A taxpayer went to law school in Spain and practiced law there for several years as an international attorney. He then moved to New York City and enrolled in an LL.M. program at NYU. He paid tuition expenses of $27,435. After obtaining his degree, he obtained a visiting attorney position in the U.S. at an international law firm, doing similar work to what he did in Spain. He then took and passed the New York State bar exam – he was eligible because of his LL.M. degree. He passed and was admitted to practice in New York and continued working at the law firm.
The issue is whether he could deduct his tuition expenses. . .