[Anonymous]

Hello all,

I am currently studying for the CPA exam and I had to put my study on hold to study for the LSAT. I am planning on attending Law School in the Fall to get a JD/Macc. I am unsure how being a law student will affect my study in becoming a CPA. If anyone was in the same situation, please I will love to hear about your experience and how you were able to manage both your law classes and studying for the CPA exam.

Thank you

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure of the regulations for the state you reside in, but I know that most states do not allow an individual to be both a licensed CPA and attorney. You can obviously receive both accounting and law degrees, but if your end goal is to be a CPA, that JD is likely only going to be an educational experience and not something you can provide services with.

The same goes for if you want to be a licensed and practicing attorney- in that situation, you most likely won't be able to be licensed as a CPA in your state. If I were you, I'd make sure to check with your state regulations before you make any final decisions. Just my advice. 🙂

But to answer your original question, since I went off on a tangent first, I know that working a full 40+ hours a week and studying for the CPA exam 20+ hours is very difficult. Considering that you're doing the equivalent of a full-time job in pursuing a JD/MAcc, I would also think that studying for the CPA exam enough to actually pass the exams is going to be challenging, particularly when you consider that you'll have to be studying and memorizing concepts for school that aren't all applicable to the CPA exam, which may make your studying harder. Up until this past December, I worked full-time, went to graduate school for my MSA full-time, and attempted to study for the CPA exam, and the studying I did for my CPA exam really wasn't all that effective until my other studying lessened. Just make sure you have enough time to do everything so any of the areas you're studying aren't effected and you should be fine.

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure of the regulations for the state you reside in, but I know that most states do not allow an individual to be both a licensed CPA and attorney. You can obviously receive both accounting and law degrees, but if your end goal is to be a CPA, that JD is likely only going to be an educational experience and not something you can provide services with.

The same goes for if you want to be a licensed and practicing attorney- in that situation, you most likely won't be able to be licensed as a CPA in your state. If I were you, I'd make sure to check with your state regulations before you make any final decisions. Just my advice. 🙂

But to answer your original question, since I went off on a tangent first, I know that working a full 40+ hours a week and studying for the CPA exam 20+ hours is very difficult. Considering that you're doing the equivalent of a full-time job in pursuing a JD/MAcc, I would also think that studying for the CPA exam enough to actually pass the exams is going to be challenging, particularly when you consider that you'll have to be studying and memorizing concepts for school that aren't all applicable to the CPA exam, which may make your studying harder. Up until this past December, I worked full-time, went to graduate school for my MSA full-time, and attempted to study for the CPA exam, and the studying I did for my CPA exam really wasn't all that effective until my other studying lessened. Just make sure you have enough time to do everything so any of the areas you're studying aren't effected and you should be fine.

[dpad124]

@amandilee

“I'm not sure of the regulations for the state you reside in, but I know that most states do not allow an individual to be both a licensed CPA and attorney.”

Out of curiosity what states are these? Because I know the states around me, you can be both.

https://www.examiner.com/article/how-becoming-a-cpa-boosts-your-marketability-as-a-lawyer-colorado

“Stephen Kantor is both a CPA and a partner at the law firm Samuels Yoelin Kantor Seymour & Spinrad LLP”

GoingConcern.com
“We spoke to three CPAs turned attorneys, Eric Gullotta who has his own practice in Sonoma, CA, Steve Farrar of Smith Moore Leatherwood in Greenville, SC and Timothy Gagnon who has in own practice in Needham, MA.”

BEC Oct2014 - 85
AUD Jan2015 - ??
REG Feb2015 - ??
FAR May2015 - ??

[dpad124]

@amandilee

“I'm not sure of the regulations for the state you reside in, but I know that most states do not allow an individual to be both a licensed CPA and attorney.”

Out of curiosity what states are these? Because I know the states around me, you can be both.

https://www.examiner.com/article/how-becoming-a-cpa-boosts-your-marketability-as-a-lawyer-colorado

“Stephen Kantor is both a CPA and a partner at the law firm Samuels Yoelin Kantor Seymour & Spinrad LLP”

https://goingconcern.com/2010/7/so-youre-a-cpa-thinking-about-law-school

“We spoke to three CPAs turned attorneys, Eric Gullotta who has his own practice in Sonoma, CA, Steve Farrar of Smith Moore Leatherwood in Greenville, SC and Timothy Gagnon who has in own practice in Needham, MA.”

BEC Oct2014 - 85
AUD Jan2015 - ??
REG Feb2015 - ??
FAR May2015 - ??

[Anonymous]

^ I haven't heard of that before either… I've had several professors who are both JD & CPAs in the state of NY; they were able to be licensed/practicing both at the same time. As a matter of fact, all of my tax professors have been JD/CPAs, with LLMs too.

[Anonymous]

^ I haven't heard of that before either… I've had several professors who are both JD & CPAs in the state of NY; they were able to be licensed/practicing both at the same time. As a matter of fact, all of my tax professors have been JD/CPAs, with LLMs too.

[Anonymous]

I know a number of people who are JDs/CPAs as well. I've even heard unless you go to a top law firm getting your CPA first is the way to go.

[Anonymous]

I know a number of people who are JDs/CPAs as well. I've even heard unless you go to a top law firm getting your CPA first is the way to go.

[CPA soon]

Never heard of that before, I am not sure who handles bankruptcy in your state Amandile 😀 I'd imagine studying for the CPA exam while in law school will make you head explode Ciara, you'd have to get really organized

FAR - 71, 68, 74, (8/31/14) 78 ✔
REG - 67, 71, 71, (10/18/14) 78 ✔
BEC - (11/29/14) 86 ✔
AUD - 73, (4/4/15) 86 ✔

I can't believe this is over! 2 years and 3 months..

[CPA soon]

Never heard of that before, I am not sure who handles bankruptcy in your state Amandile 😀 I'd imagine studying for the CPA exam while in law school will make you head explode Ciara, you'd have to get really organized

FAR - 71, 68, 74, (8/31/14) 78 ✔
REG - 67, 71, 71, (10/18/14) 78 ✔
BEC - (11/29/14) 86 ✔
AUD - 73, (4/4/15) 86 ✔

I can't believe this is over! 2 years and 3 months..

[Anonymous]

I've never heard of any restrictions on being a practicing lawyer and CPA. In fact, I am currently a practicing lawyer, and if I passed AUD last Thursday (will know this Friday), I will also be a practicing CPA soon. I think the first responder may be making things up.

To OP:

First, do not go to law school. Do your masters in accountancy and be content with your life. Do Google searches. Legal jobs are nowhere to be found, and if they can be found, they pay very little. This lack of earning potential will be supplemented by massive student loans. J.D. no longer stands for “just dollars.” The golden age is gone and will never be back.

Second, if you do decide to go to law school, you will not be able to study for the CPA exam. Law school is a three-year long full time (and then some) job. If you can, pass all the CPA exams before you start law school. There's plenty of time if you buckle down. If you try to study for the CPA exam during law school, you will continuously fail both the CPA exams, and your law school finals.

Good luck to you.

[Anonymous]

I've never heard of any restrictions on being a practicing lawyer and CPA. In fact, I am currently a practicing lawyer, and if I passed AUD last Thursday (will know this Friday), I will also be a practicing CPA soon. I think the first responder may be making things up.

To OP:

First, do not go to law school. Do your masters in accountancy and be content with your life. Do Google searches. Legal jobs are nowhere to be found, and if they can be found, they pay very little. This lack of earning potential will be supplemented by massive student loans. J.D. no longer stands for “just dollars.” The golden age is gone and will never be back.

Second, if you do decide to go to law school, you will not be able to study for the CPA exam. Law school is a three-year long full time (and then some) job. If you can, pass all the CPA exams before you start law school. There's plenty of time if you buckle down. If you try to study for the CPA exam during law school, you will continuously fail both the CPA exams, and your law school finals.

Good luck to you.

[mla1169]

Won't be easy but I'm sure it can be done if you want it badly enough and willing to make some sacrifices to do it all.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[mla1169]

Won't be easy but I'm sure it can be done if you want it badly enough and willing to make some sacrifices to do it all.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Julia_anika]

Go for it and you'll be golden!!!

I wish I went to law school instead of doing MST. I'm in NYC. All of my professors went to law school and are CPA's as well.

NYC, NY
FAR - 82 Jan 2014
AUD - 86 Apr 2014
BEC - 77 Aug 2014
REG - 79 Nov 2014

[Author]

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