OsgoodePD’s Professional LLM program is a graduate program in law 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 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 interpretation, 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 

Professionals without a law degree who have at least five years of senior level work experience directly related to taxation law (through consulting, exposure to contract/property law, or involvement in court proceedings or fraud investigations) who wish to add a strong advanced foundation in tax law to their professional profile

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

Alumni Spotlight

Heather Evans

Heather is the Executive Director and CEO of the Canadian Tax Foundation. Heather spent many years as a tax lawyer before she became one of the earliest graduates of Osgoode’s Professional LLM in Taxation Law.

Student Services

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

Academic Services

Program Orientation

Introductory Courses

Workshops & Resources

Confidential Academic and Wellness Counselling

Career Support

Job Postings

Resources/Guides

Workshops & Events

Counselling

Campus Life

Student Social Activities

Osgoode & 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.

Attend an upcoming information session

Course Requirements

The Professional LLM in Taxation Law requires completion of 36 credits including a research requirement. â€ŻThe program is designed to be completed in two years (six 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 two years (six active terms) by completing 6 credits (one to two 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).  

The first required course of the program, TXLW 6100 – Tax Policy, Statutory Interpretation and the Foundations of the Taxation of   Individuals, requires in-person attendance. The remaining required and elective courses have a video conference option.

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 taken in your first and second term as follows:

Elective Courses

Elective course offerings vary from term to term. Some options include Comparative VAT, 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

Courses are not available every term, so we advise planning your courses in advance.  

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

Full-time Studies

If you are an internationally-trained lawyer or junior Canadian lawyer who is looking for a full-time program, we offer taxation law in full-time as well.

Faculty

Program director

Scott Wilkie

Jinyan Li

Instructors include

John A. Sorensen

Robin MacKnight

Geneviève Lille

See full faculty list

What Our Graduates Say

LLM in Taxation Law

Aaron Grinhaus, LLB, JD, LLM

Lawyer, Grinhaus Law Firm

Osgoode’s LLM in Taxation Law has helped increase the value of my practice by augmenting the quality and depth of the advice I can provide to my clients. It was also a valuable opportunity to explore practical problems academically with some of the greatest legal minds in Canada, and helped me to better understand the issues that shape and influence the law.

LLM in Taxation Law

Michael Saxe, CPA, CA, LLM

Partner, Taxation Services MNP

This program has raised the bar for my future academic endeavours. Osgoode’s LLM in Taxation Law was an exciting and challenging program which developed my understanding and knowledge of tax law beyond my expectations. The faculty and staff were incredibly helpful, professional, and generous with their assistance.

image alt tag…

Tuition and Fees

Part-time students pay in six installments over six 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 six terms, you’ll be billed your remaining installment(s) at the end of your program.  If you need more than six 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

$3,800.79per term for 6 terms

$22,804.74total

$8,008.59per term for 6 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

Have questions? We’re here to help! Click here to get in touch.