MAcc/Masters Taxation and a JD Degree Forum

[mrb520]

Hi All,

I'm interested in estate law or tax law and thought gaining more accounting experience would be beneficial. Additionally, I'm considering Big 4 work eventually so CPA would help. Does this combo hurt chances of big law or help? I'm not positive. At Fordham Law here

Thanks in advance

[nealric]

Hi All,

I'm interested in estate law or tax law and thought gaining more accounting experience would be beneficial. Additionally, I'm considering Big 4 work eventually so CPA would help. Does this combo hurt chances of big law or help? I'm not positive. At Fordham Law here

Thanks in advance

I see no reason to do this instead of an LLM if you are already in law school. Accounting and tax law are not the same thing. Doing a CPA means spending a lot of time studying financial accounting concepts that have nothing to do with tax or tax law. I also see no reason to go Big4 unless you get shut out of biglaw.

Try to get a 2L SA in a firm with a decent tax department and go from there.

[Londonbear]

Wells some people prefer Big4 over BigLaw. I heard the hours are better and there's more of a worklife balance in Big4, but ofc the pay is less. But if BigLaw is your goal, then yes, no reason to go Big4 unless you're shut out. There's also not that much of a need to do an LLM for BigLaw tax, unless you don't get an offer during OCI. People often do Tax LLMs with their JD to get another crack at OCI. But if you do a Tax LLM, do it at NYU/GT. They are 1/2 I think for Tax LLMs. As for CPA, I don't think you need that if you're practicing tax lawyer at the Big4... but I'm not sure about that one.

Basically, not much reason to do an LLM unless you didn't get a firm in OCI with a decent tax practice and no reason to do CPA if you want to be a tax lawyer.

[nealric]

Wells some people prefer Big4 over BigLaw. I heard the hours are better and there's more of a worklife balance in Big4, but ofc the pay is less.

The work-life distinction between Big4 and Biglaw is rather dubious.

[Londonbear]

Wells some people prefer Big4 over BigLaw. I heard the hours are better and there's more of a worklife balance in Big4, but ofc the pay is less.

The work-life distinction between Big4 and Biglaw is rather dubious.

Wells from what I read the hours are better, especially if you are talking about NY BigLaw. But I'm open to anyone from Big4 as a tax attorney that says otherwise.

[nealric]

Wells some people prefer Big4 over BigLaw. I heard the hours are better and there's more of a worklife balance in Big4, but ofc the pay is less.

The work-life distinction between Big4 and Biglaw is rather dubious.

Wells from what I read the hours are better, especially if you are talking about NY BigLaw. But I'm open to anyone from Big4 as a tax attorney that says otherwise.

I've done NYC Biglaw and work with mostly Big4 Alums now. Big4 can vary immensely depending on where they slot you. I've heard plenty of crazy hours stories from both. Biglaw tax is also generally better than other biglaw practice areas.