Online LL.M. in Taxation Program

Tax law is the legal field that relates to the assessment, payment, and nonpayment of taxes imposed by governmental authorities at the local, state, and national levels. Tax attorneys must understand and implement a wide variety of legal concepts because a tax can be connected to many types of activities.

An LL.M. in Taxation is a degree that prepares students to navigate the complexities of tax law to advance their careers and move their company ahead of competitors in fast-paced industries.

WashU Law does not hire adjunct instructors to teach our graduate programs. You’ll learn from the exceptional professors at WashU Law—a nationally recognized group of passionate scholars and seasoned tax professionals.

An online WashU Law legal education provides the same rigorous curriculum as our renowned in-person program, taught by the same distinguished full-time, on-campus faculty who are leaders in their legal fields.

Our LL.M. in Taxation degree program is designed for practicing lawyers and graduate law students who want to gain a specialized understanding of the complexities of tax law in the United States. This knowledge can help position them for career advancement at their current company or across a wide range of industries.

JD degree programs prepare students to practice law. JD students learn research and writing methodologies, build the analytical and practical skills to assess a client’s legal problems, and prepare to advise or represent a client in dispute resolutions. JD students must pass their state bar exam to start practicing law.

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

Tax law career paths can include:

• Corporate Tax Attorney
• Estate Planning Advisor
• Real Estate Agent
• International Tax Consultant at an Accounting Firm
• Financial Product Advisor
• Intellectual Property Lawyer
• Department of Justice Tax Lawyer
• Clerk for Tax Court Judges
• IRS Litigator
• M&A Lawyer

An LL.M. degree from WashU Law is a significant investment in your future. We are committed to your professional development, and offer training and support to help you get the most value from your degree, before, during and after completing our program. Our alumni are lifelong learners, and graduates of our program can audit a course for free to encourage continuing education opportunities.

• Resumé
• Transcripts
• Statement of Purpose

No application fee is required for our online law degree program.
Those who wish to apply to our program must submit a resumé, statement of purpose (400-500 words), and transcripts. Transcripts can be unofficial at the time of application, but official transcripts must be received before the start of classes.

Scholarships and financial aid are available.

English language proficiency exams are not required to apply to our program.

• 24 credits
• 1 required course: Federal Income Taxation
• 21 elective credits
• 2.79 GPA (cumulative)

Most tax LL.M. programs typically take at least 2 years to complete. WashU Law’s online LL.M. in Taxation program, however, can be completed in as little as a year.

Our 24-credit program has one required course: Federal Income Taxation.

Students can then tailor their tax courses to meet their needs. Our elective courses include:

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

Anyone can apply for part-time enrollment into our programs. However, none of our online law programs accept transfer credits.