Victor Adeniran joined HVL as a Dechert Fellow in October 2024. Read about his fellowship experience below. 
Victor Adeniran – Dechert Fellow at Houston Volunteer Lawyers (HVL)
I am honored to be a Dechert Fellow with Houston Volunteer Lawyers. I voluntarily chose to defer my first year at Dechert because I deeply believe in giving back and serving my community. Prior to and during law school, I worked as a Licensed Professional Counselor, which shaped my commitment to public service. I was thrilled when Dechert offered me the opportunity to serve through a fellowship/secondment at a location of my choice.
My wife and I are originally from Houston, and we still have family in the area, which has made this experience even more meaningful. It has been a wonderful opportunity for our children to spend time with their grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
I am currently completing my LL.M. in Taxation, which has been incredibly useful in my work with HVL’s Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC). As the lead attorney in the clinic, I have helped clients save tens of thousands of dollars in taxes and provided meaningful, practical advice. I have also been involved in our Naturalization (Immigration) practice. Over the past three months, I stepped up as one of the primary naturalization attorneys while some colleagues were on leave. I have especially enjoyed being able to use my Spanish language skills to serve both our Spanish-speaking tax clients and our many Spanish-speaking naturalization clients.
Looking ahead, I am excited to return to Dechert as a Transactional Associate in Fall 2025. I am particularly interested in working in Finance, Real Estate, Tax, and Corporate law. Dechert is notably committed to pro bono work, which I greatly appreciate. It is truly a blessing that they provide funding for associates like myself to gain real-world experience while expanding access to legal services. It is no surprise that Dechert frequently receives recognition for its pro bono efforts.
Q: What drew you to HVL?
I chose HVL from among various pro bono organizations because I appreciated the opportunity to work across multiple practice areas—Tax, Trusts and Estates, and Immigration—under one organization. During my time as a Summer Associate with Dechert in Philadelphia, I volunteered with a similar agency and found the experience deeply rewarding.
Q: What is the most impactful case you’ve worked on at HVL or your favorite client success story?
One of my favorite moments was attending my first Tax Court session through HVL alongside the other lead tax attorney. We were able to help a client right on the spot. I had the opportunity to speak before the Honorable Judge Carluzzo, then negotiate directly with the IRS in court and later through a settlement conference. Within one week, we helped reduce the client’s tax liability from $10,000 to zero!
Q: What skills have you gained through your work with HVL?
I have gained valuable experience with the naturalization process by helping about two dozen clients apply for citizenship. I have also significantly expanded my practical tax law skills through hands-on work in our LITC.
Q: How has your perspective on access to justice changed since working with HVL?
Working with HVL has reinforced how vital the access to legal services can be for underserved communities. It has shown me firsthand how effective advocacy can dramatically change people’s lives and remove significant burdens.
