- Meet with Director to discuss specific tax-related career goals to get advice on course selection
- Review descriptions of tax-related extracurricular activities and select a few for participation. At least one should be networking related and at least one should give tax-related experience.
- Attend tax-related networking events through LACBA Young Tax Lawyers, USC Tax Institute, California State Bar Tax Section, etc.
- Join the Tax Law Society. Attend tax-related career panels at the law school.
- Ask Office of Career Services and a professor to review your resume and cover letter to give comments and suggestions.
- Prepare a tax-related writing sample, if possible. Income Tax Timing Issues, Advanced Tax Research and Planning, Tax Policy, the Tax Law Practicum and Tax Planning for Family Wealth all assign papers that might make a good tax writing sample. Or, you could use something from a summer or part-time clerkship. Important: Carefully review, edit and proofread your writing sample and ask friends to do the same. Once it is as polished as you can make it, ask your professor to give additional comments.
- Meet with at least five tax practitioners to let them know you will be looking for a job. Ask them the following:
a. to describe their area of tax practice
b. if they know anyone who might be looking for help from a student law clerk
c. if they know anyone else who might be willing to meet with you.
d. meet with the new names and repeat.
8. Try to find a part-time clerkship during the school year or summer that is as related to tax as possible. In general, any legal experience is good experience, so don't worry too much about exactly what you will be doing. You will be gaining professional skills and judgment and earning a good reference, at the least. Ask Director for advice if you have questions about whether the firm/position will advance tax-related knowledge and skills.