Current Tax LLM applying to non-tax positions Forum

[Anonymous User]

Is this generally a no-go? I have limited, but prior experience outside of tax and I think I would be okay doing non-tax despite the LLM. To provide more context, these would be biglaw positions. My credentials as a JD were not spectacular but okay - top third at a T-30.

[nealric]

Is this generally a no-go? I have limited, but prior experience outside of tax and I think I would be okay doing non-tax despite the LLM. To provide more context, these would be biglaw positions. My credentials as a JD were not spectacular but okay - top third at a T-30.

What have you been doing in the meantime? What are you doing now? Are you a current LLM student or a practicing attorney?

The LLM recruiting pipeline will be centered around Big4. Applying to Biglaw as an entry-level attorney outside of the summer associate hiring process (or LLM recruiting to a lesser extent) is probably not going to be a great use of your time. There's not a ton of demand at the entry level right now, and non-traditional candidates face a steep uphill battle even in the best of times. However, if you have some decent non-tax work experience, you may have a shot as a lateral in that practice (depending on what that experience is).

Your location and specific school will also matter. U of Iowa applying to Minneapolis Biglaw is a very different story from Fordam applying to NYC.

[Anonymous User]

Is this generally a no-go? I have limited, but prior experience outside of tax and I think I would be okay doing non-tax despite the LLM. To provide more context, these would be biglaw positions. My credentials as a JD were not spectacular but okay - top third at a T-30.

What have you been doing in the meantime? What are you doing now? Are you a current LLM student or a practicing attorney?

The LLM recruiting pipeline will be centered around Big4. Applying to Biglaw as an entry-level attorney outside of the summer associate hiring process (or LLM recruiting to a lesser extent) is probably not going to be a great use of your time. There's not a ton of demand at the entry level right now, and non-traditional candidates face a steep uphill battle even in the best of times. However, if you have some decent non-tax work experience, you may have a shot as a lateral in that practice (depending on what that experience is).

Your location and specific school will also matter. U of Iowa applying to Minneapolis Biglaw is a very different story from Fordam applying to NYC.

OP here. Thanks for the response. I am currently doing the LLM program. I practiced briefly in transactional before starting the program. I guess my question is really whether the Tax LLM is so binding that my application itself would raise eyebrows.

[nealric]

Is this generally a no-go? I have limited, but prior experience outside of tax and I think I would be okay doing non-tax despite the LLM. To provide more context, these would be biglaw positions. My credentials as a JD were not spectacular but okay - top third at a T-30.

What have you been doing in the meantime? What are you doing now? Are you a current LLM student or a practicing attorney?

The LLM recruiting pipeline will be centered around Big4. Applying to Biglaw as an entry-level attorney outside of the summer associate hiring process (or LLM recruiting to a lesser extent) is probably not going to be a great use of your time. There's not a ton of demand at the entry level right now, and non-traditional candidates face a steep uphill battle even in the best of times. However, if you have some decent non-tax work experience, you may have a shot as a lateral in that practice (depending on what that experience is).

Your location and specific school will also matter. U of Iowa applying to Minneapolis Biglaw is a very different story from Fordam applying to NYC.

OP here. Thanks for the response. I am currently doing the LLM program. I practiced briefly in transactional before starting the program. I guess my question is really whether the Tax LLM is so binding that my application itself would raise eyebrows.

I wouldn't call it "so binding", but if you are looking to just go back to a transactional practice just have a good story for why you don't want to do tax. Are you still on good terms with the firm you practiced at before?

Generally speaking, you may have a tough time applying as a lateral unless you got at least 2 (better 3 years of experience). But there are exceptions if you can show very good experience in a short term, you worked for a well-known firm in the sub-practice, or the firm really just needs bodies right away.

[CanadianWolf]

How brief was your experience in transactional law ?

Which tax LLM program ? (My assumption is that it was not NYU, Georgetown, Florida, or Northwestern.)

Consider the tax LLM courses taken (did you concentrate in any particular area), grades earned, and how this relates to any desired practice area. A lackluster performance in a tax LLM program may dampen your prospects in both tax & non-tax practice areas. Large law firms are interested in intelligence, work ethic, and high standards.

Why have you lost interest in practicing tax law ?