Fall Legal Student Internship - Low Income Taxpayer Clinic

Organization Overview:

Colorado Legal Services (CLS) is Colorado’s statewide nonprofit legal aid program, with twelve offices providing civil legal assistance to low-income Coloradans throughout the state. CLS provides free legal assistance in a broad variety of legal areas, including family law, public benefits, eviction defense, consumer protection, tax issues, services to survivors of serious crime and human trafficking, and many others.

CLS has strengthened lives, assisted families, and supported communities–one person at a time for over 100 years. We are committed to providing high-quality, free legal advice and representation to eligible individuals throughout Colorado. We have a long history of successful impact and advocacy. CLS strives to bring about substantive, transformational change in the lives of those we serve.

We value representation.

At CLS, we value and respect our staff's wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. We ensure representation of our client communities in our staff, Board of Directors, and leadership teams. We also envision a fair, just, trusted, and harm reductionist legal system which emphasizes access to and implementation of true justice for every Coloradan.

Position Summary:

The Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) works to correct economic injustice by increasing access to essential poverty alleviation benefits distributed through the tax system. The current Low Income Taxpayer Clinic staff fulfills this mission by providing representation in tax controversies with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Colorado Department of Revenue; education about taxpayer rights and responsibilities; and advocacy to improve the fairness and integrity of the tax system. Interns participate in cases, outreach, and short-term projects under attorney supervision.

Essential Duties:

• Support LITC case work by scheduling meetings with clients, conducting intake interviews, gathering client documents, filing documents in electronic folders, and drafting client letters and IRS forms.

• Attend outreach activities to share information about Colorado Legal Services Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC).
• Communicate with clients and partners using plain language in a manner that is trauma-informed and culturally responsive.

• Draft public-facing outreach and education materials for low income individuals.
• Maintain positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders to improve client referrals and services.
• Comply with all LSC and LITC grant requirements and all CLS policies and procedures.

Required Qualifications:

• A demonstrated passion for social justice and commitment to working with immigrant communities, communities of color, and low-income communities to advance equity.
• Familiarity with the United States Tax System, such as coursework or experience preparing your own tax return, volunteering with volunteer income tax preparation programs, maintaining self-employed business records, or reviewing tax records.
• Attention to detail and comfort working with numbers.
• Current law or accounting student, law or accounting graduate, or someone with equivalent experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with low-income tax credits (ex. Earned Income Tax Credit)
• Fluency in English and Spanish.

Location:

This position is in-person at the Denver office located at 1560 Broadway.

Time commitment:

Part-time during the fall semester (we will work with you on start and end dates that align with your class schedule).

Compensation:

The position is unpaid but is open to receiving other work study funds that are student generated. Students may apply for course credit through their Externship Program.

How to Apply:  

Please submit your resume and cover letter via the “Apply for This Job” link for this job opening on our careers page. We will not be reviewing applications sent via e-mail or physical mail. If you have questions about this internship or any others at Colorado Legal Services, please contact Kirsten Hoaby, Denver Volunteer and Pro Bono Manager, at khoaby@colegalserv.org