MSU Law Students to participate in Alternative Spring Break of Community Service

A group of 25 Michigan State University College of Law students, faculty, and local volunteer tax attorneys will travel to New Orleans and Tuscaloosa, AL, for an Alternative Spring Break to provide tax preparation services to low-income taxpayers in areas affected by natural disasters. The annual program, now in its fifth year of travel to New Orleans, was started to help alleviate some of the continued problems taxpayers encountered after Hurricane Katrina. The inaugural Tuscaloosa leg of the trip was coordinated in response to spring 2011 tornadoes that caused significant damage to the area. The program is led by Professor Michele Halloran, director of clinical programs at MSU Law and director of the Tax Clinic. MSU Law students will join forces in Tuscaloosa with the University of Alabama School of Law to provide tax services to affected residents. The MSU Law students are certified under the Internal Revenue Service Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program and trained by local tax professionals.Those headed to New Orleans will participate at two community sites. Students selected to participate in the Alternative Spring Break program held a purse sale on Wednesday, Feb. 15, to help offset the costs of travel, lodging, and equipment. Lightly used, donated purses were re-sold to students, faculty, and staff in the Law College lobby. The purses were priced according to their perceived value and all proceeds will support the program. Published: Thu, Mar 1, 2012