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Entrepreneurship Law Clinic

B561 is taught by M. Need

The Elmore Entrepreneurship Law Clinic is designed to provide students the unique opportunity to work on actual business formation, planning, and strategy issues in a multidisciplinary setting. Students interested in general transactional law practice, advising entrepreneurs, or becoming entrepreneurs are typical candidates for participation in the Clinic.

The Clinic operates like a small law firm that extends its services into advice at the intersection of law and business, with Clinic interns working under the supervision of the Clinic Director, providing legal and business consulting to a variety of early-stage companies. Client projects vary widely, but frequently include advising clients on appropriate business form; drafting necessary formation documents; obtaining permits and licenses; negotiating contracts and leases; and providing business planning advice. Students often have opportunities to review and provide feedback on the business plans of actual startups.

Clinic interns meet with the Director in groups or individually to review project status and to discuss experiences and concerns. Clinic interns also attend a two-hour class each week. The course surveys typical legal issues affecting entrepreneurial enterprises, including choice of entity issues; ownership and governance issues; employment issues; operational liabilities and insurance issues; financing issues; and employment issues.

Strongly suggested prerequisites for participation in the Clinic include Corporations, Corporate Taxation, and Business Planning, or equivalent preparations as determined by the Director. The course is open to 3Ls and to JD+MBAs in their final year. Enrollment in the clinic is limited, so students must, prior to the start of registration, submit a current resume and a brief statement of interest to the Director by email. The Director will approve those students that will be enrolled in the clinic before registration begins.