Education · 1 of 5

The path

The lawyer's licence, then 2 or 3 more years of tax training on top.

1. 1

   High school

   Grades 11 and 12

   Math, accounting and English.

2. 2

   Bachelor's degree

   3 to 4 years

   Commerce or accounting is the classic start, and some finish the CPA (chartered professional accountant) designation before law school. Any degree works. Write the LSAT (law school admission test).

3. 3

   Law school (JD, juris doctor)

   3 years

   Take every tax course offered: income tax, corporate tax, international tax, estates. Osgoode Hall and the University of Toronto have the deepest tax offerings.

4. 4

   Articling

   About 1 year

   8 to 10 months in a firm's tax group or at the Department of Justice, plus the barrister and solicitor licensing exams. Ontario's Law Practice Program is the alternative.

5. 5

   Specialty training

   2 to 3 years, while working

   Most new tax lawyers then do the CPA (chartered professional accountant) In-Depth Tax Program, 3 years part-time, or a part-time LLM (master of laws) in tax at Osgoode Hall.