LPC grad with no Law Training Contract but have a Tax TC with a BIG4 firm

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LPC grad with no Law Training Contract but have a Tax TC with a BIG4 firm

So I completed the GDL in 2019 and the LPC in 2020 (commendations in both). I haven't managed to get a Law TC anywhere, then kind of for the hell of it put an application into a big 4 and landed a TC in Tax, with the goal of ultimately getting the CTA at the end. It's the only offer I currently have on the table.

I do want to specialise in a corporate finance, deal advisory kind of role but open to exploring the areas. I have thought for a while doing a solicitor's TC, then working in Tax for a few years before doing the CTA is something I would be interested in.

I'm currently a fee-earning para in a law firm in dispute resolution until the TC with the accountancy firm starts, although I'd stay with them if they can promise a TC in the next 12 months, I have applied, no news yet. (Even if I get it the money will be about £10k less than the Tax role)

Will I ruin my chances of ever getting a TC in law if I branch off now and do the CTA or do I just get the CTA, get a few years of experience, and circle back to the law TC once I have more relevant experience?

Or I'll be in the tax and law dept, so do I just do tax TC and then apply for an exemption for my period of recognised training with the SRA? If the areas I train in tax are relevant to the law (which realistically there's going to be a significant overlap) they could count towards my law seats. I could even try to count my current role in litigation as an extra seat.

Ultimately going with the BIG4 offer gets me into the right area but not necessarily into the right role. HELP!

(edited 3 years ago)

Reply 1

Dnsnnssn

This isn't a problem.

Take the Big 4 offer. Experience is what matters.

You could press your current firm to give you an answer soon, depending on how much you trust them talk to them about whats going on and that you would like to stay if they could offer u a training contract but need to phrase it in a way that doesn't sound like a negotiating tactic

Reply 2

vicky90carroll

Original post by Dnsnnssn

Yeah but I've dropped about £20k to do the GDL and LPC. Tax solicitor is the goal, the CTA just an extra. But you're right, Big 4 opens up a lot of opportunities that my current firm won't.

(edited 3 years ago)

Reply 3

EU Yakov

take job offer and keep reapplying for TCs not rocket science is it

Reply 4

one_two_three

Original post by vicky90carroll

Yeah but I've dropped about £20k to do the GDL and LPC. Tax solicitor is the goal, the CTA just an extra. But you're right, Big 4 opens up a lot of opportunities that my current firm won't.

You're assuming that the GDL and LPC didn't help you get the job. Even though it isn't necessarily the job these train you for, they have valued knowledge and transferable skills. Go for the job that is on the table at the moment. In future there may be the potential to move around but realistically is the job you are wanting to do within a law firm that different from the job you will be doing?