Joyce E. Cheng graduated Magna cum laude from Jersey City State College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech Therapy, and earned her Master’s degree in Speech Pathology from Rutgers University graduating in the top ten percent of her class. Ms. Cheng graduated from VTI Paralegal Institute in 1988 receiving honors for outstanding student and the Westlaw research award. Ms. Cheng passed the Certified Legal Assistant exam in May, 1989.
Ms. Cheng worked as a paralegal for the civil litigation firm of Bird & Skibell in Dallas, Texas from February 1989 – February 1991, where she worked directly with the senior partner, David Bird. Ms. Cheng handled her own caseload of estate planning, litigation and probate cases in addition to drafting pleadings, motions, and summary judgments, and conducting legal research. Ms. Cheng was an active member of the Dallas Association of Legal Assistants and a member of the Dallas State Bar – Paralegal Division.
From June 1991 through June 1995, Ms. Cheng worked for the IRS with the Office of Disrict Counsel in Laguna Niguel as a paralegal specialist. Ms. Cheng handled Tax Court cases of up to $100,000.00 in tax liabilities with issues including fraud, unreported income, and tax shelters and assisted at numerous trials at the request of the trial attorneys. Ms. Cheng facilitated numerous settlement conferences with Appeals Officers on docketed Tax Court cases. In addition, Ms. Cheng handled tax collection matters including review of writs of entry, referrals for summons enforcement, and review of offers in compromise for legal sufficiency. Ms. Cheng also served on the Laguna Niguel Quality Improvement Team and served as their team leader from 1993 – 1995. Ms. Cheng left the government to work in the private sector, joining our firm in July, 1995. Ms. Cheng became an Enrolled Agent in November, 1999. Ms. Cheng assists our attorneys with all aspects of their cases including drafting pleadings and motions, preparing bankruptcy discharge analyses, performing legal research, communicating with the tax authorities, preparing offers in compromise, and resolving collection matters.
Ms. Cheng is currently an active member of the National Association of Legal Assistants and the Orange County Paralegal Association, and is a past Director of the Orange County Paralegal Association. Ms. Cheng is also a current member of the Tax Section of the Orange County Bar Association: National Association of Enrolled Agents; California Society of Enrolled Agents.
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