Cooley Announces Distance Education Initiative in its Graduate Taxation Program

The Graduate Taxation Program at Thomas M. Cooley Law School has begun offering courses utilizing video conferencing. Busy professionals now have an opportunity to earn an LL.M. degree or take a few specialized classes in tax in a manner, pace and location conducive to their family and work schedules. Students will have the opportunity to combine traditional classroom studies with video conferencing at a distance.

William Weiner, Cooley's Associate Dean for International, Graduate, and Extended Programs is overseeing the LL.M. program. "We are excited about the distance education initiative in the Graduate Taxation Program. Our graduate tax courses originate from our campus at Oakland University in Rochester. Those who were interested in pursuing an advanced legal tax degree but could not do so because of the location now have the chance to attend. Students may attend these courses via video conferencing at Cooley's Lansing and Grand Rapids campuses."

Professor Gina M. Torielli, Director of the Graduate Taxation Program at Cooley, echoed Dean Weiner's comments and went on to say, "By adding a video conferencing component to our graduate tax courses, our flexible program has become even more so. Each term our required courses and selected electives will have a video conferencing delivery," Torielli said. "We are pleased that our program is available to more people interested in advanced tax law study. Prospective students will find our courses are more effective and usually a better value than traditional continuing legal education courses." Professor Torielli may be reached at toriellg@cooley.edu or (248) 370-3625.

The Graduate Taxation Program offers classes primarily on the weekends, can be attended part- or full-time, and features a year-round schedule. Cooley is accepting applications now to begin courses in May 2005. Students can take up to five years to complete the 24-credit degree.

For more information about the LL.M. program, future distance education initiatives, or to obtain an application, please contact the Office for International, Graduate, and Extended Programs by telephone at (517) 371-5140, ext. 2849, or by e-mail at LLM@cooley.edu, or visit its Web page at www.cooley.edu/llm.