Law Clinics

Entrepreneurship & Nonprofit Clinic Course Information

The Entrepreneurship & Nonprofit Clinic (E-Clinic) provides pro bono, transactional legal services to small businesses, start-ups and entrepreneurs, nonprofit organizations, social enterprises, community development organizations, and authors, artists, and musicians in both urban and rural counties of Alabama. The E-Clinic is particularly committed to working with clients who seek to enhance the social fabric, physical infrastructure, and economic health and well-being of urban, working class, rural, and underserved communities in Alabama, as well as supporting businesses and organizations owned and operated by traditionally underrepresented groups. Student Attorneys produce all aspects of the representation and work under the supervision of Assistant Professor and Clinic Director Casey Faucon and a Staff Attorney.

There is no fee for the services, but clients are responsible for all administrative fees and other expenses associated with the representation, such as state filing or licensing fees. Some income restriction preferences may apply.

Organization Name: Entrepreneurship & Nonprofit Clinic—The University of Alabama School of Law

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 870392, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0392

Physical Address: The University of Alabama School of Law, 101 Paul W. Bryant Drive East,

Tuscaloosa, AL 35401

Phone Number: (205) 348-4960

Are you a non-profit? Yes

Do you accept donations? Yes, through the University of Alabama Law School Foundation

Are donations tax-deductible? Yes

Brief Description of Services Provided: The E-Clinic provides the full suite of transactional legal services to new and existing organizations, including but not limited to:

• Pre-venture counseling to founders and co-founders
  • Co-founder agreements
  • Pre-formation structuring
  • Capitalization advice
• Choice of entity counseling and drafting of organizational and operational documents
  • Choice of entity counseling (sole proprietorship, partnership, joint venture, corporation, limited liability company, benefit corporation, and non-profit association or corporation)
  • Formation and governance documents (articles of incorporation, partnership agreements, bylaws, and operating agreements)
• Strategizing, negotiating, and drafting agreements
  • Project partner agreements or memoranda of understanding
  • Customer agreements
  • Vendor agreements and supplier contracts
  • Commercial leases
  • Financial documents
• Employee management counseling
  • Employee manuals and contracts
  • Independent contractor agreements
  • Incentive compensation schemes
  • Labor compliance and reporting issues
  • Non-compete and non-solicitation counseling
• Intellectual property counseling
  • Trademark and logo counseling and registration
  • Copyright counseling and registration
  • Licensing agreements
  • Non-disclosure agreements
• Regulatory Compliance and risk management (excluding tax advice and preparing tax forms)
  • Business licenses, if applicable
  • Insurance and liability protection advice
  • Governmental agency and regulatory compliance, such as labeling, FDA, OSHA, and SEC compliance
• Nonprofit counseling and board governance training
  • Applications for tax-exempt status
  • Board governance training
  • Fiscal sponsorship agreements
  • Charitable donations registration
• Counseling to artists and musicians
  • Intellectual property protection
  • Publicity contracts
  • Commission contracts
  • Licensing agreements

In addition, the E-Clinic will also potentially provide policy work assistance to the E-Clinic’s nonprofit or community development organization clients, as well as provide community education workshops on substantive law issues pertinent to the E-Clinic’s practice areas.

The E-Clinic does not write business plans, prepare income tax returns, prosecute patents, or provide assistance with initiating or defending litigation or business disputes.

Program Description: The University of Alabama School of Law’s Entrepreneurship & Nonprofit Clinic provides legal advice, counseling, and representation on non-litigation, transactional matters to small businesses, start-ups and entrepreneurs, nonprofit organizations, social enterprises, community development organizations, and authors, artists, and musicians throughout urban and rural counties in Alabama.

Submit an online request for legal services form to the Entrepreneurship & Nonprofit Clinic