I'm exploring the possiablity of attending Golden Gate University's LLM program in taxation. My concern is that the school is currently ranked as a 4th tier lawschool and that employers may not give it much weight. Does anyone out there have an LLM from Golden Gate and, if so, what has been your experience? Good/Bad? Thanks!

The LLM tax program is highly rated being connected with GGU's School of Taxation as well as its School of Law. The LLM tax program is one of of GGU's real strengths. Golden Gate is not a traditional school but rather more of a commuter school with more of a focus on the mature and "returning" student. Consider it seriously. The faculty is excellent. Sadly, any problems GGU may have had recently with their JD graduate bar passage rate has to have more to do with a drop in applications from highly qualified students as a result of market conditions as when I attended the first time bar passage rate was near 70% based on an academic program that was ruthlessly demanding, resulting in a one third flunk out rate of First Years at that time, but which also provided an excellent education from a faculty drawn from Ivy League and other top schools. This alleged problem, however, is really not that pertinent for the prospective LLM-Tax student who should have already cleared that hurdle. I am acquainted with Golden Gate LLM Tax graduates, some of whom are also Enrolled Agents and CPAs and all are doing very well. Ditto for GGU's MBA/JD grads as well.
-Tom (JD '99)