<p>Hi, everyone. I am an unemployed lawyer. Between the poor job prospects in the legal profession and the fact that I didn’t really enjoy practicing, I have begun researching possible alternative careers. I am considering accounting as it seems like a relatively stable profession with good job prospects. I have a BA in Political Science with no accounting background. Here are a couple of questions:</p>
<p>(1) I am interested in Tax. In fact, I was considering a Tax LLM but decided to pursue accounting instead. It seemed like with an accounting background I could practice as a Tax lawyer if I chose to do so, but could also completely abandon the legal profession as well. So I felt doing accounting would give me more options. How are the job prospects in Tax?</p>
<p>(2) What is the education I should be looking at? I have looked at taking courses at a community college, or doing an online second bachelors in accounting from Washington State, or pursuing a Masters in Accounting degree at a local state university (I’m in the Bay Area, so I would be looking at SJSU or SFSU). </p>
<p>(3) CPA work requirement - I noticed to be licensed as a CPA in California, there is a work experience requirement. How difficult would it be to get this work experience if I don’t pursue an actual degree in Accounting and rather just take all the courses necessary to sit for the CPA exam at a community college?</p>
<p>(4) Finally, travel. I heard accountants travel a lot. I don’t mind local car-based travel, but I have a health condition that precludes me from getting on airplanes too frequently. Would this be a problem?</p>
<ol>
<li> The job prospects are good if you can stand the work.<br></li>
<li> A LLM Tax or MS Tax makes a lot more sense for you than an accounting degree.</li>
<li> You’re thinking about this backwards. Don’t worry about getting work experience, worry about getting a job. If you have the job, you’ll have the work experience. No one expects people new to the field to already be licensed as a prerequisite for employment.</li>
<li> Most tax accountants never have to travel.</li>
</ol>
<p>Have you thought about whether you are interested in tax compliance or tax consulting?</p>
<p>As for a Tax LLM, there are a couple of reasons why I have not considered it. First off, I live on the West coast, and most of the good programs are on the East Coast, and I am not in a position to move away for a year, unfortunately (assuming I’d even get in to the top programs).</p>
<p>Also, it feels like the Tax LLM would lock me into being an attorney, while it seems like a general accounting degree would give me the option of being a tax attorney but also to leave lawyering entirely if I choose to</p>
<p>Not sure why you think a LLM means you have to practice law. There are tons of LLMs working in accounting.</p>
<p>There are several acceptable MST programs in the Bay Area - SJSU, CSUEB, GGU.</p>
<p>If you decide to get an accounting degree, in my opinion your chances of getting a tax consulting job would be rapidly approaching zero. You’d have to start as a Staff I or II in compliance and try to transfer out. It’s a hard path.</p>
<p>The guys on TaxTalent.com believe that the LLM is a much better credential for a lawyer. I don’t know if it would be for someone who wants to TOTALLY abandon law, though. I don’t know much about that kind of thing. I do know that an LLM will probably cost you two or three times what an MST will cost.</p>