Application Information
Application
Please apply to the LL.M. in Taxation program via our mail-in application form.
Application Deadline
Applications to our 2010-2011 LL.M. in Taxation program are due by February 1, 2010. Applications and supporting documents postmarked after February 1 will be considered on a space available basis only.
Application Fee
The application fee is $75 and is non-refundable. You may elect to pay by credit card, check or money order. Checks and money orders must be in U.S. currency and should be made payable to USC Gould School of Law.
Academic Records
Official transcripts and degree verification documents must be submitted to USC Gould School of Law. Please have schools send your official, sealed documents verifying the award of all diplomas and/or academic certificates with the title and date conferred. The official transcript or an accompanying report must contain your class standing or an official approximation of class standing, together with a description of the school's grading system.
International applicants must submit documentation in their original language with a notarized official English translation. USC's requirements by country can be found at: http://www.usc.edu/admission/graduate/international/requirements/
We recommend that international applicants register with LSAC's LL.M. Credential Assembly Service. For more information, visit https://llm.lsac.org
Personal Statement
Please include your personal, academic and professional background and your reasons for seeking an advanced degree in tax. You should include an explanation of your study interests as they relate to your prior legal study, employment experiences and your professional goals. Limit to no more than three pages.
Two Letters of Recommendation
Submit two letters of recommendation from individuals who are familiar with your academic background or your professional abilities. One letter must be from a law professor. The other letter should be from a law professor, a law school administrator, or an employer.
Resume/Curriculum Vitae
You must submit your curriculum vitae (resume) with your application documents.
Law School Admissions Test
If you have taken the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), you must include on our application form each time you took the test and the scores you received. The LSAT test is not required of our international applicants but, if taken, scores must be reported on our application form. We do not require the GRE or other standardized tests.
International Applicants Only
TOEFL Requirements
The ability to communicate effectively in English-to read, write and speak the language fluently-is vital to your success as a graduate law student. Receipt of a USC master's degree signifies that its holder is fully qualified to conduct academic and professional pursuits in English.
Therefore, the TOEFL exam (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is required by ALL international applicants seeking admission to our graduate law program. Test scores are valid for two years from the date taken. A TOEFL score of 600 on the paper-based test, 250 on computer-based test, or 100 on the internet-based test, is recommended.
Please request that your test scores are sent to USC at the time you pre-register to take the test in order to avoid delays in processing your application. The University's institutional code number is 4852. Please send a photocopy of your official TOEFL score with your application. However, official scores must be forwarded to USC by the testing agency. You MUST take the test well in advance of our application deadline since it may take several months for ETS to transmit TOEFL scores to USC. Applicants using the Law School Admission Council's (LSAC) LL.M. Credential Assembly Service should forward their official TOEFL test scores directly to LSAC AND to USC in order to expedite the processing of your application. LSAC's TOEFL institutional code is 8395. Address all inquiries to: TOEFL, Educational Testing Service, Box 6151, Princeton, NJ 08541-6151, USA.
Passport Materials
Please copy your passport photo, passport number and expiration date. You must also include passport copies of any dependents that will be traveling with you. Include a small color photo, 2"x2" passport size.
Financial Support Documentation
International applicants should contact our office for USC's financial support documentation requirements.