Is Accounting similar to law in terms of documentation requirements? As a healthcare worker contemplating a career switch to Accounting for better quality of life, I can’t help but compare my experiences in law school. I discovered that I really dislike legal writing, which often involves endless assignments and practice essays. Delving into case law is tedious, and it’s a constant struggle to maintain focus. The abstract nature of legal argumentation feels foreign to someone accustomed to the clear cause-and-effect relationships in medicine. Legal writing often requires lengthy, rhetoric-heavy texts, which just doesn’t resonate with me.
What is your experience with writing in Accounting? How much of your work involves documentation?
One response
Transitioning from healthcare to Accounting is an interesting move, and I can definitely see why you’d want to explore it based on your experiences with legal writing.
In Accounting, the amount of documentation you write typically varies by the area you work in. If you’re in public Accounting or Audit, you’ll find that you do have to write reports and memos, but the style is generally much more straightforward and focused on clarity rather than rhetoric. You’re often summarizing financial findings or compliance matters rather than engaging in complex argumentation.
In corporate accounting or Bookkeeping, the documentation might be limited to financial statements, reconciliations, and procedural notes, which are typically structured and to the point. While there’s still a need for clear writing, it’s generally not as extensive or nuanced as in legal writing.
Overall, many accountants find that the writing required is much less cumbersome than what you experienced in law school. If you prefer practical, cause-and-effect writing that gets straight to the point, accounting might be a better fit for you. Just remember that there will still be some documentation involved, but it tends to be more focused on numbers and results rather than abstract reasoning. Good luck with your decision!