How To Become A Tax Lawyer
Tax law is a complex field that has been growing in recent years, thanks to the increasing complexity of the tax code and the number of people who must comply with it. There are many different types of tax lawyers, tailored to meet the needs of their clients. For example, a tax lawyer could specialize in corporate tax law, estate planning, or international taxation. Here’s how you can become a tax lawyer:
Earn a degree in law
There are some legal requirements that must be met before you can practice law in any given state. These requirements usually include earning at least a bachelor’s degree and taking several pre-law courses while at college. You might also want to consider working as an intern at an established law firm before applying for law school.
Apply for law school
You should apply for law school as soon as possible after finishing your undergraduate coursework because many programs only accept applications during certain months each year. The best way to find out about these deadlines is by contacting individual schools directly; there are many websites that offer this information online but not all schools have direct links on them so it’s better if you contact them directly instead. You can also check out our list of law school rankings here on [website
How To Become A Tax Lawyer
Types of tax laws
- Income tax
- Property tax
- Capital gains
- UK inheritance
- Value Added Tax (VAT)
- Non-profit tax
What does a tax lawyer do?
Tax lawyers who act for private clients will be engaged in client meetings, advising on potential tax liability (for example, in the buying or selling of assets) and the best way to mitigate that liability.
Tax lawyers who act for companies often work with other teams of lawyers as one aspect of a larger deal, as virtually all commercial transactions will include tax ramifications. Typical deals might include advising on the tax implications of a mergers and acquisitions, property deals, restructurings and all manners of finance such as funds, equity and debt.
HMRC is the government body with the remit to bring proceedings against a company or individuals. They may also be involved in defending cases brought against the government. HMRC lawyers are involved in advising on the application of the new laws on taxation, which are frequent.
What skills are required?
Tax legislation is a huge and complex area of law, which changes every year. You will need to be academically able in order to understand complicated, lengthy and detailed legislation and have a genuine interest in the subject in order to keep up. Additional qualifications (for example, Chartered Tax Adviser status) may be required.
You will need to translate tax legislation into practical courses of action, as well as be able to communicate your advice clearly to your client, so commercial awareness and communication skills are a must.
An awareness of the wider deals in which you will be engaged (for example, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and private finance initiatives) is also requisite.
How to become a tax lawyer?
If you’re interested in becoming a tax lawyer, you need to first finish a law qualification or non-law degree followed by a Solicitor Qualifying Exam (SQE). Once you gain your legal qualification, you need to follow the solicitor pathway. During your training contract in the law firm, you can choose your specialisation in tax law. Most commercial law firms practice tax law.
What is the salary of a tax lawyer?
A newly qualified tax solicitor in a firm in London starts at £57,000. An average tax solicitor salary in London is an average £75,000 based on five years’ experience, according to Reed.co.uk. For those with over ten year of experience, a tax lawyer salary can range from £65,000 to £97,500. Those based in London and bigger cities will often earn more. These estimations are ever-changing with the landscape of the job market. Be sure to check average salaries when applying for roles regularly.
