Tax Clinic Fellow
(Senior Attorney, 9735)
University of Minnesota Law School

The University of Minnesota Law School is seeking applicants who are recent law graduates for a fellowship position with the Ronald M. Mankoff Tax Clinic (âœTax Clinicâ). The fellowship will begin in June 2025 and is anticipated to be a two-year commitment contingent on grant funding, with an optional third year. The position requires on-site physical presence at the Tax Clinic, but also allows for a portion of the work to be done remotely.

The fellowship is ideal for individuals with interests in: 

⢠Direct client representation 
⢠Academic clinical work
⢠Policy development and initiatives 
⢠Coordinated impact-litigation 

The Fellow will work with and report to the director of the Tax Clinic. The Tax Clinic provides free legal representation to low-income taxpayers in controversy with the IRS and Minnesota Department of Revenue. The Tax Clinic also engages in outreach and education initiatives on tax issues in the community, as well as policy initiatives with the IRS and Minnesota Department of Revenue. In 2022, the Tax Clinic reduced clients tax liabilities by over $1 million. The Tax Clinic assists individuals litigating in US Tax Court as well as in Federal District Court. 

The Tax Clinic is housed within the Legal Clinics at the University of Minnesota Law School. The Law School currently offers over twenty-five clinical courses with a broad diversity of subject matters. The Law School is committed to providing national leadership in clinical education and to ensure that students are prepared for the increasing complexities of legal practice in a diverse community. 

The majority of the work is in-person with some remote flexibility.

Appointment: This is a 100% time, renewable, 12-month academic professional appointment. The initial appointment will be for one year. The appointment may be renewed for up to an additional two years following the successful completion of the first year.

Duties and Responsibilities: Under the mentorship of the director of the Tax Clinic, the Tax Clinic Fellow will provide direct legal representation to low-income taxpayers and assist in the supervision of law students providing such representation. Beyond direct representation, the Fellow has some flexibility and discretion in taking on additional responsibilities depending on their interests. A goal of this position is to facilitate the professional development of the Fellow. 

Additional responsibilities or opportunities that the Fellow is likely to engage with include publishing practitioner oriented or scholarly articles; developing outreach strategies and educational material for low-income taxpayers; coordinating impact litigation projects; drafting comments to policymakers on regulations or other agency guidance; providing guidance and feedback to students; assist in teaching clinic seminar sessions.

For further information, applicants can contact Caleb Smith, Director of the Tax Clinic, at smit2014@umn.edu.

Required Qualifications: J.D. degree from an A.B.A accredited law school. Applicants must be licensed to practice law in at least one state (whether Minnesota or another state).

Preferences: Knowledge of tax law and previous completion of tax courses is preferred but not necessary for the position. Preferred applicants will have experience working with low-income communities, or strong prior clinical experience. 

About University of Minnesota Twin Cities

The University of Minnesota, founded in the belief that all people are enriched by understanding, is dedicated to the advancement of learning and the search for truth; to the sharing of this knowledge through education for a diverse community; and to the application of this knowledge to benefit the people of the state, the nation, and the world.

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