Top Tax Students Win Scholarships

Thanks to generous alumni and friends of UC Law SF, the school’s Center on Tax Law was able to provide $25,000 to top students graduating from the school’s tax concentration.

The scholarships are funded through generous donations by Jennifer Fung ’18 and Adrian Fung, through the Fung Family Tax Law Scholarship Fund, and by Cliff Jernigan ’68 and the Silicon Valley Tax Directors Group, through the Peter K. Maier Scholarship Fund. Maier was a longtime tax law professor at UC Law SF, serving from 1967 to 1995, and the Maier Scholarships are awarded to students with financial need who demonstrate promise for exceptional careers in tax law.

“UC Law SF has established a reputation as one of the top tax schools in the country,” Jernigan said. “Today’s tax concentrators have almost the same curriculum requirements as the LL.M. requirements many of us completed. Students graduating with a tax concentration from Hastings are among the best prepared J.D. graduates entering the tax field.”

“UC Law SF has a longstanding commitment to preparing students for careers in tax law,” said Prof. Heather Field, who leads the tax concentration. “We are so proud of this year’s talented tax concentration graduates, who will join hundreds of UC Law SF tax concentration alumni practicing throughout California, across the country, and around the world.”

These post-enrollment scholarships reward exemplary performance in the school’s tax concentration. Recipients of $5,000 scholarships are:

Claire Baugher: 3L Academic Excellence in Tax Scholarship (from the Fung Family Tax Law Scholarship Fund)

Claire Baugher: 3L Excellence in Tax Writing Scholarship (from the Fung Family Tax Law Scholarship Fund)

Amrita Sethi: 3L Camaraderie Scholarship (from the Fung Family Tax Law Scholarship Fund)

Reyn Araki: Peter K. Maier Scholarship (funded by the Silicon Valley Tax Directors Group)

Helen Vu: Peter K. Maier Scholarship (from initial funds provided by Cliff Jernigan)

“It’s wonderful to be able to recognize tax students for their effort,” said Prof. Manoj Viswanathan, who co-directs the Center on Tax Law with Prof. Field. “It’s especially satisfying that these scholarships are funded by both alumni and local tax practitioners, named for a beloved former professor, and awarded to students excelling along several complementary dimensions. Synergies like these are what the Center aspires to promote.”

Recipients appreciate the support. “I am very grateful to be the recipient of the Fung Family 3L Camaraderie Scholarship, especially during these uncertain times,” said Amrita Sethi ’20. “Ever since I took Federal Income Tax, I received support and encouragement from the tax faculty and fellow students. My professors helped me grow, learn, and achieve goals that I thought were out of my reach. I received advice and camaraderie from my peers who were not just members of this year’s graduating class, but the classes of 2019 and 2021. Being a part of the tax community was a large part of my UC Law SF experience.”

The scholarships are key in helping students launch their careers. “The tax concentration has been a defining experience for me at Hastings, both personally and professionally,” said Claire Baugher ’20, who is studying for the bar. “The scholarship has given me tremendous peace of mind for this summer, especially since the bar exam date is up in the air. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, I can focus on my studies and prepare for my career in tax.”

Learn more here about how to contribute to scholarships for exceptional students.

In addition to its scholarly research and programs, the Center on Tax Law assists low-income taxpayers through its Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. Led by Visiting Assistant Professor Amy Spivey ’13, these programs assist low-income taxpayers with both active controversies against the IRS and with income tax filing.