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Attorney By Attorney
 Career
Profiles of the Profession
Ronald M. Katz
Katz & Korin, P.C.
I. Your primary practice area and subspecialty fields?
Are there many job opportunities in this area?
I lead my firm's Affordable Housing and Community Development
Law Practice Group. The lawyers of the firm, based in Indianapolis,
Indiana, deliver an array of legal services to organizations involved
in developing, financing, managing and investing in affordable
housing communities, ranging from community development initiatives
to the structuring and implementation of tax credit transactions
involving historic rehabilitation credits, new markets credits
and low income housing credits.
There are limited job opportunities directly in this area. Housing
agencies are experiencing cutbacks now. Law firm opportunities
exist, but I think that a grounding in other core areas is important.
II. Plusses/challenges of your practice area?
(subquestions: What role do you play? With whom do you interact
in your role?)
Opportunity to improve communities and be paid for such service
is very rewarding. Also can be extremely challenging and subject
to great scrutiny where taxpayer funds are funding the service.
The role is varied. The needs of the client dictate our involvement.
III. Core skills/key knowledge needed in your practice
area? (e.g. Do you need to know a lot about tax and finance to
practice AH&CDL?)
A wide variety of skills is required. We can't be all things to
everyone. As an example, with just one housing authority client,
multiple lawyers have been involved which required skills in the
following areas: labor/employment/ADA related matters; litigation;
real estate; tax; HUD Regulatory issues; real estate finance;
HUD enforcement issues; nonprofit tax and state law issues.
IV. "Social Justice and Economics": Discuss a deal you
have done that has made a difference.
Enabling a homeless shelter for men (where they were previously
sleeping on grates);
forming a coalition of 13 churches in a rural community to sponsor
and develop affordable housing;
forming Youth-Build and Public Housing tenant initiative organizations
to help educate and empower public housing residents.
V. Advice to lawyers and law students interested in your
practice area?
Write, write and keep writing. Stay away from forms as a young
lawyer and think through the practicalities of the transaction.
Read the ABA Journal of Affordable Housing and Community Development
Law.
VI. Career path to current position: How did you get to
where you are today? In hindsight, are there other steps you would
recommend instead?
Hard work and focus have played a huge part of my success. I am
also blessed with a great family as a source of support.
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