GTP’s Professional Development Services Bridge the Student-Employer Gap
Advisers equip students with practical skills and industry connections pursue a successful career in tax law.
Boston University School of Law students earning an LLM in Taxation have an ally in the Graduate Tax Program’s (GTP) professional development staff, whose focus is providing students with the tools they need to advance their careers upon graduation. The GTP equips students with the right blend of practical skills and industry connections to pursue a successful career in tax law.
Established in 1959, the GTP is one of the oldest tax LLM programs in the US. It is consistently ranked as one of the best graduate tax programs in the country. From advertising suitable job openings to organizing participation in interview programs, coordinating alumni events, and promoting the credentials of students to individual employers, the GTP’s professional development team has been bridging the gap between students and employers since its inception.
A survey of Class of 2015 graduates demonstrates the commitment and success of the GTP’s professional development staff in supporting graduates as they obtain positions at a range of leading employers, including law firms, professional services firms, and government and non-profit organizations. Within seven months of graduation, 87 percent of responding alumni (with 63 of 68 responding) had secured employment with international and US-based employers.
Student-tailored advice
The experienced attorneys that make up the professional development staff offer customized career advice and support to all GTP students, whether they are domestic or international, full-time or part-time, residential students studying on the BU Law campus or students enrolled in the online degree option.
The GTP takes pride in supporting students with varied backgrounds and career goals. “There are students who are already practicing lawyers—some making a career change, others just looking to change stream or add more skills, but are primarily clear about where they are headed,” says Sara Marshall, associate director of the GTP. “One of the strengths of the GTP is that we provide individual attention to students based upon their individual needs.”
“A quick Google search of ‘best tax LLM programs’ reveals that BU is ranked among the top 5 in the nation,” says Luke Stankiewicz (LLM’16). “The successful track record of the GTP helped me finalize BU Law as my choice of law school.”
Stankiewicz found the staff readily available, dedicated, and extremely knowledgeable about students’ career prospects and paths. He remembers the team guided him through every stage of the process. “I met with Sara Marshall to discuss the strategy of my job search and our initial discussion touched on the merits of working at a Big 4 firm versus a law firm, how to contact alumni and engage in informational interviewing, and what the timeline would be for securing a job,” he says.
From there, he met with the team regularly to get all the pieces in order, from streamlining his resume and cover letters to having mock interview sessions and finally evaluating job offers suited to his profile and aspirations. “I was debating between accepting my first offer and holding out for others,” he recalls. “Sara advised me against accepting the very first offer I got and told me to expect more job offers. Thankfully, by trusting Sara’s experience and keen sense of timing, I ended up with my dream job!”
Another current residential student, Luis Huertas-Moulier (LLM ’16), notes that “establishing a relationship with everyone on the GTP team played a significant role in my career. It was through the office that I was able to learn first-hand about job postings and networking events. I was able to pursue a corporate tax internship during the academic year, thanks to these postings.”
Top students to top companies
Over the years, both domestic and international GTP students have found opportunities with the Big 4 professional services firms, as well as with middle market firms and other tax and estate planning boutiques.
“Big 4 firms serve as a great career launching pad,” says Uday Luthra (LLM’15), currently working as an international tax attorney at the New York offices of EY. “They help you develop great team building skills and provide vast industry exposure working with clients.”
As an international student at BU Law, Luthra found GTP staff and faculty immensely helpful. “As qualified professionals from established law firms, they bring a keen industry perspective that is crucial for graduating students,” he says.“Professor Patton and Professor Darby encouraged students to attend networking events and tax seminars and also supported us in writing articles on tax issues faced by the industry during that time-frame.”
“Sometimes students know which type of employer they hope to work for and are looking for very specific support from us, such as resume building or interview preparation to help them be hired by those employers,” says Sarah Solomon, a professional development adviser in the GTP. “In other cases, students are interested in exploring mid-sized to smaller boutique firms in the beginning of their career. During our discussions, we try to gauge the best fit for students based on their skills and career goals, and offer the necessary advice and support.”
“While there is no ‘one size fits all’ formula, we encourage students to chart out their desired course when they begin their studies at the GTP, to take charge of their careers,” says Marshall. “Tax employers are looking to hire top students who can hit the ground running. That is why BU Law LLM in Taxation graduates are in such high demand—they have the right mix of skills and attitude to creatively solve problems.”
Reported by Indira Priyadarshini (COM’16).