Spring 2025 Newsletter

Graduate Tax Program

A Message from UC Irvine School of Law's Graduate Tax Program

Dear Friends of the Graduate Tax Program,

The Spring semester has been a whirlwind of activity for UC Irvine Graduate Tax Program students. From participating in valuable tax externships to attending tax conferences, our students have immersed themselves in real-world tax experiences. They even found time for an enlightening field trip to the United States Tax Court!

This year, our impressive roster of externship partners includes industry leaders such as Edwards Lifesciences, Bechtel, and Hyundai Capital, as well as respected organizations like the Office of Tax Appeals, Eversheds Sutherland, Taylor Nelson Amitrano , and the United States Tax Court. Beyond their practical training, several of our ambitious students participated in the Tax Attorney Recruiting Event (TARE), seizing the opportunity to virtually interview for full-time postgraduate positions. These experiences underscore our program's commitment to blending academic rigor with real-world application, preparing our students for successful careers in the dynamic field of tax law.

This newsletter shares some highlights of the UC Irvine Graduate Tax Program!

Faculty News

Joshua Blank

Professor of Law

Professor Joshua Blank has recently co-authored two books for publication by Cambridge University Press. The books — “Untaxed: The Rich, the IRS, and a New Approach to Tax Compliance” (with Ari Glogower) and “Automated Agencies: The Transformation of Government Guidance” (with Leigh Osofsky) — offer fresh insights into critical issues facing both tax policy and government automation.

Learn more

New Scholarship Opportunity

UC Irvine's Graduate Tax Program Joins in Supporting IRS and DOJ Tax Attorneys Impacted by the Federal Hiring Freeze

The Graduate Tax Program recently announced a new scholarship initiative for IRS and DOJ tax attorneys who were terminated or whose job offers were rescinded due to the recent federal hiring freeze. In response to this unprecedented situation, UCI's Graduate Tax Program is stepping up to support these affected legal professionals by offering scholarships to its tax law program. This initiative aims to provide continued educational opportunities and career development for those impacted by the freeze.

The scholarship initiative is a $20,000 scholarship that will be applied to tuition and fees for admitted candidates who enroll in UCI's Graduate Tax Program. The scholarship garnered national attention, recently appearing in the National Jurist Publication. Interested applicants are encouraged to complete this questionnaire and contact the program’s Executive Director at nfastabend@law.uci.edu for more details on eligibility and the application process.

Learn more

Events

Graduate Tax Program Students Visit the United States Tax Court

In February, our Graduate Tax Program students, accompanied by the Executive Director, Natascha Fastabend, and Externship Professor Robert Russell, had the privilege of meeting a United States Tax Court Judge at the Federal Court in Los Angeles. We received a personal invitation to observe Calendar Call, providing us with a unique opportunity to witness various tax issues unfold in real-time. During the recess, we were honored to be invited into Chambers, where we engaged in an insightful Q&A session with the Judge. The experience was both educational and inspiring, leaving a lasting impression on all!

Practical Tax Skills Testimonial

Aeron Tisdale

Graduate Tax Student, Class of 2025

“I’m really enjoying my externship opportunity at Hyundai Capital America, where I’ve had the opportunity to work on a variety of corporate tax matters. From analyzing tax compliance issues to gaining insight into financial transactions and regulatory requirements, every day brings something new and exciting. It’s been great to see how tax law operates in a real-world corporate setting and to collaborate with experienced professionals who are generous with their knowledge and guidance. This experience is not only reinforcing what I’ve learned in my studies but also giving me a clearer picture of how I want to shape my career in tax law. I’m looking forward to continuing to learn and grow throughout the externship!”

Sarah Saucedo

Graduate Tax Student, Class of 2025

“Externing at the U.S. Tax Court has allowed me the opportunity to strengthen practical tax skills, including legal research, writing, and analysis. Alongside drafting recommendations on a motion to dismiss and motion for summary judgment, discussing court rulings with Judge Vasquez and his law clerk has allowed me to engage with the Internal Revenue Code and Treasury Regulations in a practical way. I am grateful to them and the Graduate Tax Program for offering such an invaluable experience.”

Post-Graduate Placement News

Kennie Sanchez

Associate, Beacon LLP

Graduate Tax Student, Class of 2025

“At UCI, professors and staff go above and beyond to ensure student success both academically and professionally. I was genuinely amazed how invested professors and staff were in guiding me through every step of the job application process to ensure that I landed somewhere where I felt comfortable and confident that I will succeed.”

Admissions & Graduation

As we approach the end of the spring semester, we eagerly anticipate celebrating commencement with our graduates as they prepare to embark on their full-time post-graduate careers. While we bid farewell to this year's cohort, we're excited to welcome a new group of aspiring tax professionals to the UC Irvine Graduate Tax family this August. For those interested in joining our esteemed program, applications for the 2025-2026 academic year are open until July 1st for both the full-time and part-time tracks. Executive Director Natascha Fastabend, is always available to schedule individual meetings to answer any questions about the programs!

UC Irvine School of Law - Graduate Tax Program

law.uci.edu/gradtax/