4.18 Master of Laws in Business, Taxation and Business and Taxation

  • 4.18.01 Requirements

    A student may earn a Master in Laws in either Business, Taxation or Business and Taxation by satisfying the following requirements, in addition to the course requirements of the specific degree.

    A. Applicants for Master of Laws in Business, Taxation, or Business and Taxation

    1. The applicant must have earned a J.D. or LL.B. from an ABA accredited law school.

    2. The applicant must demonstrate aptitude to undertake graduate legal tax or business studies. Factors considered include: law school academic record (preference is given to those graduating in the top-half of their law school class); published and unpublished relevant written work; nature and duration of legal or tax/ business-related work experience.

    3. Each applicant must demonstrate successful completion at the law school level of the following courses:

    a. LL.M in Taxation or LL.M in Business & Taxation: (1) a federal personal income taxation course; and (2) a basic business association course(s) (including agency, partnership and corporations).

    b. LL.M in Business: (1) a federal personal income taxation course; (2) secured transactions (UCC Article 9); and (3) a basic business associations course(s) (including agency, partnership and corporations).

    Applicants are eligible to enroll in the J.D.-level courses to fulfill these prerequisite courses.

    B. Applicants for Masters of Taxation

    1. The applicant must have earned a baccalaureate degree at an institution accredited by one of the six regional accrediting affiliates of the American Council on Education.

    2. The applicant must have successfully completed 24 semester hours (36 quarter hours) of accounting courses; preference is given to candidates with a B average or better, or those in the upper half of the class at the baccalaureate level.

    3. The applicant must demonstrate aptitude to undertake graduate tax or business studies. Factors considered include: (1) accounting and undergraduate academic record; (2) published and unpublished relevant written work; (3) nature and duration of accounting experience, including possession of professional certificates such as the CPA or the CMA; and/or (4) the score achieved no earlier than five years prior to the application on a nationally competitive admission examination such as the LSAT, GMAT or GRE.

    4. The applicant must have completed a basic taxation course and a business law course (including agency, partnership and corporation law) in the accounting baccalaureate program.

    C. International Students

    1. The applicant must have earned a J.D. or LL.B. from an accredited foreign law school.

    2. The applicant must provide TOEFL scores. The minimum acceptable score on the manual test is 600; the minimum acceptable score on the computerized test is 250. In lieu of TOEFL scores, the applicant may provide GMAT, GRE or LSAT scores. The applicant must secure appropriate visas for entry into the United States.
     
  • 4.18.02 Admission Process

    A. Applicants in all graduate law degree programs must complete the following process:

    1. Complete a printed or on-line application.

    2. Request that official transcripts be sent directly to the Graduate Law Programs office from the awarding institution. Official transcripts must be sent for all post-high schoolwork undertaken regardless of whether it resulted in a degree.

    3. Submit the application fee of $25.00.

    4. Although not required, letters of recommendation are considered if submitted by the applicant.

    5. Each applicant must submit a personal statement detailing the non-quantifiable qualities that he or she possesses. Applicants may also submit a resume or curriculum vitae.

    6. Each applicant must complete a personal interview with the executive director of Graduate Law Programs. If the applicant is unable to personally appear in Columbus, a telephone interview is arranged.

    B. The J.D./LL.M Program (3 ½ Year Program: Capital University Law School J.D. students that have successfully completed Federal Personal Income Taxation are eligible to provisionally enter the J.D./LL.M program. Upon completion of their J.D. degree and upon admission to the LL.M. program, these students may transfer 12 credits of required or eligible elective courses for which they have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 into the LL.M program of their choice. These students can complete both a J.D. and an LL.M in three and a half years. Students also have the option of completing their LL.M on a part-time basis.

    C. Transfer Credits: Students that have obtained their J.D. at an ABA accredited law school may, subject to director approval, transfer six credits of advanced tax courses (beyond a basic federal personal income taxation course) into the LL.M in Taxation program, cutting their overall credit requirements by a full one-third. 

  • 4.18.03 Degree Requirements

    A. Students must complete 24 credit hours of required and elective coursework for the selected program and achieve a 2.75 grade point average within a six-year period. Course requirements for the Master of Laws in Taxation or Masters of Taxation follow. Course requirements for the Master of Laws in Business and Master of Laws in Business and Taxation may be found in Section 4.20 and Section 4.21, respectively.

    B. Course Requirements for LL. M in Taxation or M.T.

    1. Required Courses 
     

    Advanced Individual Income Tax Problems       2
    Taxation Research & Communication 1 2
    Introduction to Tax Procedure 2
    Tax and Professional Responsibility 2
    Corporate Tax 3
    Partnership Tax 3
    Total Required 16



    Required courses must be taken in the semester prescribed.

    2. Elective Courses 8
    (See view book or Course Descriptions for a listing of tax electives)

    An LL.M in Taxation or M.T. student may take up to four hours of graduate business law classes.

    C. Academic Standing:

    1. The student must remain in academic good standing while a student in the program. The student must achieve a 2.75 cumulative grade point average or better upon attempting nine (9) credit hours to continue to register for classes in a graduate program. Any student whose grade point average is below a 2.75 cumulative grade point average after attempting nine (9) credit hours must petition the Graduate Council for permission to continue his studies. If permission is granted, the student is on academic probation and not in good academic standing. In order to receive a degree, the student must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75.

    2. A student who fails to meet the requirements of 4.19.01(C)(1) may petition the Graduate Council for permission to continue as a student.

    D. A full time student may take up to 12 hours of graduate course work in any semester. A part time student may take up to 6 credit hours of course work in any semester 
     

  • 4.18.04 Grading
    The graduate programs utilize a modified 4.0 scale:  The point value of grades is as follows:

    A             Outstanding 4.0
    A- Excellent 3.67
    B+ Very Good 3.33
    B Good 3.00
    B- Acceptable 2.67
    C+ Acceptable 2.33
    C Minimum for Credit        2.00
    E Failure 0

  • 4.18.05 Changes in Required or Elective Courses

    The Graduate Council and Law Council reserve the right and do periodically change course requirements as well as add and delete courses. Students are required to meet the requirements in effect at the time they begin the LL.M program, unless otherwise provided the Graduate and/or Law Council. Students in the three and one half year program, begin the LL.M program only when they have completed all of their J.D. requirements.