I have worked in a Big Four M&A tax group for the past two years. However, since passing the bar, my desire to work at a law firm has increased significantly. I would like to understand how difficult it is to transition from a Big Four role to a law firm and whether there are any factors that might discourage hiring teams from bringing me on.

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Did you pass the bar first try/shortly after law school? What are your law school academics like? I knew a lot of people who made this transition after a few years and M&A tax seems the best specialty to move from but big law firms that hire these folks still have the same stingy grade requirements as always. I hear way less often of people transitioning to smaller firms since they don’t have robust tax practices.

Also if you have any experience with departments of revenue or other government agencies handling dispute resolutions or appeals, that’s very helpful.

If you can make the switch do it, but best if you know someone who came from your big 4 practice and make the move. Ask them for an intro.

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Not sure if I’ll stick with tax but I know it will be the best/easiest route to take when I leave Big4. I will do some digging into Reed Smith and similar firms.

There’s a “lawyers in public accounting” bowl you should peruse. I moved from big 4 to big law in the same tax specialty and my group has hired at least half a dozen others from big 4 since then. My experience was that BL was more ivory tower and out in the market - let’s find new legal arguments, publish articles, meet new potential clients, etc. - whereas big 4 was more practical and focused on serving existing clients. But tax specialties and firms vary widely.

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This was helpful. I’ll have to do more research.

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I think it’s a great background for big law. My friend was an EY accountant and now a lawyer, he liked his experience as a lawyer but said it was a culture shock when he moved to law firm.

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I figured it will be an adjustment. It’s good to know that it’s is a good background for big law.

F

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