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While many law students wait years for real client experience, a group of Widener Law Commonwealth students spent this past spring diving headfirst into preparing tax returns for more than 250 clients through the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, known as VITA.

Run under the guidance of Associate Professor of Law Michael Hussey, the VITA program offered students a rare opportunity to engage directly with community members while applying what they’ve learned in the classroom to real-world scenarios. Over the course of the season, students volunteered more than 500 hours through Saturday morning clinics held on campus.

“It is deeply gratifying to see how much it means to our clients knowing that IRS-trained volunteers have prepared their tax returns,” said Hussey, who has advised the program for years. “I often notice a sigh of relief from our clients as they can get back to their days and lives knowing that they do not need to worry about their taxes.”
For second-year law student Elizabeth Wenger, the experience was eye-opening.

“I didn’t realize what the program was or that it was offered for credit by Widener Law Commonwealth until I talked with Dean Acri while planning my spring schedule,” Wenger said. “As a curriculum option, it’s a one-credit course that counts toward our graduation requirement for experiential learning.”

Wenger, who hopes to pursue a career in estate, elder, and real estate law, said her background in business made VITA a natural fit. Still, the program offered more than she expected.

“My undergraduate degree was in business, but I hadn’t had much tax experience—outside of doing my own taxes,” she said. “More information regarding tax law and tax preparation is better than not.”

Each clinic started early, with an 8 a.m. class session before clients began arriving at 9. By noon, students had often assisted multiple individuals or families, navigating a range of tax scenarios. For Wenger, it was her first time using tax software—and her first experience working face-to-face with clients.

“Being a law student and even a summer associate hasn’t quite given me the opportunity for direct client interaction yet,” she said. “VITA certainly has given me that opportunity.”

According to Hussey, that early client interaction is exactly what makes the program so beneficial.

“VITA is a valuable experience for our students because they learn about applying what is learned in the classroom in situations with real clients,” he said. “In practice, things are rarely as organized as they may seem when only in the classroom.”

Involvement in the program also pushes students to sharpen their communication and analytical skills.

“The VITA experience helps law students with their client interviewing skills,” Hussey explained. “They learn to listen closely to clients and ask probing questions to gather all the needed information. While knowing the law itself is important, lawyers must come to a deep understanding of the facts. It’s this understanding that helps determine which laws apply and which don’t.”

For Wenger, some of the most memorable moments came not from tax code, but from personal connection.
“It’s just very rewarding to help someone complete a mentally heavy task on their to-do list,” she said. “You get a range of reactions—from a lot of gratitude to some grumbling about how complicated our tax system is.”

She admitted the learning curve could be steep, especially when working with unfamiliar issues, but she leaned on the training materials and support from faculty to get through it.

“It really is pretty incredible that our location had this level of impact,” she said. “I was able to personally see the difference I made for the individuals I worked with. But to step back and see the bigger picture—it shows what a combined effort can do for the community.”

Wenger sees the VITA program as just one example of Widener Law Commonwealth’s commitment to preparing students for client-focused careers through meaningful, service-based opportunities.

“I think Widener Law Commonwealth does a great job with providing students with opportunities like this,” she said. “Between formal pro bono work through VITA or the Central Pennsylvania Law Clinic, and other efforts like Wills for Heroes, there are a lot of ways to give back to our community.”

Looking ahead, she said the experience reaffirmed her commitment to staying involved in these kinds of efforts.
“It’s been a great example of the value of pro bono work and staying active with organizations that facilitate service like this,” Wenger said. “I know I want to continue doing this kind of work long after graduation.”