Staff Attorney, Low-Income Tax Clinic

For over 50 years, Bet Tzedek has set the standard for innovation and excellence in poverty law. In that tradition, Bet Tzedek seeks a Staff Attorney to provide legal services, education, and leadership to our Low-Income Tax Clinic. The Staff Attorney will be responsible for advancing the Clinic’s mission in ensuring the fairness and integrity of the tax federal tax system for all taxpayers, particularly low-income individuals, and taxpayers for whom English is a second language (ESL).

This position is eligible for Bet Tzedek Legal Services’ hybrid/remote workplace designation. While the primary workplace is Bet Tzedek’s offices, at the discretion of the immediate supervisor, the employee may be permitted to work remotely or may be required to work in other locations depending on workload/business obligation.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Directly responsible for all activities of the Bet Tzedek Low-Income Tax Clinic, including client representation, “Know Your Rights” education, outreach, and policy advocacy;
• Represent individuals before the United States Tax Court, the Internal Revenue Service, and the California Franchise Tax Board;
• Develop and conduct community education and outreach programs throughout Los Angeles County on a variety of state and federal tax issues. Target audiences include low-income and immigrant communities, communities of color, and legal services staff and other community professionals with no tax law experience;
• In collaboration with community partners, conduct administrative policy advocacy;
• Work closely with Bet Tzedek’s Director of Pro Bono Programs to place matters with pro bono attorneys, and train and mentor pro bono attorneys and law students;
• Work with Bet Tzedek’s finance and development departments to comply with all requirements of the IRS’s Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic grant program, including reporting on service activity, preparing grant renewal applications, and attending an annual national conference for Low-Income Taxpayer Clinics.

QUALIFICATIONS:

•  Active member of the California State Bar in good standing (required);
•  Minimum 3 years practice experience in tax law, legal aid, or related field (preferred);
• Working knowledge of federal income tax law (required);
• Spanish proficiency and ability to provide written and oral Spanish translation (preferred);
• Demonstrate an understanding and commitment to Bet Tzedek’s mission of equal justice for all and Bet Tzedek’s core values of leadership, community-based advocacy, and innovation (required);
• Demonstrated commitment diversity, equity, and inclusion (required).

BENEFITS PACKAGE:

Bet Tzedek offers an excellent benefits package in addition to competitive salaries. These benefits currently include:

• A generous number of paid holidays (up to 21 per year), vacation (up to 20, depending on number of years with agency), and sick days (up to 45) annually.
• Personal and floating holidays
• Compensatory time for exempt employees.
• 18 weeks of paid parental leave (after 1 year of employment.)
• Various paid leaves
• Medical, dental, vision, chiropractic and acupuncture coverage for employees and dependents, with office visit co-pay reimbursement for HMO enrollees.
• Life/accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, long-term disability insurance, and Employee Assistance Plan.
• Voluntary (employee-contributed) life/AD&D, accident, critical illness, hospital confinement, and pet insurance.
• Employee-contributed 401(k) plan.
• Employee-contributed 403(b) plan.
• Healthcare and childcare flexible spending accounts.
• Commuter transit and/or parking benefits.

HOW TO APPLY:

• Email letter of interest, resume, and a writing sample to bettzedek.9F.A40@applynow.io, subject: “Staff Attorney – Low-Income Tax Clinic.”

Note: All positions are subject to funding; ongoing funding or employment cannot be assured.

Bet Tzedek is a unionized environment. Our salary range for unionized positions reflects our agreed upon step placement system, and the final offer extended to candidates is based on an internal equity review and candidates’ relevant experience, skills, background, and bar date, if applicable.

To best serve our communities, Bet Tzedek seeks diverse staff with cultural competency reflecting our client populations. We strongly encourage candidates from traditionally underrepresented communities and historically oppressed groups to apply.