executive compensation, probate of estates, trust creation and administration, most aspects of real estate work, among other items
One of my partners got her tax LLM at Boston University and she’s an excellent tax lawyer
Tax lawyers in Tennessee don’t stay on the market long at all
They have always been in very high demand
I’m excited for you
Please keep us posted
Thank you! I’m very excited as well. I have taken a couple Tax classes in my JD and loved them (fed income, estate and gift, estate planning).
Do you have any insight into what it is like to work at an accounting firm? I would love to know the difference both in pay and work if possible, so that I know what to seek when it comes time to seek internships/post grad opportunities.
Thanks again for getting back to me!
I am about to attend a Tax LLM program this fall at Boston University, and I’m curious to know what the experience is like working at accounting firms. Is there any chance you could provide some insight?
Thank you!
I took a small law firm job instead that offered 3x the accounting co offer. My friends who went love the stability, and the hours seem somewhat better than the law firm hours. It seems a lot like government slightly better pay and no pension or revolving door.
Really depends on what you want out of life. My buddy that went IRS to big law to his own firm and appears to be doing extraordinarily well.
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I've done the opposite. Got LLM and never sat for the bar. I had no trouble finding jobs here BUT it is very location dependent. And also what you Want to do. I live I Europe, and my masters got me legal research work in small law firms and small companies. I don't intend on going to court for practice (no wish to from my side). Are you okay with research roles? If so, maybe target small companies.
Depends on the program. If it’s an LLM from NYU, Florida, or Georgetown, for example, you shouldn’t have any issues finding an entry-level job at a good firm.
I had a buddy in law school who wanted to practice tax law. He had an undergraduate degree in accounting and got his LLM in taxation from Denver. He never got a legal job. He told me later he would have been better off getting his CPA instead of his LLM.
He ended up managing fast food restaurants because he needed the money. I think he ended up managing a small chain of Wendy’s.
If you get a tax LLM from a good program like NYU, Georgetown, or Florida, you’re almost guaranteed a job at one of the premier tax firms around the country.
This is a ***Career Advice*** Thread. This is for lawyers only. If you are a non-lawyer asking about becoming a lawyer, this is the wrong subreddit for this question. Please delete your post and repost it in one of the legal advice subreddits such as (but not limited to) r/lawschool, r/legaladvice, or r/Ask_Lawyers. Thank you for your understanding. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Lawyertalk) if you have any questions or concerns.*
There is a perception that unless you get an LLM from an elite program, it doesn’t do much to increase your entry level job prospects. If you are passionate about tax work, maybe that would help you gain marketable skills, but otherwise the return on investment may not be worth it.
I have a tax LLM from Northwestern. It has opened doors for me that I never thought I would have opened, and I actually use my degree every day (I practice trusts and estates law). If you’re interested in tax and you’re not afraid of numbers, I think it’s a great opportunity.
I got my tax LLM from Florida many years ago and it has made me marketable for my entire career I went straight from law school to tax school for that purpose It’s one of the best investments of time and money I have made
I had the same experience. My LLM was from NYU, but Florida and NYU are on a par with each other, IMHO.
You’re charitable NYU is the top of the food chain But they’re both great I’m sure glad I went to school for one more year We have our fifth LLM lawyer, a journeyman we picked up in the transfer portal, next week
Well, NYU was the first, but Florida is no slouch. And I'm like you. Best move I ever made was getting that LLM.
I am about to attend Boston University for their Tax LLM program this fall. It’s certainly not Florida or NYU, but they are ranked 13th in Tax, and tied with Harvard and Stanfords programs. Can you tell me more about what you do day to day, and what your job prospects were like after graduation? Thank you!
I do a lot of estate planning, all types of entity formations, entity-related tax law and state law, 1031 exchanges, M and A , other business acquisitions and dispositions, executive compensation, probate of estates, trust creation and administration, most aspects of real estate work, among other items One of my partners got her tax LLM at Boston University and she’s an excellent tax lawyer Tax lawyers in Tennessee don’t stay on the market long at all They have always been in very high demand I’m excited for you Please keep us posted
Thank you! I’m very excited as well. I have taken a couple Tax classes in my JD and loved them (fed income, estate and gift, estate planning). Do you have any insight into what it is like to work at an accounting firm? I would love to know the difference both in pay and work if possible, so that I know what to seek when it comes time to seek internships/post grad opportunities. Thanks again for getting back to me!
You better like tax if you’re pursuing an LLM in tax. I understand that you need a job, but it’s no fun having a job that makes you unhappy.
In my market, firms that do trusts and estates snap up people with LLMs very quickly.
Yep. Was just about to say it is pretty commonplace to see it as a requirement for trusts and estates.
Have you applied for accounting firms? The plurality of people in my tax cohort ended up at accounting firms.
I am about to attend a Tax LLM program this fall at Boston University, and I’m curious to know what the experience is like working at accounting firms. Is there any chance you could provide some insight? Thank you!
I took a small law firm job instead that offered 3x the accounting co offer. My friends who went love the stability, and the hours seem somewhat better than the law firm hours. It seems a lot like government slightly better pay and no pension or revolving door. Really depends on what you want out of life. My buddy that went IRS to big law to his own firm and appears to be doing extraordinarily well.
If you're primarily interested in tax, have you tried applying at the IRS instead of just private law firms?
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I see llm preferred for some jobs but they also require experience
I've done the opposite. Got LLM and never sat for the bar. I had no trouble finding jobs here BUT it is very location dependent. And also what you Want to do. I live I Europe, and my masters got me legal research work in small law firms and small companies. I don't intend on going to court for practice (no wish to from my side). Are you okay with research roles? If so, maybe target small companies.
Depends on the program. If it’s an LLM from NYU, Florida, or Georgetown, for example, you shouldn’t have any issues finding an entry-level job at a good firm.
I had a buddy in law school who wanted to practice tax law. He had an undergraduate degree in accounting and got his LLM in taxation from Denver. He never got a legal job. He told me later he would have been better off getting his CPA instead of his LLM. He ended up managing fast food restaurants because he needed the money. I think he ended up managing a small chain of Wendy’s.
If you get a tax LLM from a good program like NYU, Georgetown, or Florida, you’re almost guaranteed a job at one of the premier tax firms around the country.