After relocating to Atlanta from the suburbs of Kansas City, Missouri with her husband, Emily Yaun (J.D./MBA ’17) set her sights on Georgia State University College of Law. She enrolled at the College of Law as a full time student in 2013. Now, nearly nine years later she can be found at the same law school but with a different title: assistant clinical professor and director of the Philip C. Cook Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic.
“I took Basic Federal Tax with Professor Donaldson, and he showed that tax could be really fun and that it applies to everyone’s life,” said Professor Yaun.
She enjoyed the course so much that she signed up for the tax clinic. That is where she found her spark for tax advocacy and was able to build relationships with classmates.
“I didn't necessarily feel connected to the law school until I did the clinic, and it became my place at home in the law school. I enjoyed the work that we did, the clients, the other students and the professors. Whether it was assuring an elderly woman that her tax controversy wouldn’t land her in prison or witnessing a client’s relief at a $10 settlement with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the tax clinic’s advocacy always gave me something to look forward to,” said Professor Yaun.
Georgia State Law Assistant Clinical Professor Conner Watts (J.D. '17) said his colleague has made her mark at the law school and within the tax industry.
"Professor Yaun's impact has been incredible for the low-income Atlanta population facing IRS pressure, and that is to say nothing of her impact on the students,” said Professor Watts.
The hands-on experience the tax clinic provided was formative to her growth and her understanding of tax law. Professor Yaun spent five semesters with the clinic as a student-attorney and graduate research assistant helping professors with their administrative needs and teaching students how to connect with clients as they navigated cases.
“You learn so many important skills in tax clinic that even if you have no desire to practice tax, it’s a wonderful experience and something amazing to put on your resume,” she said.
Following graduation, Professor Yaun attributed her post-graduation roles to her experience in the tax clinic. She had an advantage over other applicants at law firms because local employers often seek out students with tax clinic experience, and they were impressed with her resume. She began her practice of law at a bankruptcy firm where she helped clients regain financial control as they navigated through the complexities of bankruptcy filings. However, a call from Georgia State Law Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Tameka Lester about an opening in the tax clinic resulted in her swift return to the school.
“Having worked alongside Professor Yaun for many years, I have had the privilege of seeing firsthand the extraordinary impact of her teaching and leadership. Whether mentoring students, advocating for clients, building meaningful community partnerships, or strengthening the Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic community nationwide,” said Dean Lester.
Professor Emily Yaun (J.D./MBA '17) spent five semesters with the Philip C. Cook Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic as a student-attorney and graduate research assistant.
Professor Yaun was excited about the opportunity. “I told my husband and anyone that listened, when I was in law school and during my time as a GRA, that my dream job was to work in the clinic.”
Since her return, Professor Yaun has gone from being a student member of the tax clinic fellowship, to supervising attorney, assistant clinical professor and now director following the departure of longtime tax clinic leader and director, Ted Afield.
“Emily operates with exceptional expertise, integrity and purpose. Her work embodies the mission of Georgia State University College of Law by expanding access to justice, preparing practice-ready lawyers and serving underserved communities. The lives she has touched, both within the college and across the tax profession, are a testament to her unwavering commitment to public service and clinical legal education,” Dean Lester added.
Beyond the tax clinic, Professor Yaun continues to deepen her knowledge and commitment to tax law. She received her master of laws in Taxation in May of 2026 from the University of Florida and she is an active member of the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Tax Law section.
In 2026, she became a John S. Nolan Fellow. The one-year program awarded by the ABA’s tax section recognizes young tax lawyers who demonstrate exceptional leadership and an ongoing commitment to the section’s mission. While participating in the program Professor Yaun noticed a familiar face: Minh "Dennis" Nguyen (J.D. ‘21), a member of the cohort, and one of her former students at Georgia State Law. Nguyen is currently an associate attorney at Taylor Nelson Amitrano, LLP, a Southern California-based law firm specializing in California, federal and international tax controversy disputes.
“It’s really fun to see my former students do so well in their careers. It was a very proud, full circle moment for both of us,” said Professor Yaun.
The tax clinic is one of the many clinics at the College of Law that offers hands-on experience to law students, and it has been integral in the formation of several tax attorneys across the metro Atlanta area and beyond.
Established in 1992, the Philip C. Cook Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic connects Georgia State Law students with low-income members of the Atlanta community so they can represent taxpayers who are unable to afford legal representation in federal income or employment tax disputes with the IRS. As part of the high-volume tax clinic, students manage 12 of their own cases each semester which includes interviewing clients, communicating with clients, legal research, data collection, managing case load and learning about the billable hours system. The work of tax clinic students has resulted in compromises secured and refunds restored in the amount of $3,000–$5,000, producing life-changing relief for people who need it the most.
-Written by Laura Osnard (J.D.’27)