Tax Law Certificate

Overview

The Tax Law Certificate is a response to the growing demand for attorneys with expertise in the tax field. Completion of the certificate requirements allows students to develop the practical and technical skills needed to build successful careers.

Certification also assures employers that the student not only has a mastery of basic principles of individual and entity taxation but has been exposed to some of the finer points of tax law and practice.

Certificate Requirements

Students should notify the registrar of their intention to satisfy the certificate requirements before the end of their first full academic year.

In addition to all other J.D. degree requirements, students must complete the requirements below to earn the Tax Law Certificate.

Core Courses

Complete these courses:

• Federal Income Taxation
• Taxation of Business Enterprises

Elective Courses

Any four of the following elective courses:

• Business Planning Seminar
• Estate Planning: Practice
• Estate Planning: Principles
• Nonprofit and Tax-Exempt Organizations
• Representing Nonprofit Organizations

Additional Requirements

Students must also complete a minimum of 20 hours of participation in:

• An Internal Revenue Service-sponsored Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program or a similar nonprofit tax assistance program

Course descriptions

A student must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 in tax courses that count toward the certificate.