- You want to do what to the what?
- I have no idea what you are talking about. I can't even lift these giant books.
- I cannot possibly figure this out. It is incomprehensible.
- It is incomprehensible, but only to me because I am too stupid to understand.
- Hey, this is starting to make sense.
- This is actually pretty interesting.
- Figuring out the tax code is fun, like an elaborate puzzle. Also, I am a super genius.
- Rinse and repeat.
Tax:
+ Reasonable, flexible hours that you can mostly set yourself -- few work-all-night emergencies.
+ Be an expert in an esoteric, yet crucial, field.
+ Constantly learn new things and use analytical skills.
- Relatively isolated from rest of firm.
- Very small group with no junior associates.
- Seems difficult to develop long-term relationships with external clients.
- Not sure if I will ultimately find it worthwhile. The point seems to be more about saving money or complying with rules, rather than actually accomplishing a goal.
Corporate:
- Hours can be unpredictable, at mercy of client.
- Seems like there's lots of grunt work the first couple of years.
- Not clear that you really need to be a lawyer to do this kind of work. Could be replaced by consultants?
+ Lots of interaction with clients.
+ Opportunities to develop expertise in industries as well as legal specialties.
+ More flexibility for both present work and future career options.
+ Big department with lots of associates and partners at all levels.
+ Established training procedures.
+ Helping people accomplish a desired goal.
I think the last point will be determinative for me. Still, I'm going to find out if it's possible to do both types of work at The Firm.
If you've been a summer associate, you've probably experienced the Lunch Email: "I'm going to lunch with so-and-so, a litigation associate. I can bring two summers." Within seconds, you get twelve responses. I sent out a lunch email the other day saying I was going to lunch with a tax partner. NOBODY responded.
3 comments:
Awww...poor tax lawyers, get such a bad rap. But i mean, tax lawyering involves...gulp...numbers!
My understanding was that tax lawyers could get sucked into those all night merger deals, too -- are they sugar coating it to suck you in?
Oh, how I wanted to be a tax lawyer at my first firm, but there were no positions open. It's true you could get sucked in to an all nighter, but I think that's much more common with litigation or corporate. Plus, the tax lawyers I knew (and know) are a much more quirky and interesting bunch. Or maybe I'm just seeing it through rose colored glasses.
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