Graduate tax proGram

bu law’s graduate tax program, established in 1959 as one of the first graduate tax programs in the nation, continues to be one of the best: bu law currently ranks 5th in the nation in tax studies, according to u.s. news & world report’s 2013 rankings, among american law schools that offer an ll.m. in taxation. for over 50 years, our commitment has been clear—to give students the nation’s most rigorous training in the complexities of tax law and equip them with the professional expertise and skills that advance their careers, whether in the private or public sector, in the u.s. or abroad. our graduates—over 3,000 strong—consistently tell us that their bu ll.m. degree has been an essential ingredient to their professional success.

one world-class degree— three paths to earning it The Graduate Tax Program (GTP) attracts a diverse and distinguished student body. Our domestic students range from recent law school graduates to seasoned attorneys from both the public and private sectors, many of them from the nation’s leading law and tax consulting firms. International students include academics, practitioners and government officials.

To accommodate the different needs of our students, the GTP offers three paths to completing the 24 credits required for the BU Law LL.M. in Taxation:

• Full-time residential Our full-time residential program option is designed to be completed in one academic year. This option is ideally suited for recent J.D. graduates seeking to gain both the theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed for a successful career in tax law. It is also beneficial to established lawyers looking to change their careers. Our residential program options—both full- and part-time—are celebrated for offering one of the most expansive curricula available at any law school in America. The curricu-lum’s five required courses and more than 35 challenging electives ensure that students receive a solid foundation in essential tax subjects and also the opportu-nity to concentrate in such sub-specialties as Estate Planning, International Tax, General Business Taxation and Financial Services.

• part-time residential The part-time residential option is designed for experienced practitioners who work in the Greater Boston area and hope to augment their current knowledge base in tax law. We are committed to accommodating the needs of working professionals interested in pursuing advanced tax studies, as they bring invaluable experience to the classroom. All residential classes are therefore scheduled during the late afternoon and evening. Part-time students may enroll for up to eight consecutive semesters to complete the degree requirements.

• online BU Law is pleased to announce that, beginning in Fall 2012, we will offer our LL.M. in Taxation online. This innovative platform provides the same challenging course of study as our residential program options, delivered in an award-winning online format. The online option is ideal for domestic and internationally trained tax lawyers whose jobs preclude them from attending classes held on our Boston campus. Students can begin the program in any of the three online sessions—fall, spring or summer—and enroll in an attractive variety of tax courses, all taught by the same highly experienced instruc-tors who teach our residential courses. Students can complete the degree in as few as four sessions.

The GTP’s director, Professor Daniel M. Ber-man, brings over 25 years of experience to the classroom. “Sharing my experience and background and leading students to become the next generation of outstanding tax practitioners as the GTP’s director has been rewarding beyond belief for me,” he says.

An international tax expert, Professor Ber-man has worked in both the legislative and executive branches of the U.S. government, serving as legislation counsel to the Joint Committee on Taxation of the U.S. Congress and as deputy international tax counsel to the U.S. Department of the Treasury. In private practice, he was a partner with Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP and Thelen LLP, both in Washington, D.C. He has taught at the In-ternational Tax Academy of the International Bureau of Fiscal Documentation in Amster-dam; at Georgetown University Law Center; and at Harvard Law School’s International Tax Program. He currently teaches Making Tax Law in the GTP.

daniel m. berman director, graduate tax program professor of the practice of tax law a.b., magna cum laude, harvard college j.d., cum laude, harvard law school

gtp faculty: leading professionals, outstanding instructors The GTP’s faculty primarily consists of leading tax professionals drawn from law firms, accounting firms and tax consulting firms throughout New England and from federal and state government revenue departments. We select instructors not only for their professional achievements, but also for their outstanding teaching abilities, accessibility and interest in student success, inside and outside the classroom. This is a defining element of the GTP’s culture.

our commitment to your professional development An advanced degree is a powerful credential in the specialized world of tax law—and BU Law’s LL.M. in Taxation is universally recognized by employers as among the nation’s finest. Both during and after the program, residential and online students receive career and job search support from a full-time assistant director for professional development who works exclusively with LL.M. students and alumni. Students receive one-on-one counseling on job search strategies, interviewing skills, résumé and cover letter preparation and other aspects of professional outreach. They also receive bi-weekly e-mails with the latest tax-related job postings on BU Law’s exclusive internal job board. Our annual participation in the Tax Attorney Recruiting Event (TARE) held in Washington, D.C.—a job fair dedicated to recruiting for positions in law firms, govern-ment agencies, corporate legal departments and the “Big 4” accounting firms—connects students to a broad range of employers.

the supportive world of bu law Dedicated student support is one of the hallmarks of the GTP.

Residential Students For students studying on-campus, the GTP’s staff provides individual guidance and support on all matters large and small,

and helps connect students outside of class through a range of speaker events, social gatherings, dinners and other special events. GTP students network with lawyers from around the globe through multiple events that bring together the School’s entire LL.M. student body—consisting of nearly 200 lawyers from 35 countries.

Online Students Online students are part of the BU Law community—no matter where they are based. Our Web-based course environment offers rich opportunities for interaction among students. To support their online studies, students can contact their student services coordinator, the course facilitator or their course instructor with questions about registration, coursework and other related matters. This team-based approach to online student service ensures that students have the support they need, when they need it.

candidate qualifications Candidates for the GTP must hold a J.D. degree from an American Bar Association-accredited law school or an equivalent first degree in law from a comparably recognized law school or law faculty outside the U.S. Admission is competitive and largely depends on outstanding performance in previous law studies, particularly in the field of taxation. International applicants must be highly proficient in English, as demonstrated through TOEFL, IELTS or ILEC exam scores. Online students are held to the same admissions standards as residential students.

scholarship support Each year, BU Law’s LL.M. Scholars Program recognizes a small number of LL.M. appli-cants who have demonstrated outstanding academic and professional achievements. Acknowledgement includes a generous scholarship award and designation as an LL.M. Scholar. All applicants for admission to

our residential program options are auto-matically considered for this merit scholar-ship; no separate application is required. In addition, domestic applicants to our residential program options are eligible to apply for the Frederic G. Corneel Scholar-ship, which provides partial scholarship awards based on merit and financial need. Online students are not eligible for scholar-ship support at this time.

for more information You can learn more about the Graduate Tax Program, including degree requirements, the application process, and tuition and financial information, at BU Law’s Web site, www.bu.edu/law. Prospective students may also contact the Graduate Tax Program’s office at:

Boston university School of Law Graduate tax program 765 Commonwealth Avenue, Suite 1670 Boston, MA 02215 Telephone: 617.353.3105 Fax: 617.353.2368 E-mail: gradtax@bu.edu

For inquiries about the online program option: 877.308.9945

A member of the GTP’s acclaimed adjunct faculty since 2003, Matthew D. Schnall has extensive experience with corporate and partnership tax issues, international taxation, and state and local taxation. As a partner in the Boston office of Bingham McCutchen LLP, Mr. Schnall represents clients in tax controversies, transactional planning, adminis-trative practice and tax regulatory compliance. He is a 1993 graduate of Harvard Law School and has served as chair of the Boston Bar Asssociation Tax Section and of its State and Local Tax Committee. In the GTP, Mr. Schnall teaches State and Local Taxation to both residential and online students.

matthew d. schnall

Faculty Spotlight

“the faculty is extremely accessible and they strive to help students in any way that they can.”

kristen sorbera ll.m. in taxation, 2011 j.d., pace law school, 2010

after the gtp: tax consultant in the business tax services group, deloitte tax llp in new york