Business Law Clinic – 7860

Fall 2016
* Multi-semester course

The Business Law Clinic is a two-semester 6-credit experience for 3Ls who have taken Business Associations - Corps.  Students enrolled in the Clinic gain broad experience working with startup businesses and entrepreneurial clients. Through the Business Law Clinic, law students provide for legal assistance in non-litigation matters to small businesses, nonprofits and entrepreneurs.  Clients will work with pairs of law students, meeting at the Law School who team up with experienced, licensed business law and corporate attorneys from area law firms and corporations who provide supervision.  Our Clinic practice closely replicates the practice of business law. 

SERVICES OFFERED:  The Business Law Clinic provides assistance with transactional business matters.   It does not provide assistance with litigation, although providing advice and assistance that could prevent litigation. 

EXAMPLES OF TRANSACTION LEGAL WORK:  Here are examples of legal matters for which student and supervising attorneys can provide advice and/or assistance through the Business Law Clinic:

Choice of business structure (partnership, limited liability company, etc.)
Formation of for-profit and nonprofit organizations
Limited advice on intellectual property (copyright, trademark, trade name, licensing, patents)
Contracts and commercial leases
Limited advice on taxation
Government regulation, licensing and Federal tax and employer identification numbers
Employment
Real estate
Director duties and internal organization
Commercial debtor/creditor rights and options
Independent contractor agreements
Nondisclosure documents
Ownership  distribution, shareholder control agreements

The Clinic’s client referral sources include:

Carlson School of Management's Business Hatchery and Entrepreneurship in Action
Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers
Metropolitan Economic Development Association
Small Business Administration Veterans Services Program
WomenVenture

The course includes up to 55 hours of classroom transactional skills training over two semesters that include review of transactional law, client working relationships, negotiation and drafting, as well as assessments of problem solving and communication styles, and professionalism.  The curriculum also includes segments on client interviewing and an ongoing consideration of professionalism and ethics.  The curriculum encourages students to learn about themselves as practitioners. There are several written assignments and fall and spring end-of-semester reflective papers.

Enrollment is limited to 16 students (3Ls only).

The Business Law Clinic is a program component of the Corporate Institute.Â