Hidden Gems: Meet Judson Mallory of Wiggam Law

Today we’d like to introduce you to Judson Mallory.

Hi Judson, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Since I was ten years old, I wanted to be an attorney. I didn’t come from a family of attorneys so I had no clue about what type of attorney I wanted to be, but I knew I was destined to practice law. I had a passion for helping people and loved to debate. It seemed like the perfect career. When I entered law school, I quickly learned that there are many different practice areas in the field of law and I had no idea what area I wanted to practice. While studying at Georgia State University College of Law, I was introduced to and signed up to work at the Phillip C. Cook Low Income Taxpayer Clinic. The tax clinic provides pro bono (free) legal representation to taxpayers who have active disputes with the IRS. One of my first cases was representing a taxpayer who was incarcerated for a mistake made while he was 18 years old. While incarcerated, he was unable to file several years worth of tax returns and the IRS prepared returns for him. When he was finally released and ready to start over fresh, he was faced with a looming tax bill of over $27,000. I pursued a settlement for him and reduced his liability down to $25.00 and give him the fresh start he deserved. It was an incredibly rewarding experience and I loved every minute of it. I got to witness firsthand the relief my clients experienced when their tax problems went away. After working in the tax clinic, I knew my calling was tax controversy and I have practiced tax controversy ever since.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The practice of law is simply that, a practice. No one gets it right the first time. When lawyers first start out, they are learning a new area of law and all of the nuances that come with it. However, that is the easy part. The hard part is learning to listen and understand your clients’ needs, concerns and goals and how to communicate effectively with them. Early in my career, I needed a particular client to provide copies of their bank statements and other financial records. I provided a long list of all the documents I could conceivably need, and provided details as to why I needed them, including a list of bad outcomes if the client didn’t provide them. At the end of it, the email was 2-3 pages long! After the client failed to provide the documents week after week, I finally scheduled an in-person meeting to discuss it. I learned that too much information can be overwhelming. Not everyone (almost no one) shares my excitement about tax law and to just bottom line up front what is needed and keep it simple.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Wiggam Law is a tax controversy law firm headquartered in Midtown, Atlanta, Georgia. We help individuals and businesses with tax disputes before the IRS and state taxing agencies. While we are located in Georgia, because our practice is a federal practice, we can help anyone with a US tax problem anywhere in the world. We pride ourselves in providing exceptional service tailored to our clients’ individual needs and goals. We handle a broad array of tax issues including resolving outstanding tax debts, audit defense, penalty abatement, settlements. litigation, and international tax compliance.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
As an Atlanta native, I am admittedly incredibly biased. The people are genuinely nice, full of creativity, and there is so much to do. It has a vibrant music scene, a wonderful aquarium and zoo, and great food. The worst part of the city, however, is the traffic. It is often said, “it can take over an hour to drive from one end of Atlanta to the other end of Atlanta”

Contact Info:

• Website: https://wiggamlaw.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judsonmallory