VAT Associate (Trainee Tax Lawyer)
London (Hybrid Working)
The Opportunity
This is a rare opportunity for a VAT specialist from a leading accountancy firm to transition into a top-tier legal environment and qualify as a tax lawyer, specialising in VAT.
You’ll join a highly regarded tax team within a leading law firm, working on pure advisory matters across a diverse and sophisticated client base. The firm will provide full support toward legal qualification, offering a clear pathway into a long-term legal career.
The Role
Working closely with partners and senior lawyers, you will:
- Advise on a broad range of UK and international VAT issues
- Support on complex advisory projects including:
- Structuring transactions
- Property VAT
- Financial services VAT
- Cross-border and supply chain planning
- Assist with technical research, drafting advice and client memos
- Work alongside corporate, real estate and finance lawyers on multi-disciplinary matters
- Develop exposure to contentious VAT work / disputes (where relevant)
- Begin the process of transitioning into a qualified tax lawyer
Training & Development
- Full support provided to qualify as a solicitor/tax lawyer (e.g. SQE or equivalent route)
- Structured training within a high-performing legal tax team
- Hands-on experience from day one on complex advisory work
- Mentorship from established VAT specialists in a legal setting
Candidate Profile
Essential
- Strong VAT technical experience gained in a large accountancy firm (Big 4 / Top 10 / mid-tier)
- Background in advisory-led VAT work (rather than purely compliance)
- ACA / CTA / ATT (or equivalent) – or working towards
- Clear motivation to move into a legal career
Desirable
- Exposure to transactional VAT or international VAT
- Experience working with law firms or on legal-led projects
- Strong academic background
Why make the move?
- Unique career transition: move from accounting into law with full support
- Pure advisory focus: no compliance-heavy workload
- High-quality work: complex, technical VAT at the intersection of law and tax
- Collaborative environment with leading tax lawyers and partners
- Clear long-term progression into a specialist VAT legal career
The Firm
A highly regarded law firm with a strong reputation across tax, corporate and real estate, known for:
- High-quality advisory work
- A collaborative and supportive culture
- Investing in specialist talent and long-term careers