Singh (2L) wondered whether she should retrieve a box of Internal Revenue Service papers from her car after meeting with the federal tax collection agency for two hours earlier that day.

For many, the prospect of a two-hour meeting with the IRS might seem distressing. But for Singh, it’s business as usual.

Along with Joe Malca (2L), Singh co-directs the University of Florida College of Law’s chapter of the national organization Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA). It is designed to provide low-income people with free tax returns during tax season from Feb. 1 until April 7.

“I don’t think people realize the effect they’re having when they’re providing well over 600 Gainesville families with free tax returns,” Malca said.

And according to Malca’s own estimates, that number of 600 free returns and an estimated $5.7 million in tax refunds in 2010 is a low estimate. Those numbers could actually climb much higher as the organization continues to grow.

“It’s a good way to give back. We’re usually giving them good news,” Malca said of those whose taxes he prepares for free.

Singh, who graduated with her Master of Accounting from UF in 2009, said VITA is geared toward helping those with low to moderate incomes of up to $49,000 per person, but she said she doesn’t recall a time she or any of the other 100 student volunteers denied someone the free services VITA offers.

Both Singh and Malca stressed that the number of volunteers still has room to grow. Since they have been passing out fliers since October, the number of law-student volunteers has more than doubled from the previous year’s number of 48.

“There are a lot of people that run away when they see the word ‘tax,’ but we try and run after them,” Singh said.

Singh’s acknowledgment of the often-daunting language of taxation, however, was quickly followed with VITA’s baby-steps method of catering to those who know very little about taxes. She said only a few VITA volunteers are interested in tax law.

“You don’t need to know anything before you come in,” Malca said. “We’ll provide you with all the information you need.”

And the IRS is happy to help teach people, Malca said. Volunteers need only pass a basic and an intermediate open-book test to begin volunteering, both of which the IRS sends along with other materials to VITA chapters across the country. To further calm the fears of nervous first-time volunteers, Malca said every return is reviewed by a volunteer who has at least one year of experience with VITA.

“We’re trying to tell them it really is just asking questions,” Singh said. She noted the easy-to-use computer software that calculates each individual tax return. “It’s really not that difficult. People just get really intimidated when they see tax forms.”

For those who can’t overcome their fear of tax forms, Malca noted the importance of volunteering in a different capacity. VITA offers many different administrative tasks all of which count for community service hours toward the pro bono certificate upon graduation, including reading tax forms to international or elderly clients.

“The clients that come here have been coming for years,” Singh said, “and they’re all just so nice.”

Although Singh and Malca both stressed the importance of earning community service hours and gaining valuable experience in the useful field of taxation, the co-directors noted the most rewarding benefit of belonging to VITA is the relationships formed among law students and clients.

“We’re almost a family,” Singh said. “We all know each other. We have a real connection with the community.”

Singh recalled one female client in particular who, according to Singh, has been coming to the law school for a free tax return for the last five years and is now so familiar with the volunteers at VITA, she asks for people by name. It’s clear, as Malca nodded his head in agreement, VITA is not short on commitment.

Instead, the organization is struggling to pay its own bills. Fueled largely by generous donations from professors, the United Way and a few other sources, the organization has to conjure creative ways every night to feed its volunteers who work through dinnertime, they said.

“It’s a lot of pizza,” Malca said. “We’ve worked out a lot of deals with Domino’s.”

As Malca, Singh and the 100 or so other volunteers prepare for the next tax season in the coming days, both co-directors noted the passion for what they’re doing even amid their hectic final examinations.

“I always felt like this was more important than studying because I felt so good every time I left,” Malca said.

VITA prepares taxes every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evening from 5-9 p.m. until April 7. Volunteers are asked to help four hours per week and to bring their laptops. Those who want to get more involved with VITA should contact Joe Malca or Sonia Singh at UFVITA@gmail.com.

Florida Moot Court advances to quarter-finals in Charleston Moot Court Competition

Have your taxes prepared by VITA
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) is a free tax service that prepares returns for low to moderate income clients. All of our volunteers are certified through the IRS and are well-equipped to handle your specific tax issues. The law school is the home of a VITA site that operates on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 5-9 p.m. The law school is located on the corner of SW 2nd Ave. and 25th St. The volunteers operate in the organization’s office across from the cafeteria on the law school campus. The volunteers prepare both domestic and international returns Feb. 2 – April 8, 2010. If your family made less than $49,000 in income in 2009, you should qualify for free tax services. VITA strongly encourage students, faculty, and staff to support its efforts in preparing returns so please spread the word. Why pay all that money to get your taxes prepared when you can have an expert maximize your refund for free! For questions, contact Kimberly Thomas.

Tyger elected as Unite president
Third-year law student James Tyger has been selected to serve as the party president for the Unite Party in the upcoming Student Government Elections. “It is a distinct honor and a unique challenge, but it’s one that I wholeheartedly look forward to,” Tyger said. Prior to his selection as Party President, Tyger had served as Student Body President at Virginia Tech and more recently as the Student Senator representing the College of Law. “I have been privileged to serve in a variety of roles within Student Government and I believe my background will really help in this new role,” he said. Student Government Elections will take place Feb. 23. and 24.

The Center on Children and Families needs immediate research help for an amicus brief on Florida’s anti-gay adoption statute. Several distinct projects exist, most of which need to be completed in the next 2-3 weeks. Contact Joe Jackson at jjackson@law.ufl.edu if interested.

Earn pro bono hours with VITA program

The Volunteer Income Taxpayer Assistance program begins this semester and is a great way to earn pro bono hours toward your pro bono certificate. Volunteers in VITA prepare tax returns for low and middle income taxpayers in Gainesville. Many UF students also use VITA as well. Once a tax return is prepared, an experienced coordinator will review the return. You also obtain first-hand experience interacting with taxpayers and learning more about our tax system. No prior tax experience or knowledge is required. The training materials will provide you with the basic information you will need to prepare tax returns. There are two basic tests that must be passed by the end of January before you can volunteer for VITA. You only have to volunteer one day a week (Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.) during the spring semester, excluding spring break. For more information contact Christopher Pavilonis at cpav2@ufl.edu.

2009 Haitian Lawyers Association Scholarship

The Haitian Lawyers Association (HLA) is pleased to announce that it is now accepting applications for the 2009 scholarship awards. Every year HLA awards monetary aid to a student of Haitian descent. Since the award’s inception, the amount has increased to a total of $8,000, and HLA has expanded the offer from the South Florida area law schools to law schools statewide. The application deadline is Jan. 19, and each recipient is eligible to receive up to $2,000. Recipients are invited to attend the association’s annual gala on Feb. 7, 2009. The student must be of Haitian descent and must be in good academic standing. The student must submit an official transcript, and a one page (maximum two pages) personal statement describing involvement in the community, financial need for the award, as well as reasons why the student is better qualified to receive the award. The entire submission shall be postmarked no later than January 19, 2009 and mailed to the attention of Kertch J. Conze, Esq., at 801 N.E. 167th St., Second Floor, North Miami Beach, FL 33162. For more information contact Kertch Conze at 305-455-2040 ext. 245.

Moot Court Board wins in Atlanta

Justice Campbell Thornal Moot Court Board members Andrew Hoffman, Michael Friedman, Lorna Cobb and coach Meghann Wolfe won the Best Brief award at the Region Five National Moot Court Competition held in Atlanta, Ga. on Nov. 21-22, 2008. The team also advanced to the semi-final round, surpassing six other teams. Mercer University School of Law defeated Florida by a narrow margin, and later finished as the Region Five champion. Andrew, Michael, and Lorna argued the constitutionality of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act and as a separate issue, whether the Individuals with Disabilities Act requires a student to enroll in public school before becoming eligible for private school tuition reimbursement. The team received valuable assistance from professors Little, Fenster and Pflaum. The Justice Campbell Thornal Moot Court Board represents UF Law in numerous state and national appellate advocacy competitions throughout the year. The Board was founded in 1961, and was named after the prominent Florida Supreme Court chief justice. The board’s mission is to promote excellence in appellate advocacy. Comprised of students from the University of Florida Levin College of Law, the board has received numerous state and national awards. New members are selected each year from all third semester students who try out for the team. (Photo: Lorna Cobb and Michael Friedman. Not pictured: Andrew Hoffman)

Students form Faculty Recruitment Committee

In fall 2008, the Faculty Recruitment Committee was formed with the help of the Office of Student Affairs. The committee is led by founder David Kerner (2L) and Kali Feinman (2L) and consists of 16 diverse members of the law school community, ranging from 1Ls to members of the LL.M. tax program. The committee, which works under the Faculty Appointments Committee, was designed to interact with professorial candidates who were invited to interview for a tenure track faculty position. “It is the FRC’s hope to put the student body’s best foot forward during this important function and to let the candidate know that our student body is involved and invested in the affairs of the law college,” said Kerner. “We believe that student body input is vital to the faculty recruitment process, and with the help of the members of the committee, I know we were able to fulfill the committee’s mission of doing just that.” Kerner also noted that the success of the committee would be impossible without the encouragement and assistance of the faculty, and in particular, Professor Hernandez and Professor Wright, who head the faculty hiring process. The current student members of the Faculty Recruitment Committee are: Andrew Comiter (LL.M.), Jenny Perkins (3L), Charles King (3L), Jonathan Blocker (3L), Clay Carlton (2L), Kali Feinman (2L), David Kerner (2L), Stephen Liverpool (2L), Gaston Fontela (2L), Darren Heitner (2L), Rebecaa Sable (2L), Ashley Beaman (2L), Jennifer Hartzler (2L), Harlan McGuire (2L), Wayne Atkinson (2L), Sara Casey (1L) and Kyla Tan (1L). (Photo: Pictured from left to right, Darren Heitner, David Kerner, Professor Candidate Dr. Noa Ben-Asher and Ashley Beaman during one of the committee’s breakfast interviews.)