A Brief Introduction To Tax Law Jobs In DC
Washington, DC, the heart of the nation’s capital, is not only a vital center for federal policy-making and governance, but it also offers a wealth of opportunities for those specializing in the intricate field of tax law. The proximity to various federal agencies such as the Treasury Department, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the Department of Justice Office of Chief Counsel, as well as numerous governmental relations departments, trade associations, and large law firms with sophisticated tax practices, makes the nation’s capital an ideal locale for tax law practitioners.
As the center of federal government, Washington, DC is home to a vast network of agencies that encompass a wide range of public policy interests, including tax law. The Treasury Department and the IRS play key roles in the U.S. tax system and are constantly hiring tax law specialists to work in highly specialized areas such as international tax law, administrative law, and administrative and regulatory law . Other specialized public interest organizations and governmental affairs departments employ tax lawyers to help craft policies and regulations that impact national policy.
Large law firms with sophisticated tax practices are also scattered throughout the city. These firms boast some of the brightest minds, most experienced professionals, and wealthiest resources at their disposal. Major law firms with tax practices have offices in DC that exclusively focus on serving clients in the area of tax law. For example, leading law firms offer an array of tax services such as tax compliance, tax planning, and tax litigation; they also specialize in international tax, real estate tax, employee benefits, state and local taxes, and other areas of tax law.
In sum, aspiring tax law professionals should strongly consider embarking on their professional journeys in Washington, DC. With a wealth of opportunities and resources, tax law practitioners in the nation’s capital will have the best chance to become leaders within the field.
Employers Who Often Employ Tax Law Professionals
Tax law opportunities are widespread in Washington, DC, and with such a large audience of prospective employers from which to choose, the process of finding the one that is best for you can be significantly impeded. In DC, there are a variety of different organizations that employ tax law professionals, ranging from government agencies to private law firms to non-profit organizations.
Federal agencies including the Office of Chief Counsel of the Internal Revenue Service are always seeking out experienced tax law professionals to fill their ranks. The IRS itself is perhaps the federal sector’s most coveted tax law employer. It employs more than 16,000 lawyers in its national network of offices, including its many field offices, its Associate Chief Counsel (Counsel), and its Office of Chief Counsel (Financial Institutions). It is considered one of the top employers of tax law professionals in the area, but is entry-level positions are often difficult to come by. With that being said, the agency offers paid programs for externs and interns, and provides both private and public sector experience to its the attorneys it employs.
Private law firms, meanwhile, remain the most common employers of tax attorneys in Washington, DC. From full-service national firms with tax law departments to smaller specialists, tax law firms consistently seek experienced attorneys and new graduates alike who are licensed to practice in the Washington, DC area. Non-profit organizations specializing in tax law advocacy, on the other hand, provide lawyers with practice experience outside of traditional legal settings. These roles allow you to interact with tax law clients on behalf of the non-profit without the burden of operating a standard law office.
Finally, Government Contracting firms specializing in tax law and public finance tax law in particular, are often on the lookout for tax attorneys and tax researchers to add to their teams.
Qualifications And Skills Needed
The field of tax law in Washington, DC calls for attorneys with a minimum of a Juris Doctor degree or legal equivalent from an accredited law school. A Master of Laws (LL.M) in Taxation is becoming increasingly common among successful candidates, particularly those who have graduated from non-accredited schools. Several DC firms will require their tax law candidates to have graduated in the top 25 percent of their class and to have obtained a 3.7 cumulative GPA. A minimum of two years of legal experience is also often required, and previously clerkship experience carries a great deal of weight during the hiring process.
Computing tax credits, determining the extent of taxpayers liability, and advising on income and estate tax matters are among the primary duties of tax law professionals and require advanced tax law knowledge. It is essential that applicants demonstrate familiarity with all applicable DC and federal tax codes, guidelines and issues. Applicants with a comprehensive understanding of complex tax issues are highly sought after, as are those who are aware of the latest developments in tax law and procedure.
Knowledge of general taxation laws, tax planning procedures, and IRS regulations is essential. Because of the collaborative nature of a tax attorney’s work, applicants who have experience working on multi-disciplinary tax teams tend to be the most successful. So too do those with substantive specialization in areas such as employee tax and salary packages, executive compensation, estate and inheritance tax, transferable tax credits, foreign tax, wealth management or non-U.S. tax. Because tax law is constantly evolving, it is crucial that tax law professionals demonstrate the willingness to broaden and hone their knowledge of tax issues. Evidence of such interest can be demonstrated through continuing education, certifications and achieving membership in professional organizations such as the American Bar Association Section of Taxation.
Navigating The DC Job Market
The legal job market in Washington, DC can be tough, but there are many ways to find opportunities, including your own network. There are several ways that you can make yourself known to legal employers via the internet. There are job boards for law jobs, especially for DC legal jobs. Solutions Law Press has a job board that lists tax law jobs in DC and other areas as well as legal government jobs. The Government Accountability Office lists job openings for attorneys and related positions as well, as does the EPA. Both the IRS and Tax Court list tax law jobs as they become available. Additionally, Federal Positions also lists tax law openings as they become available.
Do not forget the blogosphere. Here are some blogs that focus on tax law and also include some regional focus:
Of course, you can network through your school as well. Come to DC for Career Fairs, Mock Interviews, and Mock Interview preparation workshops. Make a good impression and you will be remembered. And talk with attorneys at your school and get some advice from them about building your network. Have someone arrange an interview for you. Attend some of the various law school events in DC. Follow up after the event.
And there is PLI. PLI offers a wide variety of CLE programs in the DC area. If you are already in DC trying to land a job, you may want to attend some of their programs; you can learn something that may prove useful, and, of course, you can meet people and make more contacts. And if you are not yet in DC, attending a program in DC can provide you the chance to see if living in the city might be something you can handle.
And finally, Nixon Peabody’s Tax Controversy Blog lists jobs at the firm.
Pay Scale And Career Advancement
The salary expectations for tax law professionals in Washington, DC can vary widely depending on experience, education, and the specific area of specialization. On average, tax law attorneys can expect to earn between $70,000 and $200,000 per year, although those numbers can be much higher in some cases. Entry-level positions in government or smaller firms may start at around $60,000 to $80,000, while experienced attorneys and those working in top firms or high-level government positions can make upwards of $300,000.
Tax law professionals who begin their careers with a large law firm often see the greatest advancement opportunities and salary increases. These firms typically pay the highest salaries , and attorneys who perform well can expect to see substantial annual raises and rapid career growth, often as high as three to five positions within a year. Although advancement in government positions is more competitive and less regular, even these jobs generally come with annual raises that keep pace with or exceed inflation.
For tax law professionals working in fields other than private law, including firms, government, and compliance, career advancement and business opportunities are more varied and dependent upon the state of the industry, the economy, and the business cycle. Tax law experts who work for businesses or advocacy groups should expect increased opportunities during boom periods and runs of additional layoffs during slow periods.
The Challenges And Opportunities For Tax Law Professionals
As with any other discipline, tax law has its own set of challenges and opportunities. Professionals trained in tax law tend to get "consumed" by their work. There are complexities that go well beyond what is written in legal texts. Also, there are different degrees of tax law, which sometimes involves judges and courts deciding how to interpret certain legislation. All these elements make for challenges in the realm of practical application.
However, increasingly, tax law has also become the subject of widespread notoriety, as authorities like Deloitte and Ernst & Young delve into complex tax issues. Complex tax law, for many tax experts, creates opportunities to work in Big Four consulting firms or multinational organizations in tax-heavy regions, such as Washington, DC. One must just be prepared to comply with more rigorous standards expected by key players in tax law consultancy and practice. This means that not only does one have to decipher difficult legislation, but one also has to coordinate with numerous stakeholders, including clients, taxpayers, judges and legislators.
Tax law, however, is still for those who can expect a relatively assured career path, as practitioners will always be relevant to their clients. Changes in the tax code may happen overnight, but they take so long in the making that practitioners are already ahead of the learning curve when changes actually go into effect. Tax law is also a field that is focused both on compliance and business. Legal and even criminal sanctions exist if compliance is not adequately met. It makes for an exciting legal environment, particularly when tax law must coordinate with emerging business on a day-to-day basis.
Conclusion
The unique opportunities available in Washington, DC make it a potentially rewarding place to consider pursuing a career in tax law. Whether you’re looking for opportunities in the government, with non-profit organizations, in academia, or in private practice firms, or even a combination of those options, there is a depth of opportunities that few other cities can match .
Simply put, if you want to be at the forefront of shaping tax policy in this country, Washington, DC is the place you need to be to get that experience. Whether you’re working on drafting new legislation or sharing your expertise in a legal scholarship, the ability to establish yourself as a thought leader in the tax law field is greatly enhanced by being able to live and work in the nation’s capital.