Tax Law for Students

Interested in pursuing tax law as a career or just interested in learning more about tax law? The Tax Section provides education, resources, publications, and networking opportunities to guide you through the many different practice areas of tax law.

Current students are eligible to join the American Bar Association and the Tax Section at no cost. Once you have joined both the ABA and the Tax Section, you can begin to access student member benefits, including:

• FREE registration to all Section sponsored meetings and other educational sessions and webinars 
• Participation in the Law Student Tax Challenge 
• Opportunities to connect with practitioners through the Tax Section’s 36 substantive committees 
• Tax Section sponsored Fellowship opportunities including the Brunswick Public Service Fellowship and the Loretta Collins Argrett Fellowship 
• Learn more about general ABA student member benefits 

Law Student Membership

Did you know current students can join the ABA and the Tax Section for free? First, you’ll need to join the ABA. Then you can join up to five (5) Sections/Entities (including the Tax Section) at no cost as a student, allowing you to explore different areas of practice. Please use your school email address which will be then assigned to you as your username to access additional member benefits such as the ABA Communities.

Are you a current ABA Law Student member but want to add your free Sections/Entities? Please reach out to Member Services to have them to add the Tax Section to your existing membership:

Phone: (800) 285-2221
International: +1(312) 988-5000
Email: [email protected]

Meetings & CLE

Once you’ve joined the ABA and the Tax Section, you will be able to register for Tax Section meetings and webinars at no cost. When you register using the same information (particularly your student email) as is listed in your member record, you should see a special “ABA Law Student Member” rate under the registration options, allowing you to register for free. Having trouble registering at the student rate? Please contact [email protected] for guidance.

Make sure to attend the popular “Bridge to Practice” panels at the Tax Section’s May, Fall, and Midyear Meetings. Hosted by the Young Lawyers Forum, these panels are designed to give current law students and young practitioners a flavor different areas of tax law and the practical skills a student who has just graduated should know to succeed as a tax lawyer.

Browse the upcoming events calendar 

Law Student Tax Challenge

Open to both J.D. and LL.M. law students, the Law Student Tax Challenge (LSTC) is organized by the Tax Section’s Young Lawyers Forum. An alternative to traditional moot court competitions, the LSTC invites two-person teams of students to solve a complex business problem that might arise in everyday tax practice. Teams are initially evaluated on two criteria: a memorandum to a senior partner and a letter to a client explaining the result.

The problem is released each year in early September, with work products due in early November. Please check the LSTC website for specific deadlines and additional information.

Semi-Finalists are provided complimentary travel and lodging to the Midyear Tax Meeting to participate in the oral defense. Winners receive cash prizes, meeting registrations after graduation, and Section membership.

Watch the recent winner’s oral defenses, read the written work products, and hear from a past LSTC winner. 

Getting Involved as a Student

Looking for ways to get involved as a student? The Tax Section’s Young Lawyer Forum is the perfect place to start. Connect with other law students and young lawyers and learn more about getting involved in the Tax Section. Learn more about the YLF. 

Careers in Tax

Hear directly from tax professionals on their tax careers and pathways: 

Podcast

Explore our People in Tax podcast as practitioners comment on their journeys into tax law as a career, getting involved in the Tax Section, and their career paths. 

• Podcast host James Creech and Carolyn Lee discuss launching a tax career in a small firm, the culture in a large tax firm, and improving diversity in the tax community.
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• James Creech and Eric Solomon discuss identifying tax law as a career, work for the IRS and the Treasury Department, and the government's handling of the 2008 financial crisis.
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• James Creech and Roberta Mann discuss identifying students with interest in tax law, improving tax policy, getting involved in the Tax Section, and the Law Student Tax Challenge. 
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• James Creech and Annie Counts discuss practical tax education, interacting with the tax lawyer community, and virtual learning in tax law.
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• Bela Unell and William Schmidt discuss his shift in law school from business law to tax law, the low income taxpayer clinic program, and podcasting.
  Listen Now

Explore the full People in Tax Podcast episode list. 

5 Ways ABA Tax Section Membership Will Help You Succeed

• Read more about how Tax Section Membership can benefit you as a tax law student.