Just an FYI for all. I spoke with an NYU Tax LLM who made it clear that only the top 25% to top third have a shot at a good law firm job.

The rest go to accounting firms, government and so on.

This person told me that the NYU professors will confirm this for you if you ask them.

FYI

This sounds about right. How did you get in touch with the person you spoke to? I'm trying to research NYU right now, and aside from looking at this board, it's hard to get your hands on any real information. IN the admitted students package it says that NYU releases some information to admitted students that will "align job expectations with reality." I'd like to hear more about that. That said, even accounting firm or government jobs are pretty appealing and can lead to firm jobs after a couple years. Any other thoughts on the employment prospects?

If you are talking about New York, it is possible but I don't have good authority to speak on New York firms because I never worked there.

But if you are talking about in general, that is just not true

I know of a good number of NYU Tax graduates from the 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006 classes. Out of all those people I know, I would say 2-3 finished in the Top 1/4th of their class yet even those not found in the Top 1/4th found jobs at firms from around the country.

It is too general to say that "only those below X% find jobs in firms" because the job search has a LOT to do with what city you want to go to, HOW your interviews go, and who you know.

Not one single person that went to NYU Tax LLM struggled to find a job that I know of personally and the high majority are in firms from New Orleans to Jacksonville to Chicago to New York and to Dallas.

Is it easier? Absolutely as some firms claim to only want people in the Top 10, 15, or 25 even though they will accept applications from those that may be under that.

But, if you aren't, you still have a VERY good shot of getting a job if you do the correct search, know people, or apply at the right time to a firm that may not be the best of the best.