Specialist – Teacher-Fixed Term

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Work type:Faculty/Academic Staff
Major Administrative Unit / College: Michigan State University College Of Law
Department: Juris Doctorate Programs 40001138
Sub Area: FAS- Fac./Acad Staff
Salary: Salary Commensurate with Experience
Location:East Lansing
Categories:Administrative/Business/Professional, Education/Training, Fixed Term Academic Staff, Full Time (90-100%), Union, Remote-Friendly

Working/Functional Title

Taxpayer Clinical Supervising Attorney

Position Summary

JOB SUMMARY

The College of Law Clinical Supervising Attorney will assist the College of Law Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic Director with supervising law students in a clinical environment and managing caseloads of low-income taxpayers. This role will also represent low-income taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), state and local tax agencies, and federal and state court systems. Lastly, the Clinical Supervising Attorney will co-teach substantive tax law and IRS procedures as well as professional skills development, and plan and execute outreach projects to the general public and people who have English as their second language.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Significant responsibility in supervising the work performed by law students enrolled in the Tax Clinic I and Tax Clinic II.
• Representation and counseling of low-income taxpayers and English as a second or foreign language individuals before the Internal Revenue Service, state and local tax agencies, U.S. Tax Court, the Michigan Tax Tribunal, and other courts as dictated by the clinic’s caseload. During semester and breaks, may take responsibility for client representation, including appearance in court, brief writing, and representation before the IRS or Michigan Department of Treasury.
• Coordinate with the Director on special projects and research affecting Tax Clinic clients.
• Co-Teach substantive tax and tax procedure law and professional skills development in areas such as client interviewing and counseling, case file management, and other general law practice management issues to student clinicians.
• Review student drafted work and participate in supervisory meetings with the Director and students.
• Responsible for managing and optimizing the Clinic’s administrative functions.
• Assist the director with data collection and reposting to grant funders by managing client caseload data.
• Plan and execute a variety of community-based outreach projects to educate taxpayers about their rights and responsibilities under the Internal Revenue Code, to inform persons within the community about the existence of the Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic, and, more specifically, to invite low-income persons to take advantage of the Tax Clinic as a resource to solve their existing federal income tax controversies.
• Plan and execute a variety of community-based outreach projects to educate English as a second or foreign language taxpayers about their U.S. rights and responsibilities under the Internal Revenue Code.
• Draft:  1) written materials and community-education presentations to low-income and English as a second or foreign language taxpayers; 2) coordination of, preparation of, and direct participation in many outreach projects ranging from oral presentations to appearances at places at which English as a second or foreign language and low-income taxpayers in need of the Tax Clinic’s services gather (e.g., the local Salvation Army; homeless shelters, and community events); and 3) the provision of legal assistance in tax controversy cases and tax return preparation that is ancillary to those tax controversies.
• Prepare models of outreach and clinic publicity and will be encouraged to bring creative skills and experiences in modifying existing models or in creating new models.

Remote Friendly Explanation:

• The current College of Law Remote Work Policy states remote work should not exceed two days per week.  Employee may be required to report to the College of Law for onsite meetings/events.  Remote work agreements are continuously reviewed based on office needs, training, and schedules at the discretion of the employer.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Degree

Doctorate -Law

Minimum Requirements

REQUIRED EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/SKILLS

• Juris Doctor degree from an American Bar Association accredited law school;
• Admission to, or eligibility for admission to, the State Bar of Michigan; must be eligible to be waived in to practice in Michigan before assuming clinical responsibilities;
• Strong academic background, strong public speaking, research, and writing skills, comprehensive record-keeping, experience in educating and supervising students;
• At least one to three years’ experience involving representation of taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service and State of Michigan Department of Treasury;
• Admission, or eligible for admission, to the U.S. Tax Court bar, Western District of Michigan, and Eastern District of Michigan;
• Expertise in tax law and IRS practice and procedure as relevant to low-income taxpayers.

Desired Qualifications

DESIRED EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/SKILLS

• May require a valid vehicle operator’s license where needed to perform duties of this position.
• Other skills and/or physical abilities required to perform duties of this position.
• The position requires or will require prior to completion of the probationary period: knowledge of basic personal computer terminology and operations, and ability to use e-mail and the Internet.

Required Application Materials

• Cover Letter
• Current Curriculum Vitae or Resume
• At least three professional references with one preferably being a recent, former, or current supervisor.

Remote Work Statement

MSU strives to provide a flexible work environment and this position has been designated as remote-friendly. Remote-friendly means some or all of the duties can be performed remotely as mutually agreed upon.

Website

www.law.msu.edu

Department Statement

Michigan State University College of Law is a diverse and inclusive learning community with roots dating to 1891 when it opened as Detroit College of Law in Detroit, Michigan. It moved to its current East Lansing location in 1995 and remained a private institution until 2020 when it became a fully integrated college of Michigan State University. 

Today, MSU Law has more than 650 students, 55 faculty members, 50 staff members, five librarians, and a world-wide network of some 11,500 alumni. MSU Law operates seven legal clinics overseen by nationally recognized faculty that provide students an opportunity to work on actual legal cases. Additionally, it offers some of nation’s leading law programs in new and emerging legal education, including Intellectual Property and Trial Advocacy, Indigenous Law and Policy Center, the Lori E. Talsky Center for Human Rights of Women and Children, Conservation Law Center, and Animal Legal and Historical Web Center.

MSU College of Law, operating under the principles of its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategic Plan, is poised to become the state’s preeminent law school, preparing a diverse community of lawyer-leaders to serve diverse communities in Michigan and beyond. It is committed to providing a legal education that is taught by leading scholars in their fields, includes best-in-class experiential opportunities, and helps students graduate without excessive debt.

MSU Statement

Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.

Advertised:Mar 14, 2024 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close:Apr 23, 2024 Eastern Daylight Time