Hi, I am just beginning to look into getting an llm in tax, and was wondering if someone could let me know whether or not I would be able to get in at NYU, Georgetown, Florida, or Northwestern. I graduated from a tier 2 school, in the top 25%, law review and moot court, but I went to law school my first year at a tier 4 and had mediocre grades (just good enough to barely transfer). I only took one tax class in law school and got a B, I have no other tax experience and have no job experience other than summer jobs clerking at PI law firms. Any thoughts? Thanks.

I'd say you have a pretty good shot at all of the above except NYU. Your rank would need to be better for NYU plus the above information you provided doesnt really seems to indicate a particularly strong interest in tax (mainly the fact that you only took 1 tax class). I'd focus on writing a good personal statement and getting good recommendations. Really think about why you want the tax llm.

Two anticdotes for you to consider...These aren't "friend of a friend" stories, these were my classmates.

Classmate 1: Only Top 50% of class, but had a 3.8-4.0 GPA in all tax classes. Accepted by Georgetown, Nothwestern, and Levin. Denied by NYU. Didn't apply to any others.

Classmate 2: Top 15% of overall class, but did mediocre in law school *Tax* classes. Only applied to USD part-time program b/c her (big) accounting firm would let her transfer there and that's where her law school-fiance ended up. USD said (and I'm simplifying this into one run-on sentence), "You're overall GPA would have gotten you in, but the fact that you have low grades in your Tax classes says that you're probably not a good candidate - you would have been better off *NOT* taking the tax classes and resting on your overall GPA." (And this is a person who loooooves tax and was hired by a large firm.) How about that!?! Now she's looking at Chapman & Loyola b/c they also have part-time programs and she can commute by train 1-2 days a week and still finish in a reasonable time.

Naturally, each of these people had different needs and goals, but that shows you what you might run into on the admissions side of the house.

I think Setho is right though...you'd better essentially ask yourself "what do I want to be when I grow up?" before investing good money in the degree at all.

Hi
I am a graduate of Barry Law School, Orlando Florida. When I graduated it was not yet accredited. I am also a retired Air Force Commnader and teach law at FMU, Columbia College and Embry Riddle University. Is it possible I could get admitted into the LLM program?

Thanks
Alan

Its probably a stretch. How long ago did you graduate and what were your grades and class rank like. I'd definitely place emphasis in your application package on the experience you have gained since you have graduated law school. Do you have any particular tax experience?

Hey
Graduated 2000 with a 3.0. No tax experience, just 3 years of teaching aviation, constitutional and criminal law. 32 years Air Force Experience, command pilot and deployed to Iraq for two years as a commander of rescue forces.

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What sort of class rank does that GPA give you, class ranks matter a whole lot more than GPAs. Also why exactly do you want to do the tax LLM? Have you taken basic personal income tax, that is a pre-req for entering into the program. The air force experience is definitely a plus but I dont think it is going to be enough to get into the program given you lack of tax experience and where you went to law school.

I have to check on my ranking, not sure. I know I was an old guy, three kids a full time job and a 1.5 hour drive to ge to school and I kept up wih the young folks, studying by the pool paid for by their parents crowd. I did have one tax course at law school.
What do you think? Is it a subjective call or is there some kind of objective standard you must meet? Do you know of any other ways to get a LLM?

Thanks
alan

Are you asking about getting an LLM in general or an LLM from NYU. While getting an LLM from NYU might be a stretch there are lots of other programs out there. NYU is commonly recognized as the best but the educational experience at almost any of the other schools will be just as good. Considering you are from Florida you might want to look into UF and Miami which still may be a stretches given where you went to law school. I have no idea how the fact that the school wasnt ABA approved will affect you but even still now that it is approved the school is a tier 4 school which means for NYU you'd probably have to be near the top of your class. I would simply call up the admissions departments of various schools with tax llm programs and explain the non-aba approved nature when you graduated and ask their opinion.

Also why exactly do you want to do a tax llm, the programs are very expensive and I am not exactly sure if there would be a huge payoff for you from an economic standpoint. One tax course 7 years ago is not really a lot to go on in deciding that you want such a specialized degree. Just something to take into consideration.

Top 20% at 4T law school. Rec'd scholarship for academic performance. Made an A in basic tax course. Taking 2 other tax classes now (tax pro & tax bus ent). Made B in some classes with tax in them (Secured Transactions & Business Planning). Active in Moot Court & Mock Trial. Interned at AG's in Tobacco & Special Litigation Division. What are my chances for NYU-part time?

You will be fine for all but NYU which I think you still will get in but you never know....it can be tough some times

TOp 20% Tier 4 is rarely good enough for NYU. Things might be easier in getting into the part time program but I dont think they are that much easier. Most people from Tier 4 schools at NYU are top 5-10% closer to the 5% mark.

TOp 20% Tier 4 is rarely good enough for NYU. Things might be easier in getting into the part time program but I dont think they are that much easier. Most people from Tier 4 schools at NYU are top 5-10% closer to the 5% mark.

Not looking for NYU, Georgetown, etc. but would like to know what schools' application would not be a waste of my money. I am Top 50% T-3 law school but in received a grade of A- in both tax courses I have taken in law school. No work experience as I am a rising 3L

Rising 3L, 60th percentile of top 50 law school, only taken income to tax to this point and got A-, but am currently taking gift and estate tax and tax research, and will likely take take SALT, corp. tax, and partnership tax next year. plus did BS and MS in accounting. (the MS was probably poor decision in hindsight is if I was going to do the LLM since I have heard they are very similar, but i applied before I decided to go to law school). Do I have a decent chance of getting into some of the good schools, dont need NYU, nor do I particluarly want it, but UF would be nice, or Miami since that is home.

To answer for Miami, Both my roommate and I got accepted
he was 60% at T2, B in Fed Income, no experience or extracurriculars (did not apply anywhere else)
me: top 30% T2, B in Fed Income, moot court, lots of extracurricular/ probono, 1 semester internship with appellate court, 3 semester intership as a prosecutor, former military, no tax extras, still waiting on NW, UF, GT, NYU
I Would say you have a good shot at UM, I dont know about anywhere else

I got into Miami, was denied admissions to NYU's part-time program and am waiting to hear from Florida. I graduated from a tier 2 school with a 3.1 GPA and no extracuricular activities but I did take about 8 tax classes and had about an A- GPA in those classes, I interned with the IRS and had a summer position where I did nonprofit tax work as well.

Hello -

I am currently applying to Florida'sTax LLM Program, and I was curious if I could get feedback as to the odds of my acceptance. I graduated in 2007 from a school near the top of Tier 2. My credentials were as follows: Top 5% Overall, Top 1% after my first year and Law Review. However, I did not take any Tax classes in law school. I am interested in pursuing an LLM in Tax due to my work experience. Since graduation, I have worked at an AM Law 100 law firm, working on many transactions which are primarily tax credit transactions. These transactions have been very challenging and rewarding - particularly learning the tax aspects of such transactions. In any case, my primary motivation for pursuing an LLM in Tax is so that I can work on both the corporate and tax aspects of such transactions, as well as expand my practice to other areas of corporate tax.

I am top 5-10% in my class at lower ranked T2 law school. Managing editor of journal, tax professors research assistant, A's in all of my tax classes. What are my chances of getting into NYU, Florida, Georgetown? Thanks