Curriculum

Students gain breadth of exposure by taking required courses in advanced income tax issues (which include a tax research and writing component), corporate tax, partnership tax and tax procedure.  Students choose elective courses among various subjects including international taxation, estate and gift taxation, tax policy, intellectual property, state and local taxation, bankruptcy taxation, employee benefits and tax-exempt organizations. Further, many courses are designed to enhance practical skills—researching, drafting, structuring, problem-solving and planning—to better prepare students for the challenge of tax practice. Overall, the curriculum allows students to focus on particular areas while gaining a comprehensive general education in tax law.

The degree of Master of Laws in Taxation will be awarded upon the satisfactory completion of 24 units of coursework in the program. This includes seven required courses, totaling 14 of those units.Students who have previously taken equivalent coursework may petition to be excused from taking the corresponding LLM course. For example, a student who has taken an introductory course in corporate taxation elsewhere may petition to be excused from having to take Corporate Taxation I at Loyola. Except as noted below with regard to transfer credits, however, such students are expected to complete the 24-unit requirement for the LLM by substituting an elective course for each required course from which they have been excused. 

Full- or Part-Time Schedule

Students may attend on a full- or part-time basis.  The class schedule accommodates the schedules of practicing tax lawyers.  Each course typically meets one evening per week, allowing students to take two classes each term on just one evening per week.  Many courses are also offered during the day to accommodate full-time students.  With careful planning, full-time students matriculating in the fall can complete the Program in one academic year. 

Special Students

Practicing attorneys not interested in earning a Tax LLM degree may take occasional  Tax LLM courses as special students with the consent of the Tax LLM program director.  Special students receive grades in their Tax LLM courses and are expected to attend and participate in the courses as they would as LLM students.  Courses taken as a special student count toward the LLM degree if a special student later matriculates in the Tax LLM Program.  For more information, please contact the Office of Admissions. 

Transfer Credit

With permission of the director, up to 12 units of credit towards the LLM may be given for advanced tax courses satisfactorily completed at Loyola Law School or Loyola's Summer Tax Session (open to students from all ABA-accredited law schools) prior to matriculation into the LLM program. For this purpose, satisfactory completion generally means completion of a course with a grade of “B” or better.  No credit towards the 24-unit requirement will generally be given for courses taken at other institutions unless such courses are taken after matriculation into the program and with prior permission of the director.

Electives

In addition to the required core courses, students may choose elective courses from a variety of subjects. Courses are offered during the fall, spring, and summer terms. To maintain their enrollment in the program, students must satisfactorily complete a minimum of one course each fall and spring semester. Students may but need not enroll in summer term courses. 

LLM With Honors

The LLM will be awarded with honors to students who successfully complete their LLM coursework with an average GPA of 4.00 or higher (on a 5.00 scale), successfully complete Tax Policy and prepare a substantial scholarly paper as part of their work in Honors Tax Research. The honors program is designed particularly for students who intend to go into teaching.