Revenue Law

Bepolite

I'm thinking of taking this (undergrad) - any experiences anyone would like to share? Is it going to make me a tax wizard, a bit like Andy Dufrane but, ideally, without the forced man action?

Mr. Incognito

Its a tough course as an undergrad, i enjoyed it though.

Its a brilliant career as a tax solicitor.

More info on the tax qualification on the taxation forum but dovetails nicely with law

Pat Mustard

Depending on your lecturer, you may get a useful insight into the operation of revenue law and how it is interpreted etc.

A good lecturer may be able to point out that whereas one view may be maintained by the Revenue Commissioners, a particular interpretation of certain caselaw may give a more convincing argument for another view.

In comparison with other tax professionals, tax lawyers may be more likely to examine the law to see if there are other interpretations which may be more advantageous to the taxpayer/client.

A one-year law subject isn't likely to be the making of you, but if you like the subject, maybe you will decide to take things further. Even if you don't like the subject, you will probably find it at least somewhat useful if you decide to qualify as a solicitor. Don't know if it would be as useful to barristers, unless they deal with tax issues.

conorh91

Doesn't suit everyone. It's very detailed and problem-solvey.

My recollection of revenue questions was a long paper with lots of small, 5-marks, technical questions.

e.g.

Conor owes his brother Paul €50k. Paul will waive the debt if Conor renounces his share in the house they are selling. Advise both brothers on their tax liabilities.

Like any undergraduate module, be prepared to talk about your interest in it if you're going in for something like milk rounds.

If you're aiming for the Bar, which I just assumed was your intention, it's really only worth doing it if you're personally interested in the subject matter.

Personally I found it interesting but professionally useless.

j80ezgvc3p92xu

Revenue was alright, surprisingly interesting I must say. The class was also quite small so much of the lecture was actually discussion. Found it useful later when working in a tax department as I knew where to start my research.

Bepolite

Thanks for the input folks! Its a tough choice for me as the alternative is Media Law and we share a lecturer with trinity for it so I assume she's half decent. I assume media law would aid me in my Tort revision for the KI Entrance Exam, covering off defamation in some detail?

Grolschevik

Bepolite wrote: »

Thanks for the input folks! Its a tough choice for me as the alternative is Media Law and we share a lecturer with trinity for it so I assume she's half decent. I assume media law would aid me in my Tort revision for the KI Entrance Exam, covering off defamation in some detail?

Media law might give you the background to hang out with rock stars.

Revenue law might give you the background to hang out with... er...

FreudianSlippers

I'm biased as I'm a media lawyer, but revenue sounds like a snoozefest to me! That being said, I think there are probably more jobs in revenue at present.

Peregrinus

Grolschevik wrote: »

Media law might give you the background to hang out with rock stars.

Revenue law might give you the background to hang out with... er...

Rock stars have much greater need for the services of tax lawyers than for the services of media lawyers.

Grolschevik

Peregrinus wrote: »

Rock stars have much greater need for the services of tax lawyers than for the services of media lawyers.

But the tax guys will be back in the office, while the media guys will be... back in the office, but maybe more likely to get free tickets to a show.

Peregrinus

Grolschevik wrote: »

But the tax guys will be back in the office, while the media guys will be... back in the office, but maybe more likely to get free tickets to a show.

The firm I was in had both a media practice and a tax practice (I was in neither) and some fairly high-profile clients. The tax and estate planning partners were the ones who got to hang out with the rock stars, mostly. The closest the media lawyers got was to spend fun-filled hours with record company executives and such. I don't think anyone scored free tickets for gigs.

On the plus side, the media people did get to spend a lot of time with hard-drinking journalists (that stereotype turns out to be entirely true) and always had all the best gossip and scandal earlier than the rest of us.

Bepolite

So sat through my first lecture tonight. The blow was softened quite considerably by the rather glamours lecturer they've lined up for us. Course outline done and she launched straight in. I sat there thinking "I'll sit through this yawnfest then Langwallner can wake us all up a bit with Juris".

Suddenly it's break time and we've done over an hour, back in and very engaging again. Great lecturing style, great content and would you believe it everyone is riveted and trying to work out were they've put the last four years worth of payslips.

I looked over some of the past papers, a great mix of questions, some bitty ones, some 'proper' problem questions and an essay or two - something for everyone. Happy days and thanks for the steer folks.

j80ezgvc3p92xu

You aren't attending a certain renowned three letter institution in south Dublin by any chance, are you?

Bepolite

Angie Rotten Shellfish wrote: »

You aren't attending a certain renowned three letter institution in south Dublin by any chance, are you?

Infamous might be a better description :P

I'm at GCD.

Arbiter of Good Taste

Bepolite wrote: »

So sat through my first lecture tonight. The blow was softened quite considerably by the rather glamours lecturer they've lined up for us. Course outline done and she launched straight in. I sat there thinking "I'll sit through this yawnfest then Langwallner can wake us all up a bit with Juris".

Suddenly it's break time and we've done over an hour, back in and very engaging again. Great lecturing style, great content and would you believe it everyone is riveted and trying to work out were they've put the last four years worth of payslips.

I looked over some of the past papers, a great mix of questions, some bitty ones, some 'proper' problem questions and an essay or two - something for everyone. Happy days and thanks for the steer folks.

I'm only guessing, but you'll probably find that the tax lecturers are also practitioners, so will have a more real-life, commercial bent than the academics

Bepolite

Arbiter of Good Taste wrote: »

I'm only guessing, but you'll probably find that the tax lecturers are also practitioners, so will have a more real-life, commercial bent than the academics

Most of our lecturers are in practice, to be fair in the main it translates well, one or two have been dire. This one is a solicitor and some sort of accountant and if she goes on the way she did tonight she'll be brilliant.

GCD seem to be getting more in the way of Academics these days. I've never actually been lectured by any of them with the exception of Langwallner - a man that defies labelling in my experience. :pac:

V.W.L 11

with regard to revenue law can someone explain can a third party such as a solicitor write to them seeking details on me for example?

Bepolite

Give me a few more weeks. We spent the better part of last week trying to work out when tax returns went in. 30 minutes was wasted by assuming we knew that primary tax was paid the year before the balance is due. The lecturer was also dressed in a not unpleasant, but slightly distracting manner which didn't help!

nuac

Revenue may not be exciting, but it is useful knowledge

Marcusm

Bepolite wrote: »

Give me a few more weeks. We spent the better part of last week trying to work out when tax returns went in. 30 minutes was wasted by assuming we knew that primary tax was paid the year before the balance is due. The lecturer was also dressed in a not unpleasant, but slightly distracting manner which didn't help!

That seems a waste of time for a law lecture; I would have expected more by way ofprinciples of taxation and less relating to its administration. Also, it's preliminary rather than primary.

Mr. Incognito

V.W.L 11 wrote: »

with regard to revenue law can someone explain can a third party such as a solicitor write to them seeking details on me for example?

No. Not unless it is requested by the courts or under statute.

Simple data protection law really

Bepolite

Marcusm wrote: »

That seems a waste of time for a law lecture; I would have expected more by way ofprinciples of taxation and less relating to its administration. Also, it's preliminary rather than primary.

Never let the facts impede on a good story.

The requisite time was spent on double taxation treaties, the grounding for the semester and an explanation to half the class of what we did last week as they were in Edinburgh on the piss.

I wouldn't worry too much yet.