NYU Tax LLM Forum

[Anonymous User]

T10 above-the-median KJD thinking of applying to the Tax LLM at NYU. Hoping to learn more about how big the program is and what's the employment prospect like for people with no work experience, assuming a median GPA at LLM? Thank you!

[nealric]

T10 above-the-median KJD thinking of applying to the Tax LLM at NYU. Hoping to learn more about how big the program is and what's the employment prospect like for people with no work experience, assuming a media GPA at LLM? Thank you!

What year are you? Did you strike out at OCI?

If you are still a 1L or a 2L with an offer- many firms will pay for an NYU LLM part time. No point in applying now. If you are a 2L or 3L without an offer, I would keep hustling. For what it's worth, someone above median at T-10 is basically an auto-admit for NYU LLM.

[Anonymous User]

3L. No ideal position lined up yet. International background and mostly interested in international tax.

[Anonymous User]

NYU has some info posted about employment: http://www.law.nyu.edu/careerservices/l ... candidates

I'm in a similar boat as OP, applying for the NYU Tax LLM, and am also interested to hear more information, particularly about scholarships. For instance, do awards top out at half tuition or do they combine different types of scholarships to give full rides for some people? What type of candidates get money? Etc.

[Aeon]

I'm in a similar boat as OP, applying for the NYU Tax LLM, and am also interested to hear more information, particularly about scholarships. For instance, do awards top out at half tuition or do they combine different types of scholarships to give full rides for some people? What type of candidates get money? Etc.

Yeah, the highest scholarship amount they generally give out is half-tuition. The only full-tuition scholarship is the Tax Policy Fellowship, but you have to be a J.D. student at NYU to apply for it, and it entails working in D.C. for a semester at Treasury or the Joint Committee on Taxation.

Usually scholarships are awarded to people who did well in law school and tax classes. It helps to have a J.D. from a prestigious (i.e.: T14) school but by no means necessary.

[Anonymous User]

In 2016, 20-22 students expected get NYC big law. In fall there were 4 offers: Cravath, Jones Day (2), and Kaye Scholer. For spring OCI, there were 3 AM law 200 firms: Akin, MoFo, and Pryor Cashman.

TIP has following employee benefits (4): DPW + K&E + Dechert + Proskauer. And following for tax (6): Shearman, Skadden, Schulte, Milbank, Baker, and Proskauer. I also know Skadden (EB) interviewed as part of resume collect as did Clifford Chance (2). There are also postings on NYU for White & Case, Sidley, Sullivan & Cromwell (3). So looks like around 22 in big law. There are also resume collects.

Big4 M&A pays around $125k-$130k + signing (ranging from $0 - $10k). May be more if more experienced.

[Anonymous User]

Around how many people get major market big4? And how big is the program? Thanks!

[Aeon]

Around how many people get major market big4? And how big is the program? Thanks!

An Anon above posted the link with all of this information. Here it is: http://www.law.nyu.edu/careerservices/l ... candidates.

[ognam1029]

Major market big 4 varies, but seems like many positions available. Note Big 4 salary varies by practice group. For instance, in the Big 4, M&A pays more than SALT.

As for program size, like 100-110 full-time + part time. Also many non-NYC biglaw positions available.

[Anonymous User]

OP here. Thank you for the above replies. I don't have an accounting background, only took one accounting class in law school. I have taken several tax classes already though. Do people without an accounting degree and prior full time work experience struggle significantly more?

[Anonymous User]

In 2016, 20-22 students expected get NYC big law. In fall there were 4 offers: Cravath, Jones Day (2), and Kaye Scholer. For spring OCI, there were 3 AM law 200 firms: Akin, MoFo, and Pryor Cashman.

TIP has following employee benefits (4): DPW + K&E + Dechert + Proskauer. And following for tax (6): Shearman, Skadden, Schulte, Milbank, Baker, and Proskauer. I also know Skadden (EB) interviewed as part of resume collect as did Clifford Chance (2). There are also postings on NYU for White & Case, Sidley, Sullivan & Cromwell (3). So looks like around 22 in big law. There are also resume collects.

Big4 M&A pays around $125k-$130k + signing (ranging from $0 - $10k). May be more if more experienced.

May I ask the source for this salary range? Seems a bit high based on my experience/discussions with others.

[Aeon]

OP here. Thank you for the above replies. I don't have an accounting background, only took one accounting class in law school. I have taken several tax classes already though. Do people without an accounting degree and prior full time work experience struggle significantly more?

Not at all. Most of tax law doesn't require a background in accounting. Once you're in practice, it is helpful to have some understanding of certain accounting things, like balance sheets and income and cash flow statements. And understanding tax returns and similar documents might require a bit of familiarity with accounting principles, but all of that can be acquired on the job. If you've taken an accounting class in law school, that should have given you a basic understanding of these things, which should be fine starting out.

[ognam1029]

From experience. Big 4 salaries are often times negotiable. For this year, I've heard from co-students $125k for KPMG M&A and $115k from EY M&A. Though EY puts you in as an experienced associate and 1 year from promotion (and ~20% raise). I've also heard PwC $95k in different groups. PwC M&A I believe is $115k as well. These figures are all NYC. It also depends on group and experience.