What Is A Tax Attorney?

A tax attorney is a lawyer who has specialized in the ins and outs of tax law. They may also have a degree in accounting and, in some cases, may also be a certified public accountant but this is not a requirement. A tax attorney is someone who is qualified to advise a client who may be in a legal battle with the Internal Revenue Service. These kinds of battles usually have to do with back taxes which are owed to the governments. A tax attorney is also someone who can set up a trust fund for your children or give you advice on when and how to file for bankruptcy.

Anyone who wishes to practice as a tax attorney will have earned a bachelor's degree and then graduated from an accredited university with a law degree that usually takes four years to earn. He or she will have taken the bar examination in the state in which they wish to practice. Getting accepted in law school is very difficult because the competition is very intense.

Before you can even apply you must write a special test called the LSAT which stands for Law School Admission Test. Very few colleges or universities offer pre-law degrees anymore. Students who are interested in eventually practicing tax law may do an undergraduate degree in economics, finance or accounting which will help them gain knowledge about taxation and how financial records are maintained.

Once a student has been accepted to law school, they take general courses on topics from civil procedures to constitutional law. An aspiring tax attorney may enroll in more specialized courses in subjects like income tax and liquidations and acquisitions. Students interested in becoming a tax attorney can pursue an advanced degree and earn either a Master's Degree or a Ph.D. which is referred to as a JD, juris degree.

A Master's Degree ins Laws of Taxation is a one year degree that earns a designation called a LLM. Students enrolled in programs like this can take courses in specific areas of interest such as estate planning or even something as esoteric as international business taxation. Most Master's Degree programs will help their students find an externship with a government office or a corporate law firm where they can gain even more specialized training and benefit from an active mentoring relationship with a senior practicing tax attorney.

Once finished with their formal education, anyone who wishes to become any kind of practicing attorney must pass a written examination called the bar examination. If they pass then they are admitted to the bar and are granted a license to practice law. Upon passing their bar examination and being admitted to the bar, they are eligible to practice law only in the sate for which they took an exam. Some states have transfer agreements but usually a lawyer will be required to write and pass an examination in every state in which they hope to practice law.

If you require the services of a tax attorney, contact the bar association in the state in which you live and request a referral to an attorney who practices tax law.