The joint program, anticipated to start during the fall of 2009, allows students to earn a J.D. and tax LL.M. master’s degree in three years — the amount of time it normally takes to complete a J.D. program. In contrast, most tax LL.M. master’s degrees require that students complete another year of law school.
The program involves a tax session during the summer after a student’s first academic year and 12 additional advanced tax units during his or her second and third year. Among Loyola’s courses are a tax law practicum and an honors tax policy colloquium. Loyola claims its program integrates tax and JD courses more than other Tax LLM/JD degrees do. Northwestern University School of Law, for instance, offers a three-year JD/Tax LLM program in which students take traditional law courses for the first year, followed by a mix of courses necessary to complete the joint degree.
