Is acquiring a Tax LLM pointless if you already have a JD and working in Big 4 Tax already?

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My personal opinion is that it’s not worth it if you’re going to work at Big 4. You lose a years worth of income and likely rack up some hefty debt

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You could do your LLM while working. Most firms will pay for most if not all of it and you wouldn’t lose years of work. You’re only making $65k as a JD? You’re being severely underpaid! In a HCOL, many JD/LLMs are starting at 105-115k. I can’t imagine MCOL would be almost half?

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As I just mentioned in a reply below as well, my salary would roughly equate to 172,000 in Manhattan, NYC. Is that still pretty underpaid? If so, I feel like I’ve been played by the firm a bit :(

No, because LLM is very specific. It's about as useless as someone getting an MST when they have their BA in accounting.

If you get your LLM when you have relevant experience, you will get so much more out of it.

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Why wouldn't you pursue your LLM while working?

You are significantly underpaid (considering you have a JD) and likely overworked. I don’t have my LLM, and I’m in Employee Benefits/Exec Comp HR diligence type work making low six figures.

Maybe consider transferring to a higher paying service line without it? Yes if you wanted to go to a BigLaw firm and practice tax law, it would help. Beyond that, I don’t see the benefit.

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Maybe I’m technically LCOL? My salary would roughly equate to $172,000 in Manhattan, NYC according to Nerdwallet’s salary COL calculator. Or would that still be considered underpaid even accounting for that?

I’ve actually always kind of wanted to switch to National Tax, I’ve also heard they have better comp packages as well.

Get a tax LLM and become an IRS attorney, good WLB.

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Unfortunately I don’t think my multistate background would translate well :(

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