Tax and Business Law Scholarships (TABLS) Program

The Tax and Business Law Scholarships (TABLS) Program: Building a Community of Future Tax and Business Lawyers

The Tax and Business Law Scholarships (TABLS) Program at UCLA School of Law was established to support exceptional students pursuing careers in tax law and policy and/or business law and policy. Founded under the leadership of Senior Fellow Jim Barrall ’75 and administered by the Lowell Milken Institute for Business Law and Policy (LMI), the program annually awards merit-based scholarships to incoming law students who demonstrate both a strong aptitude for tax and/or business law and a commitment to leadership, public service, and community building. There are currently five endowed TABLS that are awarded to multiple incoming students each year.

Since its founding, the TABLS Program has evolved into far more than a scholarship program. Through financial support, mentorship, professional development, and an engaged alumni network, TABLS creates a lasting community that connects students, faculty, staff, alumni, and practitioners across generations of UCLA Law graduates.

Today, TABLS scholars sit at the center of a strong network of tax and business law professionals. Throughout their time at UCLA Law, scholars participate in community gatherings with fellow recipients, alumni, faculty and staff members, and leaders in the legal profession. This community connects through many channels, including the private LinkedIn UCLA Law TABLS Community site. These interactions provide the community with opportunities for mentorship, career guidance, networking, and collaboration while reinforcing the program’s commitment to supporting future leaders in the tax and business law professions.

TABLS scholars are also part of the larger UCLA Law community and take an active role in the school’s tax and business law organizations, including the Business Law Association, the Law and Entrepreneurship Association, the Real Estate Law Association, and the Tax and Estate Planning Law Association. As second- and third-year students and after graduation, scholars also mentor and coach their successors as they embark on their own careers in law and business.

The History and Mission of the TABLS Program

At the heart of the TABLS Program is Jim Barrall ’75, a distinguished UCLA Law alumnus, retired partner of Latham & Watkins LLP, and Senior Fellow in Residence at the Lowell Milken Institute for Business Law and Policy. Barrall conceived and launched the TABLS Program to create a supportive community for students interested in tax and business law, while expanding scholarship opportunities for future generations of UCLA Law students. 

Under Barrall’s leadership, the TABLS program has become one of UCLA Law’s most distinctive communities. His vision extends beyond providing financial assistance; he seeks to create a network in which students, alumni, faculty and staff can support one another through professional development and service to the broader UCLA Law community and beyond. 

For many years, Barrall has dedicated his time, energy, and resources to growing the program, recruiting donors, mentoring students, and strengthening connections among scholars, UCLA Law alumni, and the legal and business communities. The thriving TABLS community stands as a testament to his leadership and enduring commitment to UCLA School of Law. 

 

TABLS Scholarships

Thomas A. Kirschbaum Scholarship in Tax Law

The Thomas A. Kirschbaum Scholarship in Tax Law provides financial and career-building support to incoming students who are interested in pursuing careers in tax law and policy. It is the founding scholarship for the TABLS Program. Established in 2010 by Jim Barrall and the family and friends of the late Thomas A. Kirschbaum ’77, the scholarship honors Kirschbaum, an accomplished tax and executive compensation attorney who practiced at Ervin, Cohen & Jessup before joining Irell & Manella. Kirschbaum was Barrall’s first tax associate and later his law partner. The scholarship was first awarded to incoming students in 2011, marking the beginning of what would become the TABLS Program.

Latham & Watkins Scholarship in Business Law

Established in 2013 by Jim Barrall and other UCLA Law alumni who practiced at Latham & Watkins LLP, the Latham & Watkins Scholarship in Business Law provides financial and career-building support to students pursuing careers in business law and policy. First awarded in 2015, the scholarship reflects Latham’s longstanding relationship with UCLA Law and its commitment to supporting future business lawyers.

Buddy Epstein and Christine Kim Scholarship in Tax Law

Created in 2013 by Christine Kim and the family and friends of the late Buddy Epstein ’74, this scholarship honors Epstein’s distinguished career as a tax attorney at De Castro West. Originally awarded to second- and third-year law students, the scholarship was expanded in 2016 and joined the TABLS Program to support incoming students entering UCLA Law. Today it continues to support students interested in tax law while connecting them to the broader TABLS mentorship community.

Joel A. Feuer Scholarship in Business Law

The Joel A. Feuer Scholarship in Business Law was established in 2023 by the Lowell Milken Institute for Business Law and Policy Board of Advisors, led by Lowell Milken and Jim Barrall, in recognition of Joel A. Feuer’s extraordinary leadership as Executive Director of the Institute for over a decade. The scholarship, first awarded in 2024, supports incoming students interested in business law, with preference given to students demonstrating an interest in entrepreneurship. Before joining UCLA Law, Feuer spent more than 33 years at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, first as an associate and later as a partner.

Marc P. Bratman, Esq., CPA Scholarship in Tax Law

Established in 2024 by Maureen Bratman in memory of her late husband, Marc P. Bratman ’73, this scholarship supports students pursuing careers in tax law and policy, with preference for those who have a background in accounting or an interest in international tax law. After graduating from UCLA Law, Bratman practiced law before becoming a certified public accountant specializing in international tax matters. The inaugural scholarship was awarded in 2025 to a member of the UCLA Law Class of 2028.

Applying for TABLS Program Scholarships

To apply for one or more of these scholarships, candidates should express their interest by including an addendum with their application for admission that sets forth their background and the reasons for their interest in the tax law or business law scholarships. For more information, please contact UCLA Law Office of Admissions at admissions@law.ucla.edu or 310.825.2080.

Supporting the TABLS Program

To help train the next generation of exceptional business and tax law attorneys, please consider donating to one of the TABLS scholarships (individual links below). Alternatively, you can support all TABLS scholarships by donating to the Lowell Milken Institute TABLS Scholarship Fund, which provides flexible annual support to enhance the awards for all TABLS scholarships as needed each year.

Lowell Milken Institute TABLS Scholarship Fund (Supports All TABLS Funds)

Thomas A. Kirschbaum Scholarship in Tax Law

Latham & Watkins Scholarship in Business Law

Buddy Epstein and Christine Kim Scholarship in Tax Law 
To support the Buddy Epstein and Christine Kim Endowed Scholarship in Tax Law Fund, please make checks payable to UC Regents with the fund name on the memo line, and mail via USPS to PO Box 7145, Pasadena, CA 91109-7145. The UC Regents tax-ID is 95-6006143.

Joel A. Feuer Scholarship in Business Law

Marc P. Bratman, Esq., CPA Scholarship in Tax Law

UCLA Foundation’s Disclosure Statements for Donors