Switching from a career as a tax accountant to becoming a tax lawyer - seeking personal experiences

Thanks so much for sharing your experience! That difference between application vs. interpretation makes a lot of sense. How long did it take before you felt comfortable with legal writing and research? And did you find your accounting background gave you a significant advantage when applying for tax law positions after graduation?

Legal writing clicked for me around the middle of my second year of law school. The first year was an adjustment as I had to unlearn some habits from accounting where conciseness is valued - legal writing requires more explanation and anticipating counter-arguments. My accounting background was absolutely a huge advantage in the job market. While my classmates were struggling to understand basic tax concepts, I could jump right into the more complex analysis. Most firms specifically sought out my combined experience, and I received multiple offers despite graduating during a somewhat tight legal market. Tax is a specialty where the technical accounting knowledge is extremely valuable - particularly for roles involving partnerships, estate planning, or corporate restructuring.

Does this actually work for specialized career paths like tax? Most career tools I've tried seem too generic for niche professional transitions. Can it factor in things like firm size preference or geographic market differences?

I'm skeptical about any AI making accurate predictions about something as personal as career satisfaction. How does it account for individual working style preferences and personality factors? Does it consider work-life balance differences between the professions?

The specialized nature is exactly what makes it valuable for tax professionals. It has specific data on transitions between accounting and law for different tax specialties including corporate, international, estate, etc. You can definitely filter by market and firm size to get more targeted projections. For career satisfaction, it combines both hard data (retention rates, career progression statistics) with qualitative feedback from professionals who made similar transitions. It breaks down factors like work autonomy, client interaction, intellectual challenge, and yes - work-life balance expectations for different practice areas. The tool isn't making the decision for you, but providing organized data points from people who've already taken the path you're considering.

Wait, I'm confused. I thought the Taxpayer Advocate Service was just for resolving tax problems with the IRS. They actually provide career guidance too? That seems outside their normal scope.

I'm extremely skeptical that this service actually works. The IRS phone systems are notoriously impossible to navigate. How does this Claimyr thing actually maintain your place in line? Sounds too good to be true - has anyone else verified this works?

The Taxpayer Advocate Service primarily helps with tax problems, but they also provide information about how different credentials impact your ability to represent taxpayers before the IRS. They won't give career advice per se, but they can clarify the technical distinctions between what CPAs, Enrolled Agents, and attorneys can do in tax practice. Regarding how the service works - it uses automated technology to navigate the IRS phone tree and wait on hold so you don't have to. When a representative is about to answer, you get a call connecting you. It's basically like having someone else wait on hold for you. It saved me literally hours of frustration, and I was able to get specific information about Circular 230 practice requirements that helped inform my career planning.

That's really helpful perspective - thanks! Do you find the lack of accounting background has been a significant disadvantage for you? And do you have suggestions for how to evaluate whether I'd enjoy the legal approach before committing to law school?

I definitely had to work harder to understand certain tax concepts that came naturally to my colleagues with accounting backgrounds. Partnership tax and corporate tax were particularly challenging without that foundation. But I've caught up over time - it just took more effort. To test if you'll enjoy the legal approach, I'd recommend three things: First, try to get hold of some real tax court opinions (not just summaries) and see if you find the reasoning process engaging. Second, reach out to tax attorneys (particularly those who made the transition from accounting) and ask to shadow them for a day. Finally, look into taking a single law course as a non-degree student at a local law school - many offer this option, and it's a good way to experience the legal education style before committing. The biggest test is whether you enjoy constructing arguments where there isn't a clear "right answer" - much of tax law involves creative interpretation and advocacy in gray areas, which is quite different from the more rules-based approach in accounting.

I've considered this path, but I've heard mixed things about job opportunities with just the Tax LLM without the JD. Are there specific types of positions this works well for? And do you ever feel limited by not having the full law credential?

The Tax LLM route is definitely worth considering! I'm actually in a similar position as a CPA exploring options beyond traditional accounting. From what I've researched, the LLM seems particularly valuable for positions in tax consulting at Big 4 firms, corporate tax departments, and boutique tax advisory firms. One question I have about your experience - do clients ever ask about your attorney credentials, or does your expertise speak for itself? I'm wondering if there are certain types of complex tax planning where clients specifically want to work with someone who has JD + bar admission versus "just" the advanced tax knowledge from the LLM program. Also, did you find the 1-year LLM program challenging coming from an accounting background, or did your CPA experience make the coursework more manageable?

Great question about client expectations! In my experience, clients rarely ask about the difference between JD and LLM credentials - they're more interested in your track record and expertise. However, there are definitely situations where having attorney status matters: anything involving privilege, representation before courts, or certain types of controversy work requires the full JD + bar admission. The LLM coursework was actually quite manageable with my CPA background. The tax concepts were familiar, but I had to adapt to the legal analytical framework. The biggest adjustment was learning to think like a lawyer - focusing on interpretation, precedent, and argumentation rather than just compliance. For @3727d265463a - the job market for Tax LLM holders is strong in certain niches. I've seen great opportunities in estate planning, international tax consulting, and M&A tax advisory. The limitation is mainly around litigation and formal representation, but for planning and consulting work, it's been perfect for my career goals.

This is such valuable insight about the relationship and stress level changes - thank you! The crisis management aspect is something I hadn't fully considered. When you mention networking being more crucial in law versus accounting, are you talking about formal bar association events, or more informal relationship building? And did you find your accounting network helped at all with the transition, or did you essentially have to build a completely new professional network in the legal field? Also, regarding those informational interviews you recommend - any tips on the best way to approach tax attorneys for these conversations? I'm wondering if there's a particular way to frame the request that would be most likely to get a positive response.

The networking aspect includes both formal and informal relationship building. Bar association events are helpful, but I've found more success with informal networking - joining tax-focused organizations like the American College of Tax Counsel, attending CLE seminars, and participating in local tax practitioner groups. The key is consistency rather than intensity. My accounting network was actually more valuable than I expected! Many of my former colleagues now refer complex matters to me when they encounter issues beyond their scope. Plus, understanding the accounting perspective helps me communicate better with clients who are used to working with CPAs. For informational interviews, I recommend reaching out through LinkedIn or asking for referrals from your current network. Frame it as seeking career guidance rather than job hunting. Something like: "I'm a CPA considering law school to transition into tax law practice, and I'd greatly appreciate 15-20 minutes of your insights about the day-to-day realities of the profession." Most attorneys are surprisingly willing to help, especially if you mention your accounting background - we remember how challenging the transition was and want to help others make informed decisions. Also consider reaching out to attorneys who made the same transition - they'll have the most relevant perspective for your specific situation.

Great question about work-life balance! As someone who's been researching this transition extensively, I've found that the schedule in tax law can be quite different from traditional accounting busy seasons. From what I've gathered through informational interviews, tax attorneys often have more consistent year-round workloads rather than the extreme seasonal spikes we're used to in accounting. However, the nature of the intensity changes - instead of predictable filing deadline crunches, you might have urgent client crises, court deadlines, or complex transaction closings that require immediate attention. Some attorneys I've spoken with actually prefer this type of variability because it keeps the work more engaging, even if it means less predictable scheduling. The practice areas you mentioned - estate planning, international tax, and SALT - do seem like natural fits for our accounting backgrounds. I've heard that SALT in particular is growing rapidly and firms are actively seeking people who understand both the technical tax aspects and the underlying business operations. Have you considered reaching out to any local tax attorneys for informational interviews? I've been surprised by how willing most have been to share their experiences, especially when I mention coming from an accounting background.

This is such an important question about client interactions! As someone who's been contemplating this same career shift, I've been curious about the emotional intelligence and counseling aspects of tax law practice versus the more technical focus we have in accounting. From what I've observed shadowing a few tax attorneys, the client conversations are definitely more intense. You're often dealing with people who are scared, frustrated, or facing significant financial consequences. One attorney I spoke with mentioned that a big part of the job is being able to translate complex legal concepts into understandable terms while also providing reassurance during very stressful situations. Regarding client relationships, I'd imagine it varies significantly by practice area. Estate planning attorneys probably maintain longer-term relationships similar to what we have in accounting, while those in tax controversy might work more on discrete matters. The referral aspect seems crucial though - maintaining good relationships with CPAs and other professionals who can send business your way. @e96ccd7043d5 - have you considered reaching out to your state bar association? Many have mentorship programs that could connect you with tax attorneys willing to discuss these practical aspects. I'm planning to do this myself to get more insight into the client relationship management side before making my final decision.