VITA 2009

February 20, 2009

We are off and running for another year! We have about two dozen law student volunteers signed up, and we’re informed that our client base is going to increase a substantial amount from what it was last year. Volunteers, get ready for action!

Training materials have been circulated to the volunteers, and it’s time for them to start signing up for client interview times. The sessions will commence on March 3 and continue until all our customers have been served – probably in early April. Those who wish to help and haven’t received the materials or the schedule should e-mail me here, and we will get all of that on its way to you.

Thanks again to the many members of the law school community who are devoting their time and talent to this worthwhile project. It is greatly appreciated by the clients and by me.

Jack Bogdanski

February 7, 2009

To all Lewis & Clark law students:

I am writing to ask your help with a worthwhile pro bono opportunity -- the 2009 Lewis & Clark Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. This is our 15th annual VITA program.  As always, noting that "charity begins at home," we will devote our efforts to helping international students at Lewis & Clark comply with their sometimes-onerous tax filing obligations in the United States.  To participate, law student volunteers must undergo training on foreign student tax problems; do a few hours of additional reading and thinking on their own; and be available on one or more Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday afternoons in March, when international students from the undergraduate campus will be coming to the law school for tax form preparation assistance.

No prior tax experience is necessary!  The training will give you the skills you need to participate, and all work will be done in three-person teams – two of you, and me.  Each international student "client" will meet with me and two law student volunteers in my office, and the four of us will prepare the client's tax returns together.

If you are interested in serving as a volunteer this year, please contact me at bojack@lclark.edu.  You will be contacted soon with updates about the written materials that you will need to master.  I'll be keeping a list of interested students, and other information, on this page.

Please consider signing up for this important pro bono project.  In addition to helping your fellow students, you are likely to learn some things about U.S. international taxation!

Thanks for considering this.

Jack Bogdanski

Created by: bojack@lclark.edu
Update:  20 Feb 09
Expires:  31 Aug 10