Pro bono attorneys meet with entrepreneurs for 30-minute one-on-one sessions to respond to questions entrepreneurs have as they start new businesses or grow existing ones. At the clinics, the entrepreneur signs a waiver agreeing that an attorney client relationship is not created.

Typically, four to eight attorneys participate in the clinics. Attorneys can meet with as many entrepreneurs as their schedules can accommodate. If the attorney determines that an entrepreneur requires additional legal assistance, the attorney may volunteer to take on the matter, but this is not required. If the attorney does not take the matter, LCR will attempt to place the matter with one of our participating attorneys as described below.

• Issues commonly addressed at clinics include choice of legal entity, leases, contracts, employment, copyright and other intellectual property issues.
• Each clinic is staffed by corporate associates from our member law firms. A model that has been successful in the past has been to have a partner from the firm attend as a supervising attorney.

Attorneys may agree to represent individual entrepreneurs on discrete business law matters on a pro bono basis. If an attorney accepts the entrepreneur as a client, the attorney and client discuss the client’s particular legal issue(s) and the attorney sets these discrete issues out in an engagement letter. The representation is then limited to the resolution of these discrete legal needs.

Pro bono attorneys can work with LCR to develop curricula and conduct legal workshops to classes of entrepreneurs at collaborating community organizations on legal topics relevant to small business owners.

LCR sponsors workshops in languages other than English, as the needs of particular communities demand, and is always looking for attorneys who are comfortable conducting workshops in other languages.

LCR also uses the service of pro bono attorneys to train staff members at collaborating organizations who work with entrepreneurs to educate them on legal issues entrepreneurs confront in the formation and operation of their businesses.

Pro bono opportunities are not limited to this list. LCR welcomes new suggestions for volunteer opportunities from corporate attorneys who have ideas related to their specific areas of expertise.

Please contact office@lawyersforcivilrights.org for more information on how your community organization can partner with LCR.

LCR offers internships in the summer and during academic semesters. In addition, internships are possible with any of our projects, such as BizGrow. Interns work part-time or full-time, often for academic credit. During the summer, we accept applications only from law students and law school graduates.

We are currently accepting applications for the 2023 Brown Rudnick Summer Fellowship at LCR.

For information about sponsorship opportunities for fellowships or if you are interested in applying for an internship, please send an email with your resume and cover letter to: employment@lawyersforcivilrights.org