LLM Tax: NYU vs. Florida if staying in the Southeast

[19anonymous76]

Assuming someone planned to stay in the Southeast in private wealth services, is there any reason to pay the premium for the NYU LLM (assuming no NYU scholarship--probably a safe assumption)?

I have been pretty sold on Florida because of the cost and the fact that Florida's alumni base in the Southeast is comparable to (maybe even stronger--albeit younger--than) NYU's base here. NYU alumni I've talked to are saying not to write the school off just yet, but I cannot figure out how a roughly $50K difference is justified for someone not working in NY, LA, DC, Chicago, etc.

That seems so even given the scandal that happened at FL this fall.

[Anonymous User]

NYU tax alumni here working in southeast.

I strongly recommend NYU. Had the same dilemma a few years ago deciding between NYU and Florida. I wanted to go back home to the southeast after getting the llm and thought Florida would be the best choice. I decided to go to NYU and have been happy with my decision ever since.

I do realize NYU is way more expensive than the Florida program but it will open a lot of employment opportunities through OCI, TIP, networking with alumni. I you already have the employment issue sorted out, then save $$$ and go to Florida, if you don't have a job offer before starting the program then NYU is your safest bet for employment after graduation. As you mentioned, the bulk of employers for NYU will be in the northeast, but some southeast big law firms and big 4 offices do recruit at NYU.

[lavarman84]

Florida would likely be a better choice for you if it were 5 years ago. As it stands now, I'd recommend NYU. Florida has lost/is losing a handful of its top tax professors. There are a lot of hard feelings between the current tax professors and the new dean. There's a feeling that the new dean wants to promote the main law school at the expense of the tax program and is being retaliatory towards the tax program for the dust-ups with professors.

I'd really like to tell you that Florida is the best choice. The cost is a lot more reasonable, and the tax LLM alumni network is insanely loyal.(and wields a lot of power in the state of Florida) But I am letting you know what I know from a lot of secondhand information.

Frankly, I doubt there's a major drop off next year, and you should be able to get a job. But I'd be concerned about the program falling off in the future.

Anyways, I'd recommend figuring out what states you want to practice in, looking at the firms you'd be interested in working for, and then checking the profiles on the tax lawyers there.(might also help to reach out to them and talk to them about this)

PM me if you want any additional info on Florida.