About the Program

Consistently ranked one of the top law schools for tax, UVA Law prepares students for tax careers in government, private practice, business and the nonprofit sector. Among the nation’s top scholars, the School’s tax faculty are known for converting students who are fearful of studying tax into fans of the field. They bring experience from Congress, the Treasury Department and private practice. In addition to their scholarly endeavors, the faculty remain engaged with practice organizations such as the ABA Tax Section, the American Law Institute, Congress, the Treasury Department and the IRS.  

Virginia offers one of the strongest tax law curricula in the country, including courses in corporate, partnership and international tax; tax policy; taxation of private equity; gratuitous transfers; nonprofits; and employee benefits, among many others. The Law School is home to the Virginia Tax Review, the nation’s leading student-edited tax journal. In addition to their work in the classroom and on the journal, students regularly win top tax prizes, both at home and abroad.

Virginia’s alumni practice tax in a variety of settings. They hold leadership positions in top law and accounting firms, smaller firms specializing in tax, all branches of government and the nonprofit sector. Alumni have joined academia, launched firms focused on tax law, managed the taxes of corporations such as Exxon Mobil and Amazon, served in the U.S. Office of the Legislative Counsel, and held leadership positions at the IRS, including as commissioner.

Faculty, students and alumni also learn about cutting-edge issues in tax from the Virginia Tax Study Group meeting at the Law School, an annual tradition that brings together alumni from practice, government and academia. In the fall, the annual UVA Invitational Tax Conference brings leading tax academics to Grounds to discuss scholarly works in progress. Students are invited to attend both meetings. During the summer, the Law School hosts the Virginia Conference on Federal Taxation, an annual conference that marked its 70th anniversary in 2018.

Faculty Director(s)
Ruth Mason
Edwin S. Cohen Distinguished Professor of Law and Taxation
Class of 1941 Research Professor of Law
Director, Virginia Center for Tax Law