Online Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Taxation

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Earn a Master of Laws in Taxation from a Top-Ranked Law School

With a history of providing exceptional legal education, Washington University’s Top-20 School of Law1 offers an online Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Taxation designed for lawyers and law school graduates who want to specialize in tax law.


Students in the program will gain a comprehensive understanding of federal, state and local tax law and will graduate prepared to assist individuals and organizations in all major areas of tax, such as estate planning, employee benefits and corporate taxation. 

Accreditation and Acquiescence

Washington University’s LL.M. in Taxation, LL.M. in U.S. Law, and MLS programs have obtained acquiescence by the American Bar Association (ABA). Find out more about acquiescence on the ABA website. In addition, Washington University in St. Louis has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) since 1913. Learn about the University’s HLC accreditation.

A Curriculum Designed by Tax Law Experts

Students in the online LL.M. in Taxation program will learn from a faculty of tax law experts bringing a wealth of industry knowledge and real-world experience to the classroom. The curriculum provides students with an overview of tax law, including the procedural and technical aspects as well as the tools they need to solve complex tax problems and adapt to ever-changing legislation.

Program Requirements

24

total credits

1

required courses

21

credits of tax electives

Courses

Students will complete one required course and then choose from a variety of tax electives to meet their individual career goals. Check out our course catalog to view course descriptions.

Required Courses

  • Federal Income Taxation

Electives

  • State and Local Taxation
  • Federal Tax Procedure
  • Federal Estate and Gift Taxation
  • International Taxation
  • Tax-Exempt Organizations
  • Accounting for Tax Attorneys
  • Tax Research Writing
  • Externship
  • Supervised Research
  • Partnership Tax
  • Corporate Taxation

LL.M. in Taxation students may take 6 credits from the general curriculum:

  • Business Associations
  • International Business Transactions
  • Corporate Compliance
  • Employment Law
  • Negotiation
  • Mediation & Arbitration
  • Entrepreneurship

If you do not have a Juris Doctor (J.D.), the university offers a Master of Legal Studies (MLS) in Taxation online for those who have earned a bachelor’s degree. To learn more, request information for the online MLS in Taxation program.

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Optional In-Person Learning

Students have the option to supplement their online learning instruction with in-person learning experiences, including a tax law externship and supervised research. Each is designed to provide students with new opportunities to apply their tax law expertise.

Externship

The School of Law helps match interested students with a law firm to complete a 3-credit externship. Students will apply the skills they have gained in the classroom and gain real-world experience in the tax field.

Supervised Research

Students in the 3-credit supervised research course meet with professors regularly to develop a thesis paper on a tax-related topic that interests them or aligns with their career goals.

Learn how tax law expertise in areas like wealth management and corporate taxation can advance your career.

The final deadline for the July 2023 cohort is June 1, 2023.

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Admissions

Candidates to the online LL.M. in Taxation program must have a Juris Doctorate degree to apply. For applicants with an LL.B. (or equivalent), law school approval is required.

To apply to the program, make sure you submit the following:

  • Online application
  • Application fee or waiver
  • Statement of purpose
  • Résumé or CV
  • Official transcripts
  • Online interview
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Online Learning Experience

The convenience of our online learning environment allows students to earn their degree while continuing to work. The program combines self-paced weekly courses with live, face-to-face classes featuring HD video hosted on the interactive Zoom platform. With small breakout groups and live chats, the online classroom promotes a collaborative and discussion-based classroom environment.

Students will also be given access to LexisNexis and Westlaw, two legal databases that will help students complete course work and legal research. These resources provide students with access to legal materials, such as public records, law journals and court cases. Learn more about the student experience.

Our Expert Faculty

The faculty members for the online Tax LL.M. program are the same nationally and internationally recognized experts who teach on campus. Professors are committed to teaching students how to apply fundamental tax law knowledge and concepts to real world situations.

Sarah Narkiewicz, Tax LL.M. Advisor

Sarah Narkiewicz has been a lecturer in law and an advisor in the LL.M. tax program since 2004, teaching tax courses as well as supervising the extern program for the LL.M. students. A graduate of Washington University School of Law, Narkiewicz served as a tax attorney for six years with Husch Blackwell and the Stolar Partnership.

Peter Wiedenbeck, Professor of the Law of Property

Peter Wiedenbeck is an expert in federal income tax law and employee benefit plans. He brings more than three decades’ worth of legal experience to the classroom along with an in-depth understanding of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).

Career Opportunities with a Tax LL.M. Degree

Because of the complexity of tax law and its impact on business, finance, government, and nonprofit, the need for competent tax lawyers remains steady. The LL.M. in Taxation program prepares students to apply their expertise across public, private and nonprofit sectors. Tax law career paths can include:

  • Tax attorney
  • Estate planning lawyer or advisor
  • Tax consultant at accounting firm
  • Financial product advisor
  • Department of Justice tax lawyer
  • Department of Treasury tax lawyer
  • Clerk for tax court judge
  • IRS litigator
  • M&A lawyer
  • Legal advisor

Personalized Career Support

A wide variety of career services are offered to help students meet their career goals after graduation. Services include one-on-one career advising, access to the Virtual Career Center and networking opportunities through the Washington University School of Law alumni network. Learn more about career services.

Gain specialized tax law training to advance your career.
Request information about the online LL.M. in Taxation today.

1 2022 Best Law Schools. US News & World Report. Ranked in 2021. arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference