# Ask the incarcerated former lawyer **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 2, 2010, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-incarcerated-former-lawyer/527328 "2010-02-02T03:15:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-incarcerated-former-lawyer/527328/21 "2010-02-02T18:11:09Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Where did you hide your shiv? Why, inside of [The Secret](http://www.amazon.com/review/R2X2TB3S4O5I60), of course. Come now, Mr. Rover, tell me about the pruno! ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-incarcerated-former-lawyer/527328/22 "2010-02-02T18:16:18Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > Just one of the many hallmarks of the modern _liberalis douchicus_. Okay, in the OP it was a little funny. But if you’re going to use this phrase when talking about specific posters it’s going to be treated as a personal insult. So please refrain. In any case, welcome back to the boards. I’m not sure we’ve ever agreed on much of anything but I’ll take the opportunity to say I appreciate the fact that objectivists make individuality a core virtue. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-incarcerated-former-lawyer/527328/23 "2010-02-02T18:24:32Z")
Did you get disbarred? Were you imprisoned? Or were both teases? ---
**Author:** ![Inter\_Alia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@Inter\_Alia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inter_Alia)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-incarcerated-former-lawyer/527328/24 "2010-02-02T19:59:10Z")
Is it true that you need an LLM in tax law to be tax lawyer nowadays? I’ve been thinking about doing it, but I’m loathe to take out even more student loans. Yeah, sorry to derail the thread with a serious question. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-incarcerated-former-lawyer/527328/25 "2010-02-02T20:34:40Z")
Did you prefer the white pruno, or the red? ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-incarcerated-former-lawyer/527328/26 "2010-02-02T20:41:52Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Where did you hide your shiv? You do not want to know. But that big an asshole could smuggle in a Samurai sword. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-incarcerated-former-lawyer/527328/27 "2010-02-02T21:29:13Z")
> [@Inter\_Alia](#): > > Is it true that you need an LLM in tax law to be tax lawyer nowadays? I’ve been thinking about doing it, but I’m loathe to take out even more student loans. > > Yeah, sorry to derail the thread with a serious question. This is one of those questions where the answere just basically justifies their own biography. So, since I don’t have one, I don’t think it’s a necessity. But, I did take almost all of the tax courses offered by the LLM program while a JD, so I guess I got the functional equivalent. I don’t think that anything like a majority of tax lawyers I’ve worked with have one, so no one will think it’s weird for someone without an LLM to want to do tax. ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-incarcerated-former-lawyer/527328/28 "2010-02-02T21:46:02Z")
You weren’t incarcerated in a glacier, were you? ---
**Author:** ![Inter\_Alia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@Inter\_Alia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inter_Alia)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-incarcerated-former-lawyer/527328/29 "2010-02-02T21:54:06Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > This is one of those questions where the answere just basically justifies their own biography. So, since I don’t have one, I don’t think it’s a necessity. But, I did take almost all of the tax courses offered by the LLM program while a JD, so I guess I got the functional equivalent. I don’t think that anything like a majority of tax lawyers I’ve worked with have one, so no one will think it’s weird for someone without an LLM to want to do tax. Thanks. I took almost all the tax courses my school offered, but they don’t have a tax LLM program, so I’m probably missing some classes. I wanted to do tax since that very first federal personal income tax class, but the firm I wound up working for does mostly personal injury and contracts. And, well, here I am almost two years later, still interested in tax. I’m worried that if I can’t make the move to tax sometime soon, I’m going to get stuck. I have to say, I’m glad you came back because I’d been wanting to pick your brain. Any other advice? ---
**Author:** ![Randy\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee7513/32.png) [@Randy\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randy_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-incarcerated-former-lawyer/527328/30 "2010-02-02T21:58:30Z")
You should have been here for this a couple of weeks ago: > **[long term capital gains tax question](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=548934)** > > Not looking for tax advice and I know you don’t play a tax accountant on TV, but a general response would be appreciated. In the US, if an individually owned property for longer than 1 year is sold, how does the capital gains tax work? Is it a... ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-incarcerated-former-lawyer/527328/31 "2010-02-02T22:42:33Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > You do not want to know. > > But that big an asshole could smuggle in a Samurai sword. I have issued you a warning for personal insults in MPSIMS. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-incarcerated-former-lawyer/527328/32 "2010-02-02T23:40:04Z")
> [@Inter\_Alia](#): > > Thanks. I took almost all the tax courses my school offered, but they don’t have a tax LLM program, so I’m probably missing some classes. > > I wanted to do tax since that very first federal personal income tax class, but the firm I wound up working for does mostly personal injury and contracts. And, well, here I am almost two years later, still interested in tax. I’m worried that if I can’t make the move to tax sometime soon, I’m going to get stuck. > > I have to say, I’m glad you came back because I’d been wanting to pick your brain. Any other advice? Ask away, I’m glad to answer any questions (and feel free to PM or email also). You may want to speak with a recruiter that works with big firms and see what they think. Maybe look at a jobs board for a tax position and call them up to get their opinion on your current prospects and prospects with an LLM. In your situation, a tax LLM may be a good investment because you’d get into the “fresh out of school” hiring pool instead of being in the “lateral with no relevant experience” hiring pool, and I would think that having some actual work experience would help move you up in the fresh out pool. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-incarcerated-former-lawyer/527328/33 "2010-02-03T00:17:08Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > I have issued you a warning for personal insults in MPSIMS. The irony (anus?) burns. Poor Gonzomax:( ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-incarcerated-former-lawyer/527328/34 "2010-02-03T00:32:02Z")
I know insults aren’t allowed, but I laughed at Gonzomax’s post, and thank him for taking one for the team. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-incarcerated-former-lawyer/527328/35 "2010-02-03T02:03:56Z")
> [@Taomist](#): > > I know insults aren’t allowed, but I laughed at Gonzomax’s post, and thank him for taking one for the team. 😛 I feel the same, considering I fed him the straight line.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-incarcerated-former-lawyer/527328/36 "2010-02-03T02:16:19Z")
I knew it was coming. But… sometimes I can not resist. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-incarcerated-former-lawyer/527328/37 "2010-02-03T02:29:19Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > Not really (see: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=12064637&postcount=95](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=12064637&postcount=95)). Just thought I would announce my return, because I’m self-aggrandizing like that. I would like to publicly apologize to everyone for making that post. I’m really, really, really sorry. I didn’t mean it. I just did not think about the consequences of making that post, or who would possibly read it and come back out of lurk-dom. If I could go back in time and stop myself, I would. Again, sorry. P.S. Did you get to eat any [napkin sandwiches](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=545309&page=13) while in jail? ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-incarcerated-former-lawyer/527328/38 "2010-02-03T02:55:59Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I would like to publicly apologize to everyone for making that post. I’m really, really, really sorry. I didn’t mean it. I just did not think about the consequences of making that post, or who would possibly read it and come back out of lurk-dom. If I could go back in time and stop myself, I would. Nope, too late. From here on out, anything RR says is YOUR fault, attributable only to you. 😛 \*the summoning powers of darkness really should come with some instructions on responsibility. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-incarcerated-former-lawyer/527328/39 "2010-02-03T04:32:06Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > You have misunderstood those posts. I showed contempt for whiny and entitled people (who may also have been poor). How about the whiners who decry the constitutional power granted to Congress to tax and spend? Or the ones who snivel about how unfair it is that the minority doesn’t get to impose their will on the majority? Nothing left in your contempt purse for them? ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-incarcerated-former-lawyer/527328/40 "2010-02-03T04:37:38Z")
> [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](#): > > \*the summoning powers of darkness really should come with some instructions on responsibility. Thats what happens when you buy a poster from the far east. You get a happy fun time death poster or some such thing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-incarcerated-former-lawyer/527328.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-incarcerated-former-lawyer/527328.md?page=3)