Pro Bono Opportunities

Pro Bono: Getting Involved

Pro Bono Pledge

The Section would like to celebrate and encourage pro bono work by our members.Fill out our Pro Bono Pledge today to get started!

Calendar Call Programs

Calendar Call programs provide important advice and assistance to low-income, otherwise unrepresented taxpayers who have disputes with the IRS.

Assist Service Members

Help our service members with your tax experience through training VITA volunteers on military bases, or signing up for the ABA Military Pro Bono Project.

Low Income Taxpayer Clinics

LITCs provide representation before the IRS or in court on audits, tax collection disputes, and other issues for free or for a small fee.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance

VITA Programs provide an excellent pro bono opportunity for Section members who want to dedicate time to assisting deserving taxpayers.

Tax Assistance Public Service (TAPS) Endowment

The Tax Assistance Public Service (TAPS) endowment of the ABA Section of Taxation receives funding through the ABA Fund for Justice and Education (FJE). The FJE was created to accept gifts and grants to support the ABA’s public service work.

Webinars for Attorneys Interested in Pro Bono Work

The Tax Section started to offer quarterly webinars free to all ABA Members in March, 2018. The webinars build on each other and are meant to prepare tax attorneys who are interested in representing low-income taxpayers but do not have experience working with this population or potentially in controversy at all. Each webinar is recorded and posted here for educational purposes only. If you would like CLE credit, you can also purchase the webinars through the ABA Store. 

• Nuts & Bolts Collections Workshop: A Guide to Assisting Pro Bono Clients with Collection Matters (March 7, 2018)   Full Recording  |  Slides  |  Materials Appendix
• Nuts & Bolts Collections Part II: Next Steps in Assisting Pro Bono Clients with Collections Matters (June 13, 2018)  Full Recording  |  Materials
  
• Nuts & Bolts Collections Part III: Preparing an Offer-in-Compromise for Pro Bono Clients (September 18, 2018)  Full Recording  |  Materials page
  

Pro Bono Week CLE Series

Pro Bono Matters Column

Pro Bono Matters highlights the Pro Bono activities of the Section of Taxation. It appears as a reoccurring column in the ABA Tax Times.

Tax Impacts of Natural Disasters

Shining a Light on the PATH

Tribute to Chief Special Trial Judge Peter Panuthos

An Interview with 2016-2018 Christine A. Brunswick Public Service Fellow Catherine Strouse

Making a Difference in Pro Bono Tax Cases

2017 Recipient of the Janet R. Spragens Pro Bono Award: C. Wells Hall

Further Resources

• Pro Bono & Tax Clinics Tax Connect Community
• Assisting Disaster Survivors: Experience shows that these natural disasters can trigger numerous legal issues, many with tax consequences. The Tax Section, through the collective efforts of its diverse membership and its Committees on Pro Bono and Tax Clinics and Individual and Family Taxation, has the expertise to provide tax assistance to those most in need in the wake of such devastating circumstances.
  
• Christine A. Brunswick Public Service Fellowship:  The Public Service Fellowship program was developed to provide legal service assistance to low income taxpayers in underserved areas of the country, and to foster an interest in tax-related public service for those young tax lawyers who participate.
• Janet R. Spragens Pro Bono Award: The Pro Bono Award recognizes one or more individuals or law firms that have provided meritorious pro bono service in the representation to low-income taxpayers. The award is intended to encourage pro bono activities by all members through public recognition of the pro bono services of the annual award winners.