Question

Does an accountant need to study and fully memorize the Law? What if the Law changes?

Answer 1

Reagan Walker, former Lawyer at Government of Canada (1989-2013)

Answered Dec 4 2017 · Author has 99answers and 119.6k answer views

No, there is a big difference between medicine and law in this regard. In medicine, it is important to have a head full, not only of anatomy but also, of diseases and how they “present” so that you can: a) feel (or palpate) for what is going on inside the patient’s body and b) ask the necessary questions to eliminate all irrelevant variables until you are left with a solitary (“unifactorial”) cause. (This is called a differential diagnosis).

In law, you are not expected to have all laws and regulations in your head. For one thing, there are too many of them and they are constantly changing. You are, however, expected to learn how to “think like a lawyer”. That requires you first to understand what is the issue in play.

Next you must investigate the situation from enough angles to sift through and weigh the evidence so as to come up with a solid formulation of the facts of the matter. Then, and only then, do you look at what law would be relevant and ask yourself how it would be applied to the facts.

The great justice Oliver Wendell Holmes apparently said that a young lawyer knows the law but an old lawyer knows the exceptions. It is only with experience in the field that most of us learn to see beyond the facial expression of the law (in print) and are able to recall to mind the dozen or so cases that might be relevant to how the law would be interpreted in the given situation. With greater research we might be able to see the overarching patterns, or policy considerations, behind the law and its judicial interpretation.

Knowing how all this would play out in court is, along with knowing the parties involved and what motivates them, the best foundation for resolving the issue. That is why when I was a legal manager I always looked for some litigation experience when hiring young lawyers.

Answer 2

The salary range is broad for both beginning accountants and attorneys. On average, lawyers make a lot more money than accountants right out of school. ... Meanwhile, the median salary for a first-year law associate was $135,000, according to the National Association for Law Placement's Associate Salary Survey.