What does a tax lawyer do?
The complexity of tax law can be intimidating. This is why many entrepreneurs and leaders seek the advice of a tax lawyer.
This tax law expert, sometimes simply called a tax specialist, is both a wise advisor and a meticulous analyst. Regardless of the tax approach for which they are consulted, the tax lawyer contributes to the financial choices and arrangements to defend the economic interests of the business while fully respecting the law.
The Master's in Law at Dauphine offers a rich program of legal and tax studies, closely aligned with the expectations of businesses and the largest law firms in France and abroad.
Areas of work of a tax lawyer
At the crossroads of law and finance, the tax lawyer addresses many situations on behalf of their clients. This tax advisor therefore enjoys working in a team with different legal professionals, accountants, businesspeople, and fellow tax specialists to handle complex situations with great responsiveness.
Every day, the tax lawyer will face new questions or new disputes to resolve depending on their clientele. Their missions lead them to mobilize a vast array of skills.
Daily tasks
They are thus called upon to:
- Assist entrepreneurs in choosing their tax status.
- Propose tax optimization schemes.
- Summarize the tax and legal rules applicable to the overall strategy of the company.
- Highlight regulatory points of attention to leaders.
- Help their clients (individuals and companies) prepare their tax declarations.
- Defend the interests of their clients before administrative tribunals and in merger and acquisition phases.
- Prevent or resolve disputes with the tax administration.
- Restructure the debt of companies.
- Stay informed of the many tax reforms and new regulations affecting the financial strategy of the accompanied businesses.
Salaries and career path
The salary of a tax lawyer is particularly attractive. Following the Corporate Taxation path of the Master's in Law from Paris-Dauphine University, graduates earn a median salary of €42,000 per year. In France, according to the tariff grid of tax law firms, the salary is then revalued by 10 to 15% per year. This remuneration is often reassessed upwards within Anglo-Saxon firms.
At the beginning of their career, the typical path for a tax law attorney is to join a law firm to learn from peers, build their client network, and deepen their field knowledge. They can then leverage their experience at the legal and tax service of a large company or establish their own firm.
Required skills
- Sense of service.
- Solid knowledge of tax rules.
- Increased curiosity combined with a great capacity for listening to truly understand the stakes of their clients.
- Ingenuity.
- Critical judgment.
- Rigor.
- Great adaptability.
- Analytical and synthesis skills.
- Eloquence.
- Proficiency in legal English to handle cases with international stakes.
- Sincere desire to face challenges.
- Resistance to pressure.
- Adaptability.
How to become a tax lawyer?
To work as a tax lawyer in France, it is mandatory to obtain a CAPA (Certificate of Aptitude for the Legal Profession). This certificate is reserved for holders of a Master's 1 in Law who have followed a university course, although there are recognized equivalences. This also involves respecting conditions of morality and nationality, in particular not having been subject to personal bankruptcy or a criminal conviction.
Recruiters and clients of law firms also pay special attention to the training followed by the future tax specialist. A double degree or a Master's from an internationally recognized university such as Paris Dauphine-PSL will be highly appreciated.
Training to become a tax lawyer at Université Paris Dauphine-PSL
Université Paris Dauphine-PSL offers a Master's in Law that prepares future professionals for all the challenges of the legal professions. Its Corporate Taxation pathway enables tax specialists to be operational immediately after their studies, directly within the most reputable firms.
With a net employment rate of 100%, this highly professionalizing pathway offers particularly attractive career prospects both in France and internationally. This is explained in particular by innovative pedagogy, based on group dynamics, collective intelligence, and simulation games. The teaching staff being mainly composed of professionals in tax law, the theoretical dimension of traditional courses here gives way to practice.
Beyond the diploma, this excellent education emphasizes knowledge, but also know-how and interpersonal skills that students will need throughout their professional lives.