Opening Doors With USF's LLM in Taxation

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“Earning my LLM was a door-opener. The degree makes you stand apart from the other candidates,” says Siewit, now an associate attorney with Hoge Fenton. When the firm was hiring for a mid-level associate in corporate transactional law, Siewit’s credentials caught their attention. Despite being just a few years out of law school, she says, “My LLM signifies to our clients that I have additional knowledge and perspective, including a solid grasp of the tax code and its underlying policies.” 

The decision to pursue her LLM at USF came down to the faculty. “The professors in the LLM program were the main reason I chose USF,” she explains. “They were approachable and invested in my success. To this day, they’re some of my favorite professors. I could call them with questions, and they’d always take the time to help. They shaped who I wanted to become as a law practitioner.” 

Siewit specifically mentions Professor Daniel Lathrope, a giant in the field of tax law for nearly five decades. Lathrope recalls that Siewit visited his office before even taking her first tax course to learn more about the curriculum and adds, "She was an outstanding student and her professional success in the tax field doesn't surprise me at all." 

USF’s LLM program also stood out for its flexibility. Siewit was able to begin her LLM in Tax while completing her JD, allowing her to finish half of the program during law school and the remainder while working full-time. “The program’s structure was a huge draw. The faculty and staff were also incredibly accommodating and supported me in achieving my goals,” she recalls. 

Siewit encourages law students to explore tax law, even if it’s not their primary focus. “Taxation gets a bad reputation for being dry and boring, but every tax attorney I’ve met genuinely loves their work. It’s more engaging than people expect,” she says. 

Her advice is simple: “Even if you don’t complete the LLM program, taking tax classes can be incredibly valuable. Taxation touches every aspect of the law. No matter your practice area, understanding tax will always be an asset.”