Taxation

Lecture — 2 units. This course will explore public finance issues from a theoretical and practical perspective. Initial readings will be theoretical as we consider what the government should do and why. We will then move on to the various bodies of law that govern public finance practice: local government law, federal securities law and federal tax law.

Final Assessment: Other
Grading Mode:  Letter Grading

Laboratory/Discussion — 2 units. This hands-on, experiential course is designed to provide the students the practical skills and familiarity needed to practice law in the area of estate planning and probate/trust administration. Through discussion and drafting of documents, the students will learn the basic laws, practices, resources, and techniques commonly utilized today.

Lecture — 3 units. This course will provide an overview of business concepts for law students. The first part of the course will cover accounting, including what the major financial statements are and how to read them, as well as basic financial analysis ratios (e.g., return on equity, return on assets). The course will then cover basic financial concepts, such as risk versus return and the time value of money and the application of these concepts to business valuation.

Seminar — 2 units. This course focuses on the practical and procedural aspects of tax controversy before state and federal tax authorities. We will provide a mix of theory and practical skills for students wishing to engage in controversy practice before the IRS and the various California tax agencies (FTB, CDTFA, BOE, and OTA). We will cover the entirety of the lifecycle of a tax controversy, beginning with the filing of a return through the completion of an audit and ending with administrative appeals or litigation.