Hi,
I have a JD and licensed in Texas and taking the last section of the CPA Exam this May. I have been accepted in the GGU LLM Tax program starting in May and still waiting to hear from SMU. Which would be a better program for tax LLM?
Also, waiting to hear back from University of Washington LLM Tax program, which school would be best?

Where do you plan on practicing? If in CA, I'd go to GGU.

On another note, have you considered Loyola Law School's LL.M. in taxation? They have a reputable program, and I know from experience that they do a great job helping you find a job afterwards. (I have several friends with a LL.M. in taxation from Loyola, who had success finding jobs afterwards due to the help of the program director and other professors as well.)

If you want to practice in TX: where do most tax practitioners get their LL.M.s? My guess is that way more get their LL.M. from SMU/NYU/UF/GU versus GGU or Loyola.

IMO for tax: GGU > LLS > SMU.

At the end of the day, you will get a great tax education from any of these schools. I am awaiting a reply from NYU, but even if I am accepted there, I will likely be getting my LL.M. from Loyola, since I live in Los Angeles, obtained my J.D. from there, and plan on practicing in LA.

Good luck!

Thank you. I just found out I was accepted at University of Washington (UW) LLM in Taxation program. I visited the school and really liked the campus. I think it might be a better choice than GGU. The law school is more highly ranked and has higher placement rate with employers throughout the country. Any thoughts?

Congratulations! Don't judge GGU's LLM tax program by their law school ranking, the JD program there is not compatible.

My suggestion is to figure out where you want to practice first, if possible and work from there. I can tell you from experience that a tax firm in Los Angeles will not hire the applicant who went to the higher ranked school, they will choose the applicant who did an externship with the state's tax agency and needs less training and supervision. (Just an example.)

If I was you and planning on practicing in San Fran or LA, I'd choose GGU. For anywhere else, or if you are unsure about your future domicile, I'm guessing UW would be the better choice.

I'm still awaiting a reply from NYU, but I doubt I would go, even if accepted. Likely will just stay at Loyola, where I got my JD., tax profs are excellent and I can transfer a lot of tax class units.

Speaking of units: did you take any tax classes in law school? If so, I quite about how many they will let you transfer. (Usually federal income tax is non-transferable, but others are.)

Congratulations and best of luck!

If you are licensed in TX, does that mean you want to practice in TX after the LLM? If yes, then it is a no-brainer. Go to SMU. If you want to leave TX, then I would go to UW (1) or SMU (2) over GGU. UW and SMU have a bigger national brand than GGU, and that factor is more important if you are not planning to attend one of the top 4 tax programs.