Tax Law Certificate

Washburn University School of Law grants the Tax Law Certificate to students who demonstrate a proficiency in tax law. By granting the Certificate, the Washburn Law Faculty acknowledges that the recipient has successfully completed a focused and rigorous course of study in tax law and is prepared for the practice and advanced study of tax law.

Course Requirements

Writing Requirement

Complete the upper level writing requirement (or equivalent writing project) on a tax law topic. Students may satisfy the Certificate writing requirement through the Tax Policy Seminar, Directed Research, or an alternative writing opportunity approved in advance, and certified satisfactorily competed, by the student's Certificate Advisor. To satisfy the writing requirement, the student must receive a grade of "B" or better on the paper.

Service Requirement

  1. Complete 10 hours of pre-approved pro bono activities relating to tax law or tax service organizations.
  2. Serve in a leadership position in the Tax and Estate Planning Association for at least two academic years or contribute to an approved ABA or KBA Section of Taxation project.

General Requirements

Any student interested in pursuing a Tax Law Certificate must meet with the faculty member administering the program (Professor Borden) to plan a course of study. This must be done before the student completes 40 credit hours of legal study. During the meeting, the faculty member and student will complete the "Meeting Summary." The faculty member will serve as the student's Certificate Advisor.

The student must complete 90 hours of total law school credit and achieve a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in courses used to satisfy the Certificate requirements. Students who obtain a minimum grade point average of 3.5 for courses used to satisfy the Certificate requirements and place in the top 20% of their graduating class will be awarded the Tax Law Certificate (with distinction).

Approved by the faculty: May 2005
Effective: January 2006