Florida/ Boston vs. Vienna

14 27

Posted Feb 20, 2013 13:25

Hi everyone,

I am a Law graduate from India. I had applied for LLM in International Taxation to a couple of Universities including NYU, Florida, Georgetown, Boston & Northwestern.

I have got admissions offer from Boston & Florida (both without scholarships). Also, recently I have been offered a 100% scholarship for Vienna. I am waiting for NYU which is my first preference.

I am trying to figure out the best option...can you guys help..

Thanks.
AB

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aymanlegal

10 20

Posted Feb 21, 2013 13:38

if money palys a role, then Vienna with a 100% scholarship is the best. however, if i were you i will wait untill NYU decision is out, unless waiting will make you loose Vienna.

hope it helps.
Ayman

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Avdhesh

14 27

Posted Mar 01, 2013 15:54

Thanks buddy ! I said No to the Vienna Scholaship....now waiting for NYU...even got through Northwestern !

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aymanlegal

10 20

Posted Mar 05, 2013 13:35

good luck!

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anamika

3 6

Posted Mar 11, 2013 15:23

hey guys,

i got through Vienna and now looking for my future fellow classmates here....

Please do drop in a line. lets connect :)

Cheers!
Anamika

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barmenator

46 91

Posted May 06, 2013 02:41

Why in the world would you say no to a 100% scholarship from Vienna?

It's one of the best, if not the best, tax program(s) in Europe.

How did you get it in the first place?

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Avdhesh

14 27

Posted May 14, 2013 10:34

Why in the world would you say no to a 100% scholarship from Vienna?

It's one of the best, if not the best, tax program(s) in Europe.

How did you get it in the first place?

Hi Barmenator,

I applied for the Scholarship through FIT. It is an organization run by Prof. Roy Rohatgi. They offered me the scholarship. They select one person from India each year.

My reason for rejecting it and pursuing it with a US law school is the job prospects.

What about you? any plans of a tax llm?

<blockquote>Why in the world would you say no to a 100% scholarship from Vienna?

It's one of the best, if not the best, tax program(s) in Europe.

How did you get it in the first place?</blockquote>

Hi Barmenator,

I applied for the Scholarship through FIT. It is an organization run by Prof. Roy Rohatgi. They offered me the scholarship. They select one person from India each year.

My reason for rejecting it and pursuing it with a US law school is the job prospects.

What about you? any plans of a tax llm?

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barmenator

46 91

Posted May 14, 2013 10:57

Hi, Avdhesh.

I am currently studying an LLM in Domestic Tax in Mexico. However, I probably will go on to Florida for the LLM in International Taxation. I can't stand cold that much, and NYC is pretty cold for me.

So you want to work in the US, afterwards? If so, then a US LLM is definitely your way to go.

However, a Tax LLM, as far as I am concerned, does not qualify to sit you for the bar. And you need to pass the bar exam to practice.

You could have taken the LLM in Tax scholarship from Vienna and 1 year later, go study a LLM for foreign lawyers in the US, which would prepare you better for the NY/California bar.

Taking such an important scholarship, would probably ease your way in to NYU, one of the most competitive Law Schools in the world.

On the other hand, you could always pursue an LLM in International Tax, but you could only provide Tax advice in the US, not practice tax law.

What does FIT stand for? Is it an exclusive Indian program?

What are your career path plans on the medium run?

Best regards,

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Avdhesh

14 27

Posted May 14, 2013 14:50

hey..

thanks for writing back.. will you attend Florida this Fall?

I will be attending Florida this Fall for LLM in International Tax.

FIT is an organisation run by some professionals to promote International Taxation in India.

I appreciate your suggestion of doing Vienna and then may be an LLM from NYU. Actually, I have an experience of almost 5 years in taxation and taking out 2 years to study is bit difficult.

Can you please explain, why can I not practice law in US? not even if I clear a bar exam? I have no idea how these things operate in the US...

Lets get in touch buddy ..my email id is bansal.avdhesh@gmail.com

Best,
Avdhesh

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barmenator

46 91

Posted May 14, 2013 21:56

Can you please explain, why can I not practice law in US? not even if I clear a bar exam? I have no idea how these things operate in the US...

I believe in order to take the bar, you would need to take some US core courses, at least 2. And an LLM in Tax, does not does not provide them, in their curriculum.

The only states where you could practice in the US with an LLM are California (hardest to pass bar) and NY.
That's why I suggested going for a non-tax LLM in NY.

Once admitted to the bar. You would have to spend 1 more year in studying a specialization in US Tax or International Tax Law.

But, there's another way. Studying a 3-yr JD.

I'm sorry, buddy. Those are the only 2 ways to practice law there. Nobody said studing in the US would be easy. That's why I reconsidered and haven't left yet.

Best of luck!

<blockquote>Can you please explain, why can I not practice law in US? not even if I clear a bar exam? I have no idea how these things operate in the US...
</blockquote>

I believe in order to take the bar, you would need to take some US core courses, at least 2. And an LLM in Tax, does not does not provide them, in their curriculum.

The only states where you could practice in the US with an LLM are California (hardest to pass bar) and NY.
That's why I suggested going for a non-tax LLM in NY.

Once admitted to the bar. You would have to spend 1 more year in studying a specialization in US Tax or International Tax Law.

But, there's another way. Studying a 3-yr JD.

I'm sorry, buddy. Those are the only 2 ways to practice law there. Nobody said studing in the US would be easy. That's why I reconsidered and haven't left yet.

Best of luck!

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Tristan

30 59

Posted May 16, 2013 18:32

Florida is consistently ranked in the top 5 for tax law and is currently ranked 3. The only other schools in the US that I would consider over Florida would be Georgetown, NYU, Northwestern, USC, and UCLA, simply because they have a strong reputation in tax as well as an overall strong global reputation. It is a tough choice between Boston and Florida. Both are strong in tax and Boston is ranked, overall, higher than Florida. That being said, although BU is ranked high for tax (news to me...not sure if that was always the case), Florida is ranked higher and has ALWAYS had a stellar reputation for tax. It consistently ranks in the top tax law programs in the country in large part due to its stellar faculty in that area. And although Boston ranks higher overall (not tax) it does not have a big name outside of the US like NYU or UCLA or Michigan, so picking Florida over Boston U is, imo, not an issue. If environmental law was your thing, I would suggest Vermont, Lewis & Clark over UC Boulder, for example, even though UC Boulder has a strong environmental program and is ranked, overall, higher than Vermont or Lewis&Clark, simply because Vermont and L&C are known for being really really really good when it comes to environmental law.

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