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This looks about right
Like drinking smooth caramel.
Rising Star
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I wouldnt stay more than a year. Big4 makes no distinction between JD or CPA, and it seems like your goal is to be an actual attorney. If you stay at Big4 its less pay, similar hours, with the hope of making partner. I’ve had 3 JDs that worked for me move to law firms. They were all either 1 or 2 years at Big4. Just be aware that your law firm target should be tax focused (ie eversheds, blank rome etc) since thats your experience. I haven’t personally seen a tax JD from big4 switch to like corporate at a law firm.
That’s for taking the time to reply, appreciate your experience here
My advice is to stick it out at B4 until you make Manager and seek an in house Tax Counsel type role. Make it known that you want to utilize your JD as much as possible — it is certainly valued differently (and more) than a CPA. By making Manager, you will open up a new world of opportunities outside the firm.
I am not sure I’d advise bolting to a law firm (unless it is a tax focused firm) as the hours will likely be longer and your portion of the work will be a small piece of the overall project for many of your clients.
You will have plenty of opportunities, my advice is similar to what I’d tell any other associate: forge a path, make your intentions known, and seek out work and people that will develop you.
I do think the hours would be longer although the expectation/norm in my group is to be 90-100% billable so perhaps not vastly different from 1900/2000 billable hours all in all
Already in the short time that I’ve been here my business acumen has grown substantially but wonder whether my growth/dev may tail off after 12-18 months.
My reluctance to stay for 5-7 years to make manager is that if I’m already working 60 hours a week not sure why I would stay at B4 to earn 1/2 what I’d make at a firm.
Obviously the assumption here is that I could get a job at a tax firm which might be tough given the market rn.
Every situation is different. Personally, my first 2-3 years in B4 were largely uninspiring and my next 6 were incredibly rewarding in terms of development. I got lucky but I wish someone would have encouraged me to be more accountable for my development earlier. Too many Managers/ Senior Managers/ Directors / Partners look at Staff and Seniors (and even Managers) as cogs to get the work done with zero regard for their development. Make sure if you grind their work out, that you are getting development/ coaching. If you aren’t, time to find new people (or a new firm) to develop under.