ABA Section of Taxation Law Student Tax Challenge
- An alternative to traditional moot court competitions, the Law Student Tax Challenge asks two-person teams of students to solve a cutting-edge and complex business problem that might arise in everyday tax practice.
View slideshows of students and judges in action at the 2008 Law Student Tax Challenge Competition! Winners accept their awards after the final decisions are rendered.
Inspired by the setting for the Section’s 2009 Midyear Meeting, this year’s problem asks students to advise a fictional client on a favorable tax strategy in order to take advantage of tax credits available for economic development in and around New Orleans, Louisiana. In addition to examining the role of tax credits, the problem also asks participants to consider the allocation of such credits back to the funding entity.
Past topics have included:
* Cash-rich international split-offs
* Merger and acquisition issues
* Section 83(b) elections
* Cancellation of debt in an executive loan program
The top teams selected by a panel of judges then present their solutions to some of the top tax practitioners in the country. Past oral-round judges have included:
* Deborah A. Butler, Associate Chief Counsel, IRS
* Hon. John O. Colvin, Chief Judge, U.S. Tax Court
* Donald L. Korb, Chief Counsel, IRS
* Richard Lipton, Partner, Baker & McKenzie LLP
* Hon. Stephen J. Swift, Judge, U.S. Tax Court
* William J. Wilkins, Partner, WilmerHale
Teams are initially evaluated on two criteria: a memorandum to a senior partner and a letter to the client explaining the result. Based on this written work product, 6 teams from the J.D. Division and 4 teams from the LL.M. Division will receive a free trip (including airfare and accommodations for two nights) for the Section's 2009 Midyear Meeting, January 8-10 at the Sheraton, New Orleans, LA, where they will defend their submissions before a panel of some of the country's top tax lawyers.
The competition is a great way for law students to showcase their knowledge in a real-world setting and gain valuable exposure to the tax law community. On average, more than 40 teams compete in the J.D. Division and more than 20 teams compete in the LL.M. Division.
At several institutions, the competition is used as a learning tool. The competition offers motivated students a tremendous opportunity to learn more about tax law, interact with professionals in the world of tax, and earn credit while doing so.
2008 J.D. Rules:
HTML | PDF | **Rules Addendum**
J.D. Entry Form
2008 LL.M. Rules:
HTML | PDF | **Rules Addendum**
LL.M. Entry Form
The LSTC is a national tax planning and client-counseling competition designed to more closely reflect everyday tax practice than traditional moot court competitions. The semi-final and final rounds of the 2008 LSTC took place in January of 2009 in New Orleans, Louisiana during the Section of Taxation Midyear Meeting. Click here to view winners. Congratulations!
"The ABA Law Student Tax Challenge offers a wonderful bridge to practice for law students. Unlike many competitions, it offers problems that mirror practice and gives students a sterling opportunity to write a legal memorandum on a sophisticated tax problem and present the problem to top tax professionals acting as partners or clients. I recommend that any serious tax student enter the competition."
—Professor Don Leatherman
University of Tennessee College of Law
Former Chief of Branch 4 for the Associate Chief Counsel (Corporate)
of the IRS Office of Chief Counsel
"I found the Tax Challenge to be a very well organized and exciting competition. The task itself was very challenging and I learned a great deal while attempting to solve it. The post presentation feedback was helpful. Finally, I enjoyed meeting the other competitors at the various events. Overall, it was an excellent experience and I would highly recommend it to any student at my university."
—Hailley Joyner, Esq.
LL.M. Candidate, University of Denver
"The Tax Law Challenge is an exceptional competition and provides a unique opportunity for law students because it previews all aspects of tax practice and provides a bridge from classroom learning to the practice of tax law."
—Professor Christopher M. Pietruszkiewicz
Paul M. Herbert Law Center
Louisiana State University
Judge (Semi-Final Round), 2002 Law Student Tax Challenge
"As both a J.D. and a LL.M. participant, the LSTC afforded me a unique opportunity to delve into a complex transactional tax scenario that was conceived from the same cutting-edge issues facing top tax practitioners. While it was certainly a wonderful experience to compete in the final round and ultimately, win the competition, the real rewards of participating in the LSTC came much later on as I was able to meaningfully share my experience with and knowledge of the issues raised in the competition problem with prospective employers. There is simply no better 'real-world' tax competition for students than the LSTC!"
—Kelley Miller
U.S. Tax Court
Winner (LL.M. Division), 2005 Law Student Tax Challenge
"The Tax Law Challenge is a great concept because it allows students to prepare and orally defend written memorandums that analyze the tax consequences of proposed transactions—a task that tax lawyers are more often engaged in as opposed to tax litigation."
—Professor Fred B. Brown
University of Baltimore School of Law
"The format challenges students to present their oral and written knowledge in a manner generally undertaken by more senior lawyers and again in another format that is understandable to a client. What could be better preparation for tax practice?"
—Professor Daniel S. Goldberg
University of Maryland School of Law
Index
2008 LSTC Entry Details
LSTC Problem:
HTML | PDF
J.D. Rules:
HTML | PDF | **Rules Addendum**
J.D. Entry Form
LL.M. Rules:
HTML | PDF | **Rules Addendum**
LL.M. Entry Form
