Tax lawyers represent clients in tax planning, tax compliance, and tax controversy matters. SMU has a rich curriculum of tax courses, due in part to the fact that SMU offers the LL.M. (Taxation) degree, and J.D. students generally may enroll in any of the tax offerings. If you are interested in taxation, you should take the Income Taxation course early in your law school curriculum, as the Income Taxation course is a prerequisite to many other tax courses.
NEW OPPORTUNITY! Students can earn both a J.D. and LL.M. (in Taxation) in only seven semesters of full-time study.
This dual degree program does not change the requirements for either degree, but it does allow students to count a limited number of classes toward satisfying both degrees. Learn more
- Income Taxation
- Corporate Taxation
- Estate, Gift & Income Tax
- Tax Accounting
- Taxation of Property Dispositions
- Tax Practice & Professional Responsibility
- State and Local Taxation
- Federal Tax Procedure
- Criminal Tax Fraud
- Oil & Gas Taxation
- Advanced Corporate Taxation
- Partnership Taxation
- Corporate Planning
- Non-Profit Organizations
- Taxation of Professional and Closely Held Corporations
- Private Equity & Hedge Fund Law
- International Tax I
- International Tax II
- Employee Benefits Law & ERISA Litigation
- Taxation of Deferred Compensation
- Trusts & Estates (the foundation)
- Estate Planning & Practice
- Taxation and Fiscal Policy
- Economic Analysis of Law
- Federal Taxpayers Clinic
- Small Business Clinic
In considering issues of taxation, it is also important to understand the legal nature of the entities involved. Students interested in taxation should therefore also consider courses related to some of those entities or types of property.
Business Entities
- Business Enterprise
- Corporate Finance & Acquisitions
- Sales
- Payment Systems
- Secured Transactions
- Securities Regulation
- Securities Litigation & Enforcement
- Real Estate Transactions
- Commercial Real Estate Transactions Seminar
- Copyright
- Patent Law
- Trademark & Business Torts
- Franchising & Distribution Law
- Intellectual Property Licensing
- Creditors’ Rights
- Advanced Bankruptcy
- Department of Justice, Tax Division
- Internal Revenue Service Regional Chief Counsel
- VITA
Here are some of the full-time faculty and professional staff members who teach or have an interest in this area: