How difficult is it to start specialising in tax litigation early in your career in terms of entry barriers in the market? I've heard that tax bar is a close knit community. I do not fear the steep learning curve. I love tax law. I am willing to step into it. I just hope to know the kind of obstacles I'll have to face if I enter tax litigation instead of the advisory side of it.

https://www.legallyindia.com/convos/topic/207228-IDT-Lit

Kindly see the above, before making any decision about venturing into tax litigation.

Would this hold true for income tax litigation as well?

Not really. Things are much better with DT litigation at the moment. But, it’s again the same problem, being branded as a tax lawyer and no in-house opportunities.

Nepotism is there is all fields of law in India. Some 350 families control the entire judicial machinery in India.

Solely relying on taxation may not bode well in the long run, multiple threads are present on LI, check em out