Tax law may be built on complex rules and regulations but learning how to apply them to real problems is increasingly becoming part of the law school experience.
Through tax clinics, specialized certificates, IRS externships and other experiential opportunities, students are working with clients, navigating disputes and seeing how tax law operates beyond the classroom. At the same time, expanding curricula allow students to explore areas ranging from corporate and international taxation to estate planning and public interest advocacy.
That combination of specialized knowledge and practical experience can prepare students for careers across private practice, government, business and public service.
The following law schools earned a place on our Tax Law Honor Roll, recognized for the strength of their programs. Following the list, you’ll find the latest developments and news from tax law programs at these various law schools.
Top law schools for tax law
University of San Diego School of Law gives students hands-on tax law experience through its Federal Tax Clinic and California State Income Tax Clinic, supported by a curriculum that has included more than 25 tax courses over the past two academic years. In a recent case, students in the Federal Tax Clinic worked on the representation of a client seeking Innocent Spouse Relief in U.S. Tax Court. The court ultimately granted relief to the client, giving students experience working on a federal tax controversy that proceeded to trial. Students can further explore tax law through the annual Richard C. Pugh Lecture on Tax Law & Policy, Tax Speaker Series and tax-focused symposia and conferences.
University of California, Irvine School of Law is expanding experiential tax education with a new Tax Advocacy Clinic that allows students to develop practical skills while increasing access to tax assistance. The clinic builds on the school’s Graduate Tax Program and its emphasis on preparing students for real-world tax practice. UC Irvine Law has also created a $20,000 Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic Scholarship for incoming graduate tax students who previously worked with a low-income taxpayer clinic, supporting students who want to continue public service work in tax law. Four members of the Class of 2026 received the inaugural scholarships, followed by three students in the Class of 2027.
Quinnipiac University School of Law recently launched a J.D./Certificate in Tax Law that allows students to develop specialized tax expertise while completing their law degree. The certificate draws from 11 tax courses totaling 27 credits, with all coursework counting toward the J.D. Students can focus their studies on areas such as business planning, trusts and estates, compliance and public interest tax advocacy. The program also builds on Quinnipiac Law’s Tax Clinic, the nation’s oldest continuously operating tax clinic, where students represent low- and moderate-income clients in disputes with the IRS. Students gain experience with audits, appeals, collections and administrative and court proceedings.
University of Connecticut School of Law’s Tax Clinic gives students substantial experience representing real clients and working through complex tax disputes. In 2025, students gained exposure to 90 representation cases, including 10 in U.S. Tax Court, while helping clients secure about $47,000 in refunds and reduce tax liabilities, penalties and interest by approximately $330,000. The experience allows students to develop practical skills while seeing the direct impact tax advocacy can have on clients. Led by Clinical Professor of Law Lisa Perkins, the clinic received a $193,263 grant from the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service for 2026 to support its work and continue providing students with hands-on tax law experience.
Washington University School of Law combines a broad tax curriculum with multiple ways for students to put that knowledge into practice. Students can gain hands-on experience through the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic, Volunteer Estate Planning Clinic and externships with the IRS, while coursework spans individual, corporate, partnership, nonprofit, state and local and international taxation. WashU Law also offers residential and online Tax LL.M. programs. Beyond the classroom, the Tax Law Society provides educational and networking opportunities, including a recent tax careers panel featuring practitioners from private practice, in-house legal departments and government, exposing students to the range of career paths available in tax law.
Methodology
preLaw magazine grades law schools based on the breadth of their curricular offerings. Scores are weighted as follows: 30% for a concentration, 24% for a clinic, 12% for a center, 12% for an externship, 9% for a journal, 8% for a student group, 5% for a certificate and added value for additional offerings.
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