Karen Hawkins, 2026 Women’s History Month Profile

JD ’79, MBA ’81, LLB ’15, Golden Gate University
Former Director, IRS Office of Professional Responsibility
Attorney, Educator, and Advocate for Ethics in the tax profession

In honor of Women’s History Month, Golden Gate University (GGU) celebrates Karen Lee Hawkins, a respected legal and regulatory leader whose career reflects a deep commitment to professional ethics, public service, and the responsible practice of taxation.

Building a Foundation in Tax Law and Professional Responsibility

Karen Lee Hawkins built her career at the intersection of taxation, regulation, and professional responsibility. After moving to California and pursuing graduate work in education, she enrolled at Golden Gate University School of Law, earning her J.D. in 1979 and later, an MBA in Taxation from the Golden Gate University School of Business in 1981.

While completing her graduate studies, Karen began working in the San Francisco and Oakland offices of Touche Ross & Co. (now Deloitte), gaining her first experience in taxation and financial practice. Like many GGU students, she balanced rigorous academic study with professional work, developing the analytical discipline and practical skills that would define her career and shape a professional path focused on integrity, accountability, and the responsible administration of the tax system.

Leadership in Tax Administration

Karen built a distinguished career in private practice focused on civil and criminal tax controversies. Beginning as a solo practitioner and later as a partner at Taggart & Hawkins, she represented individuals and businesses in complex disputes with the Internal Revenue Service and California tax authorities.

Among the work she values most were the pro bono cases she pursued for women left by their husbands with overwhelming tax debts. Some of these matters continued for years through trial and appeal, drawing national attention and helping clarify protections for taxpayers facing similar circumstances.

Karen also helped establish an early pro bono program assisting unrepresented taxpayers in U.S. Tax Court, creating opportunities for individuals to receive guidance navigating complex proceedings and inspiring similar programs across the country.

In 2009, Karen was appointed Director of the Internal Revenue Service’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), which oversees attorneys, accountants, and other professionals who practice before the IRS. During her six-and-a-half-year tenure, she strengthened professional standards and expanded outreach to the practitioner community, encouraging practitioners to recognize that technical expertise alone was not enough—ethical obligations to clients and to the integrity of the system must remain central to professional practice.

Educating the Tax Profession

Throughout her career, Karen has been deeply engaged in professional education and service. She taught legal research and writing at Golden Gate University and later served as an adjunct professor in the university’s graduate tax program. She has also written extensively on taxation and professional responsibility and spoken frequently at conferences and academic programs nationwide.

Karen has played an active leadership role in professional organizations, particularly within the American Bar Association’s Section of Taxation and the State Bar of California. Her contributions have included committee leadership, policy work, and initiatives aimed at strengthening ethical practice across the profession. In recognition of her decades of service, she received the 2022 Distinguished Service Award from the American Bar Association Section of Taxation, the organization’s highest honor.

A Career Dedicated to Integrity

Karen’s career reflects the essential role ethical leadership plays in maintaining confidence in public institutions. Whether representing taxpayers, mentoring future practitioners, or shaping professional standards within the IRS, her work has consistently focused on fairness, transparency, and responsibility.

Golden Gate University has long prepared students to apply rigorous training to real professional challenges. Karen’s path – from GGU student to national leader in tax administration – shows how education grounded in practice can equip professionals to navigate complex systems, advocate for those who need representation, and strengthen the institutions that serve the public. Her career stands as a powerful example of what a Golden Gate University education can make possible: leadership defined not only by professional achievement, but by a lasting commitment to service and integrity.