specialization certificates: Estate Planning Certificate

OVERVIEW

The Tax LLM Program at Golden Gate University School of Law is one of the premier tax law programs on the West Coast. Lawyers who practice estate planning may pursue the LLM Tax degree and concentrate their study on a variety of specialized Estate Planning courses. For those not wanting to complete the full LLM degree, the Estate Planning Certificate may be a good option.

CURRICULUM

Courses must be taken for credit (i.e., not as an auditor), but the certificate is available only to non-degree seeking students. A student pursuing the Estate Planning Certificate who decides to continue in the LLM Tax Program may apply the 16 credits toward the LLM Tax degree. All courses must be completed within 5 years of matriculating and the student must receive a cumulative 2.5 grade point average.

16 total units

  • 11 required units
  • 5 electives units


REQUIRED COURSES

requiring a grade of B- or better
TA 325
Estate & Gift Taxation (3 units)
TA 334
Estate Planning (3 units)
TA 344
Federal Income Taxation of Trusts & Estates (2 units)
LLM 334C
Probate Procedures & Litigation (3 units)


ELECTIVES

requiring a grade of C or better
LLM 334A
Advanced Estate Planning (2 units)
LLM 325A
Tax Aspects of Charitable Giving (2 units)
LLM 328
Partnership Taxation (3 units)
LLM 300
Professional Responsibility for Tax Practitioners (2 units)
LLM 326
Real Estate Taxation (3 units)
LLM 368
State & Local Taxation (2 units)
LLM 348B
California Property Tax (1 units)
LLM 331
Tax Exempt Organizations (2 units)
LLM 351
Multinational Estate Planning (1 units)
LLM 334B
Estate Planning for Blended Families (1 units)
LLM 334L
Estate Planning Lab (1 units)
LLM 340
Taxation, Politics & the Law (2 units)
LLM 317A
Tax Research (1 units)

Other LLM-level tax courses may qualify as Estate Planning Certificate electives, with the prior approval of the Tax LLM Program Director.

APPLYING

To apply for the Estate Planning Certificate, interested individuals should submit the LLM Tax Program Application by the relevant due date and indicate their interest in the Estate Planning Certificate on the application. Individuals who have received their JD degree from Golden Gate University School of Law may transfer no more than 6 units of LLM Tax courses taken while a JD toward the Estate Planning Certificate.

QUESTIONS

Kimberly Stanley
Associate Dean
E-mail: kstanley@ggu.edu
Phone: 415-442-7037