<p>Hi! </p>
<p>I just needed some opinions and advice in regards to law school. Currently, I am a junior doing the PPA Program (Professional Program in Accountancy) which is a program that is designed for students to complete their masters in accounting in less time than normal (having two undergrad classes dual count as master level courses), along with preparation to sit for the CPA exam as well as being more marketable to accounting firms, especially the big four. This is where I get into my dilemma. Ultimately, I see myself as a lawyer, more specifically going into the field of corporate law. Now my question is would it be worthwhile for me to even pursue my masters in accounting after I finish my undergrad? Or should I go straight to law school while working for one of the big four? </p>
<p>Now all this has a bearing on when I should give my LSAT? Should I go and pursue my CPA license? Do big four accounting firms require that? I don't want to spend a whole lot of time in school coming to realize that I could have spend my education money more wisely and get a greater return. Any help would be great! :)</p>
<p>You had better like accounting as a profession if you want to pursue a masters, even an accelerated masters.</p>
<p>CPA firms expect you to sit for the CPA exam soon after graduating but certification usually happens after you've been working for a couple of years.</p>
<p>You can't go to a decent law school and work for a major accounting firm at the same time.</p>
<p>You should prepare intensively for the LSAT when your schedule permits and then give it your very best shot. How you score on the LSAT will pretty much determine how high you can reach in the hierarchy of law schools. If your score won't get you into the top tier of law schools you can forget about big time corporate law.</p>
<p>In terms of return on your education dollars, accounting is the better deal. Accounting is a relatively easy entry profession compared with big time law. But accounting, just like law, is only worthwhile if you enjoy or can at least tolerate the work. Many people find both of these professions absolutely intolerable after they are employed in them.</p>
<p>Seek out and talk to as many accountants and lawyers, in person, as you can. See if they are the kind of people you would want to work with and for. An internet forum like this one is great for finding out facts but not so good for observing personalities and finding out what it is really like to work with certain people. The more personal contacts you make the more of you questions will be answered.</p>
<p>My girlfriend just enrolled in an accelerated Masters of Accountancy program this summer, but still has her eye on law school and practicing tax law eventually. What happened with her is that she took her lsat at the beginning of senior year, bombed it, and wasn't confident enough to retake anytime soon, so she figured she'd take a detour through the professional world for a few years. Honestly, I think it's a great idea. She'll be making a ton of money for a couple years and, when she's ready for law school, they'll love to see her work experience. If only my English degree offered some sort of marketable skill that I could use before law school....haha</p>
<p>Lawyers who are also CPAs are very employable. Law students who already have CPAs can make a lot of money working part-time while they're in law school.</p>