How does one get involved in tax? Do you need an accounting degree/tax LLM? Forum

[TheReasonablePerson]

Interested in transactional + tax law.

[Anonymous User]

I got my LLM in tax at NYU/Gtown after practicing for a few years and did well. I would highly recommend getting an LLM if you want to do tax, but you could also take a bunch of tax classes in law school and try to summer at a big firm and get into tax. I had zero tax experience from practicing and only took 2 tax classes in law school (and only did ok in them). Philosophy BA and top 40 law school.

[Anonymous User]

I got my LLM in tax at NYU/Gtown after practicing for a few years and did well. I would highly recommend getting an LLM if you want to do tax, but you could also take a bunch of tax classes in law school and try to summer at a big firm and get into tax. I had zero tax experience from practicing and only took 2 tax classes in law school (and only did ok in them). Philosophy BA and top 40 law school.

I'm currently at a CCN. What drew you to tax?

[DworkinLikeMyDaddy]

1) Take the intro tax class before you summer at a firm.
2) Get on some tax projects when you summer.
3) If you have a good experience with step 2, take the other tax classes offered by your school and then return to firm and start working on tax assignments (note that some firms will make you knife fight the other tax-curious first years in order to get a spot in the group, while for others you basically just request to have your name added to an email list).
4) Profit (but actually do it all for the intellectual stimulation).

Source: knew nothing about tax before law school; now a tax mid-level in a big NY shop (who should be billing but is instead monitoring the fall bonus thread, just out of intellectual curiosity).

[notinbiglaw]

Federal income tax (a pre req in a lot of cases though not that useful on its own), partnership, and corporate taxation are all you really need. Int tax is a big bonus but not necessary even if you end up practicing int tax.