Career Advancement

• Candidates work closely with the Graduate Programs Coordinator to design a program that fulfills not only the degree requirements, but also the attorney’s professional goals
• Our Career Services Office offers individualized career counseling appointments, as well as many other resources ranging from networking events to practical workshops to information about specific job opportunities
• Each year our LL.M. in Taxation candidates are invited to participate in the West Coast Tax LL.M. Job Fair, which is held in conjunction with the California State Bar Tax Section Annual Meeting
• The extensive alumni network includes graduates practicing in areas including corporate tax, estate planning, international tax, employment benefits, and corporate counsel, as well as with state and federal government agencies and large accounting firms

Professional Development

United States Tax Court

• Each fall, judges from the Unites States Tax Court request, consider and interview University of San Diego School of Law LL.M. in Taxation candidates for clerking positions with the U.S. Tax Court upon completion of their degree
• USD is proud to count a number of former U.S. Tax Court clerks among our alumni

Young Tax Lawyers

• The University of San Diego School of Law is home to the San Diego Chapter of the Young Tax Lawyers Section of the State Bar of California Taxation Section
• The monthly meetings are held in the law school and are open to students as well as professionals
• Students have the opportunity to hear interesting and topically substantive programs, as well as meet current and future colleagues from the state and local tax community

Tax Law Speaker Series

Our tax workshop series will bring the following high-profile tax scholars to USD to present papers on topics of current research interest during 2008-09:

• Karen Brown (George Washington)
• Miranda Fleischer (Illinois)
• Victor Fleischer (Illinois)
• Robert Peroni (Texas)
• Dennis Ventry (U.C. Davis)
• George Yin (Virginia)

Procopio International Tax Institute

• Founded in 2004, the Procopio International Tax Institute at the University of San Diego School of Law was developed to educate and inform foreign individuals and international companies seeking to do business in the United States
• With the goal of increasing access to international tax knowledge and promoting cross-border education and cooperation between tax attorneys, accountants, financial experts and other interested business and tax groups, the institute presents an annual conference focusing on various tax related topics relevant to its international audience

Business Valuation Conference: Summit on Discount for Lack of Marketability

• In 2008, the School of Law hosted a national conference, co-chaired by U.S. Tax Court Judge David Laro, which addressed issues related to business valuation in the context of assets with limited marketability
• Judge Laro, along with leading lawyers, appraisers, and academics in the business valuation profession, held a day-long debate and discussion on the conflicting theories related to the lack of marketability discount
• From the Mandelbaum case to Dr. Bajaj, theories were be analyzed and reconciled to produce a single lack of marketability discount method
• LL.M. students were invited to attend the conference free of charge, and had the opportunity to network with top business valuation professionals

The California Tax Bars

• Since 2002, the Graduate Tax Program at the University of San Diego School of Law has been a sponsor of the Annual Meeting of the California Tax Bar/California Tax Policy Conference
• Students have the opportunity to interact with current and future colleagues while attending the many education sessions on current topics at a reduced fee
• Students in the Graduate Tax Program also participate in the Tax Bar's annual trip to Washington, D.C., to present research on pertinent tax issues to legislators

Research Presentation Opportunity

• Each year, USD's Graduate Tax Program partners with the CA State Tax Bar Sections to provide one LL.M. student with the opportunity to write a research paper under the guidance of a practicing attorney
• The student will then become part of a delegation from the CA Tax Bar that will present this research to IRS officials and other government officials in Washington, D.C.
• Past participants have said that this was an outstanding career development opportunity
• The selected student receives an allowance to help cover travel and hotel costs for the trip to Washington, D.C.

The Federal Tax Clinic

• The University of San Diego School of Law is pleased to be one of a select number of institutions receiving funding from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for a Low-Income Taxpayer Assistance Clinic
• Participation in the clinic offers students a unique opportunity to gain federal tax controversy experience by assisting low income taxpayers in resolving disputes with the IRS, both in administrative proceedings and at trial in the U.S. Tax Court
• Guest lecturers for the classroom component of the clinic include members of the U.S. Tax Court, tax professionals from national accounting firms, IRS district counsel members, IRS appeals officers, IRS special agents from the Criminal Investigation Division and IRS revenue agents who performed mock audits

The California State Tax Clinic

• The School of Law’s Tax Appeals Assistance Program is a joint effort between  the USD Legal Clinics and the California State Board of Equalization
• Under the supervision of an attorney from the California Taxpayers' Rights Advocate Office, students assist taxpayers with state tax appeals and other issues concerning the Franchise Tax Board
• Students receive practical training in legal skills including interviewing clients, identifying evidence, drafting appeals briefs, and representing clients in negotiations with the State Board and at hearings