Tax law holds Phillips’ interest

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Louie Phillips understands.

“Tax work is difficult, and there’s a long learning curve,” says Phillips, a paralegal in the trusts and estate group at Boardman & Clark in Madison.

He’s been to more than one conference where his contemporaries simply shook their heads. And, for a while, Phillips shook his head right along with them.

“But once the light goes on it all starts to make sense,” Phillips laughed. “You say, ‘It’s all right. I do understand this.’”

It’s an achievement Phillips has come to quietly celebrate, particularly since he had no experience when he became a paralegal nearly 31 years ago.

“I was a teacher,” Phillips explained.

After earning his bachelor of science in biology and chemistry, along with a secondary-education teaching certificate, Phillips taught for eight years.

“I enjoyed it, but teaching is not an easy profession; there’s a lot of pressure,” Phillips said.

And low pay. And the near-constant threat of downsizing.

In fact, Phillips was out of work when a friend, a partner at a law firm, suggested he apply for work as a paralegal.

It wasn’t where Phillips ever thought he’d land. But, he said, he’s happy life led him to the law office.

“A lot of my work is dealing with probating of estates and termination of trusts, from drafting of court documents to inventorying assets to accountings tax work both fiduciary income tax and federal estate tax.”

But, Phillips said, “It’s not all drafting documents or doing tax work. I have a lot of client contact and, on a given day, I can be doing multiple different things.”

And at a moment’s notice.

“When you’re a paralegal and you’re working with multiple attorneys at one time, you’ve got to be flexible. When someone walks in your door, you have to be able to put things down and put the fire out.”

It’s a part of the job he’s really come to enjoy.

“Someone could show up at your door at any time. That makes it interesting to me. And if you can be of some assistance – that’s the bottom line: If they need my help, they’re going to get it.”

It’s something he’s really going to miss when he retires in December.

“I love the work; it’s fascinating,” Phillips said.