Life skills and career tips for Canada's lawyers in training
Issue link: https://digital.canadianlawyermag.com/i/50905
HEATHER R. DIGREGORIO, Burnet Duckworth & Palmer LLP, Calgary Practising tax law + PROS: • Tax law is a very creative fi eld that involves fi nding and creating solutions for clients with a wide range of needs. If you enjoy innovative problem solving, then you will never be bored practising in this area. • Th e practice of tax law is very diverse and there are end- less diff erent areas in which you can specialize. Tax plan- ners help businesses, individuals, estates, and charities ac- complish their goals while attracting a minimum amount of tax. On the other hand, tax litigators help businesses and people resolve their disputes with the Canada Revenue Agency. No matter what type of personality you have, there will be an area of tax that interests and challenges you. • Tax legislation is unique because it is actively used by governments as a policy tool. Economic and social objec- tives are achieved through changes to federal and pro- vincial tax legislation. Following the changes and under- standing the policies gives you a greater knowledge of the structure of our governing economic and social systems. • Tax law aff ects almost every- thing that people do, and yet so few people understand it. Th is makes tax lawyers a hot com- modity, with valuable expertise. Not only that, there is always a need for tax lawyers, regardless of the state of the economy. - CONS: • Th e learning curve in tax law is very steep, and the continu- ous learning requirements are extensive. It can take years to build up enough knowledge to advise clients competently. If you don't have a genuine interest in the subject matter, then you won't have the stamina to stick with it. • It can be diffi cult to keep up with all of the changes to tax legislation, because governments make changes every year through their budget process. ■ As a team, everyone contributes to our success. Come join us and make our team even stronger. Heenan Blaikie - Toronto Bay Adelaide Centre 333 Bay Street, Suite 2900 PO Box 2900 Toronto, Ontario M5H 2T4 416 360.6336 Heenan Blaikie LLP • Lawyers | Patent and Trade-mark Agents • Toronto Montreal Vancouver Quebec Calgary Sherbrooke Ottawa Trois-Rivières Victoria Paris Singapore • heenanblaikie.com t Untitled-1 1 C ANADIAN Lawyer 4STUDENTS F ALL 2010 41 7/26/10 2:57:37 PM Detail of Greg Curnoe, 1974. Watercolour, 75 cm × 75 cm Spokes & Nipples,