The Tax Law Society is a student organization at the University of Georgia School of Law that promotes the study of tax law among the student body and generates interest in the tax law profession. We welcome all students who are interested in learning about tax law in any capacity!

Our members recognize that the Internal Revenue Code is as interesting as it is complex! Students who embark on their tax law journey with the law school’s introductory tax law course, Federal Income Taxation, quickly appreciate that the United States tax code is no stale set of tedious rules—it is a fascinating study of some of the most influential law there is. Just ask former IRS Commissioner, Sheldon S. Cohen, who famously stated: “Taxation, in reality, is life. If you know the position a person takes on taxes, you can tell their whole philosophy. The tax code, once you get to know it, embodies all the essence of life: greed, politics, power, goodness, charity.”

A foundational understanding of tax law concepts is critical for almost any type of legal practice including bankruptcy, white-collar criminal, corporate, family, real estate, and other practice areas. Accordingly, law students are encouraged to gain exposure to tax in both the academic and extracurricular settings before they begin their law practice. Those who decide to specialize in tax law benefit from in-demand expertise and marketable skills to provide immense value to clients in a variety of areas, including:

Transactional tax law – advise all forms of business entities to meet clients’ business objectives in a tax-efficient manner;

Tax controversy – litigate tax disputes against the IRS and other tax authorities in administrative and judicial proceedings;

Estate planning – minimize tax liabilities in implementing family wealth planning of clients;

Government policymaking – assist in tax policymaking in the Senate Finance Committee, House Ways and Means Committee, the Joint Committee on Taxation, and similar bodies at the state and local level; and

Government administration and enforcement – assist in drafting tax regulations and other guidance in the IRS Office of Chief Counsel (or similar offices at the state and local level) or litigate tax issues at the IRS Office of Chief Counsel or the Tax Division of the Department of Justice.

In furtherance of the Tax Law Society’s mission to gather students interested in tax law, we host meetings where students explore and learn about different areas of tax law, attend panel discussions with the nation’s top Tax LLM programs, and network with peers, faculty members, and professionals with a passion for tax law. Every semester, the Tax Law Society invites guest speakers who are accomplished professionals in the tax field to discuss current issues in taxation and career options for those interested in becoming tax lawyers. We coordinate with the law school’s Career Development Office to assist students with their tax law-related job search prospects. The Tax Law Society draws on the expertise and network of Georgia Law’s distinguished tax scholars, including Professors Wally Hellerstein, Lisa Milot, Gregg Polsky, and Camilla Watson.

Members are eligible to participate in the annual American Bar Association Law Student Tax Challenge, a national competition among law students interested in tax, where teams have the opportunity to solve a complex business problem that is representative of issues that arise in tax practice. Students interested in learning more about competing in the Tax Challenge are encouraged to contact the Tax Law Society executive board.

We look forward to seeing you at our next meeting or on-campus event!

Sincerely,

Tax Law Society Executive Board, 2022-2023

Benjamin Price, President, Benjamin.Price@uga.edu
Maggie Carr, Vice President, maggiecarr49@uga.edu

Student organizations are not a part of nor are they agencies of the University of Georgia School of Law or the University of Georgia.  Neither the University of Georgia School of Law nor the University of Georgia direct, supervise, or control these organizations.  Each organization is a separate and independent organization and is responsible for and manages its own activities and affairs. The University of Georgia School of Law and the University of Georgia are not responsible for any of these organizations’ contracts, acts or omissions.

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