Law grad - career help

[NattyCritic]

Hi, I'm looking for some advice on the direction of my career as im feeling very lost. I graduated with a law degree from a Non-RG Uni in 2021. Struggled to find legal work so I started working in the tax department at a top 20 accounting firm and have been there since. I really don't enjoy it, the work is dry and doesn't utilise my strengths as someone who excels in literacy. Im also a people person and find my role a bit of a one man band. I would like to work towards gaining a TC at a national law firm but the competitive nature of the profession means it's likely years away if I ever achieve it. I'm looking for some alternative careers which may be suitable and have a high earning potential. Seems difficult if you don't enjoy numbers. Thanks 😀

doesn't utilise my strengths as someone who excels in literacy

I take it you're not working on advisory then?

I'm surprised that a top 20 firm hasn't given you any advisory or business development exposure. That would harness both literacy and being a people person. Have you asked for it? Do you have a development plan in place?

Are you tax qualified? You must have passed some exams if you've been there since 2021? What's your specialism?

Tax careers only start to get interesting once you qualify and start moving up. Directors and partners spend a small amount of time on numbers and most of it on technical advice and relationships/ sales / networking.

No advisory work just compliance. It's so dry and I feel like I've stopped learning because its mainly repetitive data entry.

I've asked numerous times for advisory work but I've been given nothing. As for a development plan there is nothing in place, been told I need to qualify to get some advisory work but when I look at the tax seniors in my firm they're also not doing advisory.

This has led to me stop studying for my exams as I see no incentive to finish them. I'm half way into ATT before starting on CTA.

I work in corporate tax currently but I did a year stint in personal tax also.

Seems to be a common opinion amongst the profession about the work becoming interesting once qualifying but I don't know if im interested in qualifying. All feels a little pointless at the minute as im not sure if tax is what I want to do forever. Doing the ATT/CTA route feels like im pigeonholed in tax.

As the accounting field is numeracy heavy, I've started to question whether I'm flogging a dead horse.

Have you thought about the public sector/Civil Service as a stepping stone? https://www.gov.uk/guidance/government-legal-service-gls-legal-trainee-scheme-how-to-apply

Thank you, ill take a look into this

Would you be interested in commercial contracts type work? A lot of companies take on commercial contracts paralegal type positions and you may be able to work your way up from there.

yes, this sounds like a suitable alternative. Lots of paralegal jobs require previous experience which may be a stumbling block. A good way of getting a foot in the door though.

There are aspects of corporate tax work which are much more heavily focused on interpretation of the law e.g. working in a tax risk management or controversy team, working with double tax treaties/transfer pricing guidelines.

If you want to go down this road I suggest you look at getting a part qualified place (senior analyst/semi-senior) at a bigger firm or as a junior within HMRC. Top 20 firms won't have much advisory work of this nature but Big4 or next tier down (Grant Thornton, BDO) will and HMRC are currently looking for specialists to work on investigations and fraud cases. They will also let you continue with your ATT if you wish or do something like ADIT afterwards which is much more advisory focused.

Another hot area at the moment is sustainability and legal qualifications can help you get in the door here. Take a look at some of the new regulations on deforestation, carbon border taxes etc and look for trainee positions that have this specialist option.

I've asked numerous times for advisory work but I've been given nothing. As for a development plan there is nothing in place, been told I need to qualify to get some advisory work but when I look at the tax seniors in my firm they're also not doing advisory.

Gosh, that very much sounds like your employer is the issue not tax. I think you've been let down.

After 3 years I'd expect you to have been supported and encouraged to qualify, maybe even be on the cusp of being dual qualified.

I'd expect you to be invited to client meetings even if just as a note taker initially, to be involved in ad hoc advisory as opportunities arise, and to have a clear path beyond doing data entry.

This has led to me stop studying for my exams as I see no incentive to finish them.

The incentive is that it would make it easier for you to jump ship and work for a better firm doing more interesting work! You have to take some responsibility for making yourself valuable and marketable if you want to progress to more interesting work.

What does your employer say about you stopping? Surely that prompted a discussion? If any of our trainees just stopped studying for their exams it would trigger discussion and action. What happened when you stopped?

I can only assume you're working in a regional office for a top 20 rather than a flagship location? Even for the big names, unfortunately it can be very office specific whether a regional office is a good place to build a career - or just where the London office sends their drudge work. (Some of them openly use that as a selling point in their job adverts when recruiting for London roles.)

You might actually have had a better experience at a top 30/40/50 firm than at a small regional compliance factory for a big firm.

I think it would be worth speaking to a reputable tax recruiter in your area who knows the local offices / firms well and can advise whether there's a better match near you. If nothing else it would confirm for you whether leaving tax entirely is the right answer for you or just leaving your current employer.

There are aspects of corporate tax work which are much more heavily focused on interpretation of the law.

This is what I expected to be looking at when starting a tax career but I've done very little legal interpreting which is disappointing.

If you want to go down this road I suggest you look at getting a part qualified place (senior analyst/semi-senior) at a bigger firm or as a junior within HMRC

Thank you! I'll have a look at the top 6 firms. Not sure how competitive such roles are but it's worth applying. I know GT are recruiting for CT in the North but it's a grad programme so not sure if im overqualified for the role.

Another hot area at the moment is sustainability and legal qualifications can help you get in the door here.

This sounds very interesting! Do you know what sort of companies hire these positions? or what sort of job titles I need to look for?

There are loads of legal sector jobs now which aren’t lawyering but where a law degree is helpful. Compliance, legal tech, project management, sustainability, research… Keep an eye out on what roles some of more tech savvy firms like Bird & Bird and Mishcon de Reya are offering and something might grab your fancy.

Gosh, that very much sounds like your employer is the issue not tax. I think you've been let down.

I've been massively let down tbh, lots of things promised to me at interview which have never happened but hey ho.

I've never been to a client meeting and have been on site only once with audit. As you can imagine this hasn't done my confidence any favours, especially being my first ever job.

You have to take some responsibility for making yourself valuable and marketable if you want to progress to more interesting work.

Of course im not shying away from this. It's easier said than done when a workplace makes you feel extremely unmotivated though.

What does your employer say about you stopping? Surely that prompted a discussion?

They were obviously disappointed but they were happy for me to carry on with my role and pick up the exams in the future if I wanted to. I spoke with a director and expressed my concerns re my work and getting the most out of my strengths but it didn't amount to anything.

I can only assume you're working in a regional office for a top 20 rather than a flagship location?

Yes it's a regional office in the North.

I think it would be worth speaking to a reputable tax recruiter in your area who knows the local offices / firms well and can advise whether there's a better match near you.

Absolutely! I have many recruiters contacting me on LinkedIn so it's worth a try.

**

If I was you I'd be looking at job ads like this (just an example, there are loads like this) https://www.etaxjobs.co.uk/jobs/8299932/tax-advisory-consultant.asp

Or search for any tax assistant/senior analyst role in a tax controversy, international tax, m&a tax/deals tax, transfer pricing or tax advisory team, or HMRC.

Thank you, these sounds like great alternatives.

If you want to be a layer and aren't tied to one place I'd apply for lots of tcs around the UK. Public sector generally I think means you have to pay for your LPC yourself unless apprenticeship.

Could you do night school or distance learning LPC in meantime so earning whilst learning?

Once have your tc and have qualified you can transfer anywhere into a firm - public sector to national commercial firm

OP - I would suggest looking into the banking sector, as your experience can be utilised in different business areas. I did my LLB & LPC but couldn't get training contract so started my career as an civil servant before moving to the private sector, initially working at an insolvency practice before moving to the banking sector where I've done various risk and compliance roles.

I think it's too risky to fund the LPC without any legal work experience or having a TC lined up. It's much easier when you have a TC lined up.

Thank you, I'll take a look. Your career path sounds very interesting! Can I PM you to find out more about your banking roles?

Have a look at costs law / becoming a costs lawyer. Different qualifying route to becoming a solicitor or barrister, but you would still be regulated lawyer. Your accountancy experience would stand you in good stead.

Sounds like a good path for me. Thank you😀

OP - Of course you can.

BUMP

BUMP