Tameka E. Lester
85 Park Place Atlanta, GA 30303
Email: Phone: (404) 413-9244
Professional Bio:
LICENSE______
Attorney, Member of the North Carolina State Bar (Admitted To Practice: August 25, 2011)
EDUCATION______
North Carolina Central University School of Law, Durham, NC
Juris Doctor, May 2011
Tax Law Certification, May 2012
Activities: Faculty Recruitment Committee Member
Women’s Law Caucus (2L External Relations Liaison, 3L Vice President)
Federal Income Tax Teacher’s Assistant
Law Week & Barrister’s Ball Committees Member
Orientation Assistant
University of Phoenix – North Charlotte Campus, Charlotte, NC
Masters in Business Administration, May 2007 (Magna Cum Laude)
Honors: National Dean’s List, 2006 – 2007
Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC
Bachelor of Science in Integrated Marketing Communication, December 2001
Honors: Presidential Scholar (1997)
Activities: Orientation Assistant/Peer Mentor
Environmental Club
Nat’l Student Exchange Participant
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Publicity Chair
LAW RELATED EXPERIENCE ______
Georgia State University College of Law, Atlanta, GA
Assistant Director/Assistant Clinical Professor, Philip C. Cook Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic, July 2015 - Present
- Responsible for clinical teaching as well as oversight of the Tax Clinic; responsible for the supervision of students in all aspects of client representation, case selection, and client communication as well as developing and teaching related course work
- Provides legal representation and education for low-income and taxpayers in a variety of tax matters including, but not limited to: US Tax Court cases, IRS Examinations, IRS Appeal cases, IRS Levy cases, IRS Lien cases, Cancelled Debt Income cases, and Currently Not Collectible cases
- Conducts client intake and tax education workshops in counties throughout the state of Georgia
- Manages tax caseload, as directed by Director; develops and implements outreach program to reach and educate diverse audiences per Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) grant
- Ensures grant compliance for LITC Program and assists with grant reporting; proactively seeks new groups/contacts as well as new partnerships
- Conducts multiple, weekly tax education workshops; proactively work to grow the number and quality of outreach and tax workshops conducted and adapts as needed
- Proactively seeks to market LITC program through social media, radio, TV and newspapers
- Manages tax education brochures and distribution; ensure proper tracking of outreach, workshops, and other requirements under the LITC grant
- Supervises students and volunteers for LITC program
North Carolina Central University School of Law, Durham, NC
Director/Adjunct Professor, Low Income Taxpayer Clinic, August2011 – June 2015
Oversee daily operation of the clinical program, including promotion and marketing efforts
Manage federal grant, clinic budget and financial policies and procedures
Develop clinical procedures and protocol for assisting potential clients
Assist and supervise students with tax-related research to service clinical clients
Teach clinical course to introduce students to practice area and instruct them on how to resolve common issues faced by clinical clients
Conduct educational seminar in the community regarding taxpayers rights and responsibilities
Teaching load includes courses in advanced taxation and first year legal writing
North Carolina Central University School of Law, Durham, NC
Teacher’s Assistant, August 2010 –May 2011
Prepare lesson plan and teach weekly class to reinforce concepts taught by the professor
Hold individual and small group tutorial sessions
Legal Aid of North Carolina, Durham, NC
Intern, September 2010 –December 2010
Assist clients in the Low Income Tax Payer Program with resolving tax related issues
Conduct client interviews, research tax issues, and prepare tax deficiency appeals for Tax Court
Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog, Charlotte, NC
Summer Clerk, May 2010– July 2010
Researched legal issues and prepared memorandums and briefs for partners/associates which led to successful decisions in a Form 24 Hearing and Workers’ Compensation proceedings
Prepared contentions (briefs) for the North Carolina Industrial Commission
Assist partners/associates with mediations and depositions which led to the settlement of Workers’ Compensation claim
The Law Office of Eugene Tatum, Durham, NC
Legal Intern, August 2009 – December 2009
Prepared mortgage closing packetsand assisted with first time mortgage and refinance proceedings
Completed title searches and filed documents with the Register of Deeds after each proceeding
Drafted wills, contracts and other legal document
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE______
Wachovia Bank, Charlotte, NC
Business Analyst, March 2008 – June 2009
Managed small projects and process improvement initiatives for customer support division
Facilitated meetings, provided strategic vision for, and led organizational auxiliary group
Published department’s monthly reports detailing productivity and quality assurance
Created corporate communication and led division communication team
Floor Lead, June 2007 – March 2008
Assisted Team Leader with coaching/development
Resolved escalated customer issues
Completed weekly team audits
Served as Subject Matter Expert
Customer Service Analyst, April 2005 – June 2007
Assisted commercial customers with questions regarding bank products
Conducted intermediate/advanced account research
Muzak LLC, Fort Mill, SC
Consultant, May 2001 – April 2005
Account manager for 1200+ audio marketing customers/20 affiliate offices
Served as liaison between billing, copywriting, production and shipping
COMMUNITY/PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS______
North Carolina Central University School of Law Performance Based Admissions Program – Legal Writing Instructor
North Carolina Central University School of Law Bar Mentorship Program – Mentor
North Carolina Central University School of Law Invest In Success Program – Essay Review Team Member
Threshold Clubhouse – Durham, Board Member
-Secretary, 2013 - 2014
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. – Charlotte, Member
New Generation of African-American Philanthropist (NGAAP) – Charlotte, Founder
PROFESSIONAL REFERENCES
Pamela S. Glean, Esq., Professor, North Carolina Central University School of Law
Rosemary Gause, Consultant, Bank of America
Nakia C. Davis, Esq., Senior Clinical Professor, North Carolina Central University School of Law