OsgoodePD’s Professional LLM in Taxation Law is a graduate program designed specifically for working professionals. Each of our distinct specializations focuses on interdisciplinary learning and provides you with a unique mix of academic, applied, and theoretical perspectives.  You will learn through interactive discussions and explore practical issues related to your specialization. You’ll have access to a wide range of elective options to broaden your legal knowledge or explore new areas related to your professional interests.  

The LLM in Taxation Law specialization offers an in-depth examination into the policies, principles, and internal logic of tax laws in Canada and beyond. The required course addresses tax policy, statutory interpterion, and the taxation of individuals, while electives broaden the scope. You will explore all aspects of taxation law, from the basic rules underlying traditional personal tax planning principles to current developments in the sophisticated design of financial instruments. 

Who is the Specialization for?

Lawyers or law graduates with legal work experience who have a strong demonstrated interest in taxation law and wish to establish or expand a practice in this area of specialization 

Note: While Taxation Law is available on both a part-time and full-time basis, full-time is reserved for internationally trained lawyers and junior lawyers. Experienced lawyers and non-legal professionals are encouraged to consider our part-time option.

Alumni Spotlights

Juan Carlos Diaz, alumnus of the Professional LLM in Taxation Law.

Juan Carlos Diaz Garcia

Juan is Transfer Pricing Associate at Richter. Juan discusses his journey to obtaining an LLM in Taxation Law, which includes overcoming the challenges of transitioning from a civil law to a common law jurisdiction, his plans to complete the the Federation of Law Societies of Canada’s National Committee on Accreditation process and highlights the array of services available to support international students at Osgoode.

Bhuvana Rai, alumna of the full-time Professional LLM in Taxation Law

Bhuvana Rai

Bhuvana is a Tax Lawyer and Founder at Mors & Tribute P.C. She shares how one judge inspired her to apply for the full time Professional LLM in Taxation Law and how taking big swings and following her interests have allowed her to excel. She credits the LLM for helping to take her skills to the next level.

Student Services

All Professional LLM students can benefit from our wide range of student services:

Academic Services

Program Orientation

Introductory Courses

Workshops and Resources

Confidential Academic and Wellness Counselling

Career Support

Job Postings

Resources/Guides

Workshops and Events

Counselling

Campus Life

Student Social Activities

Osgoode and York U Extra Curriculars

Professional Networking Events

All of our academic and career development services are available remotely, and counselling hours have varied schedules to suit the needs of part-time students.

Information Session

Learn About the Program

Interested in our full-time Professional LLM in Taxation Law? In this on demand session, you will learn more about course offerings, degree requirements, what to expect during your studies and the steps to apply.

Additional Resources for Internationally-Trained Lawyers

Drop in Advising Sessions for Internationally-Trained Lawyers

Sign up to join a virtual office hours session!

Attendees will have a ten minute 1:1 advising session with one of our Advisors. There are no scheduled appointment times for drop-in hours, attendees will be seen on a first come, first served basis. You should expect to wait in a queue (rather than being seen immediately), so make sure to have a comfortable chair and bring something to do while you wait (just like a real waiting room!) To attend this session, you will need a device that is compatible with Zoom, with a microphone/speakers and camera.

Drop-in Advising
Internationally Trained Lawyers

Morning Session

Oct 16 10:00 a.m – 11:00 a.m (ET)

Drop-in Advising
Internationally Trained Lawyers

Morning Session

Oct 18 10:00 a.m – 11:00 a.m (ET)

Course Requirements

The Professional LLM in Taxation Law requires completion of  36 credits including a research requirement.  The program is designed to be completed in one year (three active terms)  through a combination of required courses, related electives, and up to 6 credits of outside electives. 

What You Can Expect

The program is designed to be completed in one year (three active terms) by completing 12 credits (two to four courses) per term. 

All courses in the Taxation Law specialization are scheduled as intensive courses (typically Thursday evening, all-day Friday and all-day Saturday, or in 5-day 9AM-5PM sessions).  

Full-time students are required to attend courses with an in-person option, in-person.

In your first term of admission, you may be assigned a course as a condition of your admission. Admission condition courses count towards your degree requirements. Students with the following profiles usually have required introductory courses: 

Required Courses

The required courses are offered once per year and must be completed in your first term of study: 

Elective Courses

Elective course offerings vary from term to term. Some options include  International Taxation, and Managerial Tax Planning. To see course offerings for upcoming terms, review the Course Planning information below. 

You must complete at least 30 credits in total from Taxation Law courses. Up to 6 credits may be drawn from courses in unrelated specializations, so long as you have any required prerequisite knowledge for those courses. 

Research Requirement

The research requirement can be fulfilled through one of the following three options. Most students elect to fulfill the requirement through option 3: 

  1. A Major Research Paper (70 pages, 6 Credits) 
  2. An Independent Significant Research Paper (30 pages, 3 Credits) 
  3. A Significant Research Paper (30 pages) completed as the means of assessment for one of the courses within the specialization. 

Course Planning

Course plans are typically provided for the next two calendar years. Specific course schedules are subject to change without notice until the course enrollment process for an upcoming term begins. Please check course schedules immediately before making your enrollment request to ensure you have the most current schedule information.

This tool is for planning purposes only. Selecting courses using this tool does not enroll you in the course or reserve a space in the course for you.

Application Dates

The Taxation Law specialization accepts new students once each calendar year, in the Fall term. 

Fall 2025

Application Deadlines:

International Applicants are Encouraged to Apply by: January 15, 2025

Final Deadline: May 1, 2025

Part-time Studies

If you’re looking for a Taxation Law specialization that can be completed while working full-time, you might be interested in our part-time offering instead.

Faculty

Program director

Jinyan Li

John J. Tobin

Instructors include

Amin Mawani

Ivan Ozai

John A. Sorensen

See Full Faculty List

Tuition and Fees

Full-time students pay in three installments over three active terms. 

You will be billed an installment for each term in which you enroll in courses.  If you complete the program in fewer than three terms, you’ll be billed your remaining installment(s) at the end of your program.  If you need more than three terms to complete your credits, extra term fees will apply. 

Please note that the tuition/fees displayed here are subject to change, and may vary depending on your entry term.

Domestic

$7,601.58per term for 3 terms

$22,804.74total

$16,017.18per term for 3 terms

$48,051.54total

Students are also subject to supplementary fees including health benefits. Find out more about supplementary fees here.

Admission Requirements

Admission to Professional LLM specializations is competitive. At OsgoodePD, we can help you navigate the process.  The Admissions Committee reviews each applicant’s completed file and takes into consideration criteria such as academic background, professional work experience, and whether the program fits your stated goals. The information below represents the minimum requirements for admission consideration to our graduate degree programs – meeting these criteria does not guarantee admission. 

JD/LLB degree or undergraduate degree (a graduate degree is an asset to non-legal professionals) 

Overall B (75%) average (or equivalent) 

Professional work experience (JD/LLB graduates require at least 2 years, while non-legal professionals require at least 5 years of related senior-level experience) 

Acceptable English language proficiency (see requirements) 

How to Apply

Create Your OsgoodePD Applicant Profile

Create an applicant profile in our online application portal. This portal allows us to gather your information, transcripts, and other documents electronically. You will receive an email with directions outlining how to create a new password for your application, along with a link to access the application.

Upload Application Documents

The following documents are required:

  • Resume/CV
  • Writing Sample
  • Contact Information for Two References
  • Transcripts
  • Official Proof of Language Proficiency (if applicable)

For more information, see our Application Documents to Upload section.

Pay and Submit

Once your application is completed, you will be required to pay a non-refundable $130 CAD application fee.

Wait for Review

Timelines for decisions vary by program, but we will be in touch if we have questions about your application or need more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Contact Us

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