2025 Summer Public Interest Fellow

How would you describe your experience?

This past summer, I interned with the Erie County Bar Association's Volunteer Lawyers' Project ("VLP") Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic in Buffalo.  The VLP's 2024 Annual Report states that "VLP staff and volunteers ... speak for those who are not heard and stand up for clients facing challenges to the very essentials of life." Each week during this internship, I witnessed and helped with important work being performed by dedicated lawyers and support staff across many practice areas. It was a humbling, educational and inspiring experience.

My work was intended to advance the clinic's two primary objectives: (1) assisting low-income and/or ESL taxpayers to resolve their tax matters with the IRS and the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, and (2) providing education to those populations about relevant tax topics. I interacted with clients daily, helped to represent their interests before governmental tax authorities, and spent many focused hours researching federal and New York State tax law. Fortunately for me, this is a niche practice area that I enjoy, and one in which I hope to continue making positive contributions to our local community.

What impacted you the most?

I prepared and delivered a two-part presentation series on small business tax topics geared toward low-income taxpayers. As I selected and researched which topics to include in the series, I tried to focus on what would be the most helpful to everyday people, such as workers in the "gig economy." Attempting to learn and then convey complex tax topics in plain language challenged me and led to a deeper understanding and appreciation for just how difficult it can be for well-intentioned citizens to comply with tax law. This experience has reinforced my belief that there is a need for willing and qualified tax attorneys to step in to offer guidance.

What would you like to share with our donors?

Thank you to the New York State Catalyst Public Service Fellowship Program for providing the funding that helped make my experience this summer possible! I hope to pay it forward by using the skills and knowledge I gained at the tax clinic to continue helping others in our community.

One fantastic opportunity I am especially grateful for was being invited to attend an interactive panel discussion with several NYS appellate judges who discussed the importance and value of public service. The judges' time, expertise, and encouragement were highly motivating and very much appreciated.