Michelle Drumbl

Michelle Drumbl is a Clinical Professor of Law and Director of the Tax Clinic at Washington and Lee University School of Law. She was appointed Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in 2022 and holds the Robert O. Bentley Professor of Law chair. Her work bridges tax law, social welfare, and human rights through empirical and normative analysis.

Drumbl’s research focuses on equity in tax enforcement, particularly how policies like IRS audits and tax credit denials disproportionately impact vulnerable populations. She employs frameworks such as "stategraft" to examine systemic injustices, including racial disparities in EITC audits and due process concerns in tax bans.

Her 2024 Wisconsin Law Review article analyzes tax enforcement as a human rights issue, emphasizing procedural fairness and racial equity. The Tax Clinic she directs has received 12 consecutive IRS LITC grants (2013–2025), supporting advocacy for low-income taxpayers.

Scientific Awards:

• Faculty Fellowship (2025)
• Robert O. Bentley Professor of Law (2020)
• IRS LITC Grant Leadership (2013–2025)

Drumbl’s research intersects tax policy, social equity, and international legal theory, with a focus on refillable tax credits and state accountability. She has served as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs since 2022.