Bring more value to the table—and possibilities to your career.
For over 60 years, BU Law’s Graduate Tax Program has evolved to stay at the forefront of the field. This flexible 6-course certificate channels that institutional depth into a targeted, specialized credential.
As part of this program, you’ll learn from faculty who bring decades of combined experience at the highest levels of practice. Their real-world expertise delivers practical insights in tax strategy, trusts, and business succession, giving you a distinct advantage in an increasingly complex and competitive field.
Exceed your expectations.
Draw on the expertise of the Graduate Tax Program’s faculty to elevate your estate planning expertise.
Give your advice more authority.
Learn from the best. Seriously.
Boston: the hub of everything.
Give your advice more authority.
Take your estate planning career to the next level.
Whether you are a non-lawyer looking to deepen your expertise or an attorney expanding your scope, BU Law’s Estate Planning Certificate delivers world-class training to get you there.
More about the program:
- Core Legal Mechanics: Master essential tax principles and trust structures through 3 required courses that bring practical legal depth to your work.
- Specialized Advisory Scope: Tailor your 3 electives directly to your goals by selecting courses such as Business Succession Planning, Life Cycle of a Business Venture, or International Estate Planning.
- Practical Tax Application: Learn the ins and outs of tax law, liability issues, and wealth transfer rules from practicing legal experts.
Thinking bigger down the road?
The Estate Planning Certificate could be your first step. If you decide to apply and get accepted, attorneys can roll their credits straight into our top-ranked Tax LLM, while non-lawyers put theirs toward the Master in the Study of Tax Law.
Learn More
Top 10
in US Tax Law 2026
–
LLM Guide 2026
Learn from the best. Seriously.
Get immediate, practical expertise from practicing tax leaders.
Instructors in this program include senior tax partners and veteran estate attorneys actively managing complex tax and trust matters. So instead of just abstract legal theory, coursework delivers practical, actionable insight into how gift tax, trust structures, and wealth transfer rules operate in today’s legal environment, equipping professionals with strategies they can implement right away.
At the same time, the program brings together ambitious lawyers, CPAs, and financial advisors from across the country. Studying alongside experienced peers elevates classroom discussions and expands professional networks with high-caliber industry contacts.
Learn More
#8
for “Best Classroom Experience”
– Princeton Review
Boston: the hub of everything.
Boston is an epicenter for legal education and is a destination where the world comes together to learn and grow.
Boston’s status as a global learning hub is driven by the remarkable concentration of talent and industry packed into a single city. World-class organizations in finance, private wealth, healthcare, higher education, and government all operate side by side here. That puts our students in close proximity to the tax leaders, legal minds, and wealth management experts shaping these fields every day. That dense, interconnected ecosystem makes Boston an exceptional setting to learn, network, and grow.
As an Estate Planning Certificate student at BU Law, you are not studying concepts in isolation. You are learning within an active professional community shaped by major financial institutions, global perspectives, and world-class tax and estate planning scholars.
What you get by studying in Boston:
- See law and policy in action across business, wealth management, and tax frameworks
- Hear from impressive guest speakers and leaders in the field
- Go to BU Law events and meet people in your industry
- Learn directly from experts actively shaping the future of estate planning and tax policy
At BU, you’re in the heart of it all.
Right next to campus, you can walk or run along the Charles River Esplanade. Fenway Park is just a short walk away, the Public Garden, the State House, and the rest of the city are right down the street. Everywhere you go, you’ll find cool history, great spots to hang out, and a smart, fun city vibe you won’t find anywhere else.
Learn More
#1
Safest Big City in the US, The Economist
#1
QS Best Student Cities 2026 ranked Boston first in the United States.
Online or in person? Part-time or full-time? The choice is yours
Balancing professional responsibilities with graduate studies requires real flexibility. That’s one reason BU Law’s 12-credit Estate Planning Certificate is designed to fit your schedule, whether you complete all 6 courses full time in as few as two semesters, or spread your studies out part time over up to three years.
You can choose the format that works best for your life. Attend classes on campus in Boston, complete your coursework 100% online through asynchronous, on-demand lectures, or combine both in-person and online learning. Both formats feature the exact same rigorous curriculum and distinguished faculty.
Take your expertise even further.
The Estate Planning Certificate can be the start of an even bigger professional chapter. Every course you complete and credit you earn transfers directly into BU Law’s nationally ranked Graduate Tax Program, including the LLM in Taxation and the Master in the Study of Tax Law (MSL-Tax).
Building your skills in the certificate program gives you a clear, confident head start toward earning a full graduate degree on a timeline that matches your highest ambitions. The best part? Proven success here only strengthens your case for acceptance into the master’s program.
Tap into a global alumni network.
Joining us means becoming part of a dynamic network of over 25,000 BU Law alumni across 100+ countries. Our graduates extend across the globe, bringing their expertise to leadership roles across business, policy, health, tech, and the legal sector. This extensive network offers you valuable connections and a collaborative community committed to supporting your professional growth.
As a BU Law alum, you gain access to lifelong resources, mentorship opportunities, and an active network of accomplished legal and industry leaders. Your journey doesn’t end at graduation; it opens the door to a global community positioned to help you stay ahead in your career.
By the Numbers
60+
Years as one of the nation’s preeminent graduate tax programs.
#2
Ranked LLM program, National Law Journal.
Top10
in US Tax Law 2026 – LLM Guide (2026)
3K+
Graduate Tax Program Alumni in professional network.