Supporting students on their journey to future career success

Universities today are increasingly becoming important avenues for students to further their careers.

Previously, participants earned a degree and it was up to them to forge a path to their career. But now, more and more universities are offering employment opportunities that go beyond the Career Services Centre located on-campus.

At Boston University’s School of Law, all students – local and international – in the Graduate Tax Programme (LLM) are supported in several ways, ensuring they are employable and able to expand their professional network.

For example, all BU LLM students can take advantage of one-on-one counseling to develop job search strategies, hone their interviewing and networking skills, and build their résumé and cover letter in the US.

Plus, learners also have access to BU’s online job, internship and pro bono and career resource database so they can attend an extensive array of career-related workshops and panels throughout the academic year.

The Graduate Tax Program at Boston University (Tax LLM) offers plenty of employment and networking opportunities students can use to further their careers.

The programme is one of the country’s first graduate tax programs – and one of the best. Several employers value the Law LLM credential at this university because it signals rigorous training and superior preparation.

It has a strong reputation for high graduate employment rates; 93 percent of those who graduated from the class of 2018 gained employment within nine months of graduation.

The flexible program allows students to choose from over 35 challenging elective courses so they can tailor their learning to their own professional goals.

They also benefit from credit-granting skills development courses in the skills and systems they will use as a tax lawyer.

It’s an ideal course for those looking to obtain both the theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed for a successful career in tax law, giving them a chance to experience a more practical and skills-based approach to learning the law.

The program is also great for those seeking advanced training in tax law and who intend to equip themselves for a career in tax law, or further specialize in an area of tax following a shift in client needs (mid-career attorneys).

They can either take up the program full-time, part-time or online, depending on their personal needs and lifestyles.

Plethora of career opportunities

For those pursuing the Tax LLM, there are many types of recruitment opportunities available. Every year, the Graduate Tax Program offers professional opportunities like on- and off-campus recruiting events with all of the “Big Four” accounting firms; tax careers luncheon; lecture series on cutting-edge issues; advising events with Tax LLM alumni; and visits to observe proceedings in the US Tax Court.

They also benefit from taking part in skills workshops on tax research databases and Excel, and a Boston Bar Association membership.

There’s also the Tax Attorney Recruiting Event (TARE) which brings together more than 150 graduate tax students from the LLM in Taxation programs at Boston University School of Law, the University of Florida Levin College of Law, and Northwestern Pritzker School of Law.

At the fair, employers have the chance to pre-screen applications and select candidates for interview.

The location in Boston is also an important factor, known as a ‘Tax hub’. The program engages faculty from the area’s top practitioners, and students benefit from learning from key insights gleaned from their daily work.

The curriculum is built around the needs of many Boston-area law and accounting firms seeking tax LLMs, so students can graduate with an education that’s industry-relevant. When they leave, Boston Law graduates are more than capable of meeting future employer expectations.

Javzmaa Altanzul, a 24-year-old international student from Mongolia, said, “I liked most of the International Tax classes because the professors are experts in the field and provided more information on international tax planning.

“The professors are practicing attorneys – they bring up great examples and always have up-to-date information.”

She advises other students to attend every recruitment event available to them to expand their network and work closely with the career advisor and faculty.

Social life

It’s not all about looking for future employers, as building a student network in university is also important and beneficial for your future.

There are several social events where students can get to know their peers and connect to others with similar life goals.

Social events include Boston team sporting events, pub nights and a spring reception at a local restaurant. Those in the online program aren’t left out either, as they are included in all event invites.

With all this at their disposal, Tax LLM graduates from Boston University thrive in professional settings, developing a strong professional network before they’re even done with their program.

Follow BU Law on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn

Liked this? Then you’ll love…

Leading law schools producing creative legal talent

Gain a practical foundation at Boston University School of Law