Introducing Tina Azarvand
Each year, Frost Law brings in a law student. This year, we brought in Tina Azarvand as a Law Clerk to help out the firm and gain valuable tax law experience while she is finishing her degree. We wanted to introduce you to this rising star:
Where are you going to school?
I am a 3L at the University of Baltimore School of Law, where I am working on a dual J.D./LL.M in Taxation.
What was your experience prior to joining Frost Law?
Before working at Frost Law, I was working with the University of Baltimore Low Income Taxpayer Clinic as a student attorney. I am grateful for this experience as it was extremely helpful in preparing for my role here.
Prior to that, I worked for the law firm Parr Brown Gee & Loveless in Salt Lake City, Utah, where I lived before I came to Baltimore to study at UB. They were a large firm that specializes in business and finance law. I also spent time as an extern with Stowell, Crayk & Bown, a small criminal law and immigration law firm in Salt Lake City.
What do you like most about working at Frost Law?
How much tax law bleeds into other areas, such as divorce and international law. There is a lot of overlap in what we do here at Frost Law, and I was surprised by how tax enforcement can impact so many other areas, like business and corporate law.
I also really enjoy the firm culture here, it is the best I’ve seen. Everyone here is really genuine and treats you as an equal, compared to working at a larger firm. The associates here actually listen to my opinion about things vs. being treated as ‘the girl who does the filing’.
I was grateful for the opportunities to do different types of work here, such as going to Miami to meet with one of our clients in Florida. Having that interaction with client directly was a really great real-world experience, as well as getting a first-hand look at the experience from the client’s perspective.
Based on your experience, have your professional or personal goals changed at all?
I definitely want to stay in the field. I really enjoy learning about tax law and tax controversy. Dealing with international tax is really interesting and I am looking forward to learning more about the whistleblower program. I am planning on staying on as a Law Clerk here, otherwise, I would want to work at a similar private tax firm about the same size as Frost Law.
What advice do you have for other students interested in becoming a law clerk?
Know how to stand out, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Don’t be afraid to put your foot down with some things. Speak up and ask for what you need to succeed.
Definitely make sure that the law firm is a good fit. Prior to applying to Frost Law, I knew several people that work here and was able to talk to them prior to applying. Remember, the interview isn’t just to see if you are a good fit for them, you also need to make sure that the firm you are applying to is a good fit for you.
Of course, networking with people in the field helps get your foot in the door. Attorneys are very busy and not always responsive through email, so getting them in-person is a good way to make an impression. I met one of the partners, Eli Noff, at an event in Ocean City. It was a casual event, but I didn’t know so I ended up wearing a suit to a beach happy hour. I was the only one who wasn’t dressed casually, it ended up being a funny way to stand apart from the crowd.
Tell us something that might surprise us about you.
I am a first-generation law student. Most of my family lives in the Middle East, but my dad immigrated to the States before I was born. He ended up settling in Utah and I grew up in Salt Lake City before moving to Baltimore for law school.
We are excited to have Tina join the team. You can read more about Tina here. Interested in joining the team? Email talent@frosttaxlaw.comto get the conversation started.
