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Small Business Clinic

The Small Business Clinic provides legal and business services to entrepreneurs and small businesses. Law students work on transactional (i.e. non-litigation) legal matters that are typical in the start-up phase of a business including choice of entity, employment policies, contract drafting, regulatory compliance, and intellectual property issues relating to trademark and copyright. Business students assist clients with general management issues as well as market assessment and direct marketing techniques. The first goal of the clinic is to provide students with practical experience and exposure to operating businesses. The second goal is to assist local entrepreneurs and ultimately act as a catalyst to the economic development of western Massachusetts.

For businesses with well-defined legal issues but which for some reason cannot be served by the Small Business Clinic as a regular client, the Clinic offers Office Hours. In Office Hours, the clinician and students meet with a business person to discuss the legal matter in detail and provide some feedback to help the businessperson get the assistance they need. Although the Clinic cannot perform the legal work necessary to resolve the matter in Office Hours, the interview frequently resolves confusion and helps ensure that the matter will be resolved appropriately.

For businesses who needs are beyond the expertise of the Clinic and whose matters cannot be addressed in Office Hours, the Center provides a Legal Referral Service that facilitates the matching of businesses needing legal services with lawyers who will be willing to provide those services at no cost or at a reduced fee. This matching service reduces search costs for both lawyers looking for pro bono business clients and for businesses seeking legal assistance.

For more information or if you are interested in the Clinic’s servies, please feel free to contact us.