Hello, I'm a first year law student at the U. of Louisville. I like my school, and I feel good about the education that I'm getting here, but frankly, I want the chance to make some good money, and after being out here in the midwest/south for a little bit, I want to be back on the west coast, where I grew up. I have a lot of interest in tax law, and I'm wondering how much anyone knows about whether or not I should plan on an LLM right now at a place like Washington, San Diego, or Denver (although I know that NYU, Georgetown, and Florida are higher ranked, I'm more concerned with location). In particular, I'd like to know just how difficult it is to get into these places (I can't seem to find statistics anywhere), whether or not it will open a lot of opportunities in those cities, and whether or not it's a good idea to go straight from my JD program. I think that I would have some good work opportunities out here after I graduate, but I would rather get back to the West, and if an LLM in taxation would make me a better prospect, then I want to do it.

Thanks for any assistance you can give in advance, I appreciate it.

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you don't need an LLM if you have a JD

First, Georgetown is in Washington.
Secondly, it is easier to get admitted for the LLM if you have professional experience.
JD is enough to work as a lawyer but in Taxation having an LLM helps as it is a more practical studies than other LLM programs.
I know many who have studied to an LLM in Taxation in NYU or Georgetown and all have very good jobs based in Washington or NYC.

If you are more concerned with location, and you want to be back in the west coast, the only university that I know of that has a taxation LL.M. is San Diego. That is a great city, now, I don´t know how good or bad it is ranked among the other schools in taxation as a specialty. The other concern that you have is to make good money right?, what I would recommend is to get your taxation LL.M. from NYU and afterwards go back to the west coast, where you will be able to get a very good job. It´s just one more year, and before you know it, you can go back to the west coast and stay there for as long as you wish with good earnings.