Paying tax and facing tax problems with the IRS is a regular annual ritual for every citizen. So, earning bread is assured in tax practice, even though you might not be the most brilliant kid in campus. Professional law practice is a fickle thing; many brilliant students become average lawyers on a daily basis at the law courts, while the average guy at the law school becomes a success quite often. It is practical to confine to a field that yields greater number of clients on an annual average basis and each year, a whole new generation is added to the roster of tax payers.
So, what do you need to become a good tax lawyer? Obviously, you need to know the tax laws in depth. You need to have a fair head for accounting, and it is always better to take extra courses in accounting and other things that will stand you in good stead with prospective clients or employers. Also, it is important for you to develop your personality and social skills of interaction. Unless we are actually trying to rectify things, very few of us are really aware of how we look and sound when interacting with others, and how people perceive us. The days of the hunched lawyer in thick glasses, invisible in a room filled with books, are gone. Now it’s all bright lights, suave presentation, and professional dealing. So grooming yourself is essential even if you do want to become a tax lawyer.
To begin with, deeply acquaint yourself with federal tax codes as well as the tax codes and rules of the State where you intend to practice. Student life provides good opportunity to reach out, make friends and extend your social network in the physical location where you intend to practice. The internet has broken down barriers of distance and you can as much remain a part of associations in your home town while you attend your classes in a campus a thousand miles away. Actively culturing both professionals and possible mentors in your chosen field as well as related fields, while you are still a student, can give you a tremendous head start when you pass out of law school.
Keep in mind that tax practice is not all about income tax. A tax attorney must be aware of all kinds of incomes as well as other heads like property, personal wealth, etc. that can be taxable on a regular or annual basis. So, while you might specialize in a limited area of tax law, working knowledge of all kinds of possible taxes will help you out in building a career as a tax attorney.
So, these are the things you need to focus on in addition to acquiring your law degree to become a successful tax attorney:
- Developing social networks in the intended physical location of your practice
- Developing social networking in the professional area of your practice
- Grooming and developing your social interaction skills
- Acquiring extra certifications and understanding of accounts and accounting