I'm a 3L @ a Top-10 JD Program and am contemplating whether getting a Tax LLM (preferably at NYU... maybe GULC) is possible/desirable. I was unable to get a tax position (or any position, for that matter) at the big law firms, but would really love to work as a tax attorney after all is said and done. Any thoughts?

I am probably slightly above median with my overall grades, with excellent (though not stellar) grades in the several tax classes I took.

I dunno if an LLM will really provide you with more opportunities than you have right now. Coming from a highly ranked law school like you do (even with your not so great class rank) I am really surprised you are having so much trouble finding a job. I dont mean to be insulting but have you ever had your interview style evaluated?

That being said, not sure about your chances at NYU given your class rank but I'd say you have a pretty near certain possibility of being admitted to to gtown.

I am asked this question quite often - assume that I did get my interview style evaluated and I was advised to correct it somehow. Let's say that I still am unsuccessful with the big firm interviews...
I think many people assume that EVERYONE from the high ranked schools have an easy time finding a job, which is simply untrue. Sometimes when you are limiting yourself to a certain geographical and practice area, it gets really hard...

I'm not actually looking for more opportunities with the LLM, in the sense that the LLM will open doors previously closed to me. I'm looking for another crack at interviews with tax departments so that I can show them I am genuinely interested in tax, even without any relevant experience...

What kind of people actually get admitted at NYU, given what you've said? If an LLM from NYU wouldn't provide me with any more opportunities, I'd imagine very few people in my situation would actually apply. Anybody higher-ranked than me or at a higher-ranked law school would not apply either. So who does NYU accept? Only people from T1/T2s?

For interviewing, have you considered the Big 4 accounting firms? They hire JD's, the pay is good, and the stress level is lower than a lot of the big law firms.

I have considered the Big 4, but they don't interview on-campus at my school. I'm going to put in applications this week. Thanks for the pointer.

So the consensus is that the LLM is no good for me? But can someone answer my question as to who actually gets into NYU's LLM if I probably won't get admitted?

NYU LLM people are typically top 15-25% at tier 1, 10-20% at tier 2, and 5-10% at tier 3, and usually inside the top 10% at tier 4. Of course these are just broad generalizations and there are outliers but for the typical student with little to no experience it is pretty accurate. If you have something particularly exceptional on your resume or some sort of connection to someone at NYU of course you might have a better chance of getting in. Heck I would still apply if you want to as there is always the chance that the name of your school might get them to cut you some slack on your rank.

As for whether NYU will help that much, I dont think it will open any doors to you that havent already been opened. Firms will still look at your JD transcript and note your rank and though more slack may be cut due to the LLM, if there is a student who went to a lesser tier 1 school with a much better rank who interviews well, they will probably get the job over you. Then again you might kick ass at NYU and get amazing grades in which case you will have an easier time finding a job.