Small Business Legal Clinic

 

NOTE: Please read carefully as this course description contains differing information depending on the semester of interest (Fall, Spring, Summer).

Small Business Legal Clinic- Professor Susan Felstiner

• Course Type: Highly Specialized & Experiential
• Credits: 4
• Enrollment Limit: 8 students during Fall and Spring semesters, 4 students during Summer Session
• Description:  The Small Business Legal Clinic (SBLC) provides “hands on” legal training to second and third-year law student interns.

Under the supervision of the professor, interns take the lead role in representing low-income small businesses and nonprofit organizations in transactional matters. Many of the SBLC clients are immigrant, women and minority owned businesses, and would not otherwise have access to legal services. By working with clients to achieve their goals, interns promote economic justice and contribute to the sustainable economic development of the community.

Interns represent the client from the first interview to the end of the attorney-client relationship. Interns learn to conduct the initial client interview, problem solve, research client specific issues, draft client documents, counsel clients, create deliverables to meet their clients’ goals, end the representation, and close the file. Transactional lawyering is preventative lawyering. Interns learn to use legal tools to manage business risks. Typical client matters include entity selection and formation, contract drafting, regulatory compliance, corporate and nonprofit governance, trademark and copyright registration, and employee policy drafting.

The SBLC operates as a law firm. Interns bill time and maintain client files. Interns also participate in community outreach events or other public speaking engagements designed to educate and assist small businesses.

The course is a combination of office hours and seminar classes. The seminars cover substantive law as well as practical skills, and provide interns opportunities to discuss their client matters with other interns.

Fall or Spring Semester: Interns work at the SBLC’s downtown office twice a week, on Mondays and Wednesdays, for four hours each session (a total of eight hours per week). Students register for either the morning session, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm on Mondays and Wednesdays, or the afternoon session from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm on Mondays and Wednesdays. Students should register for their preferred office hours. Students also work on average approximately 2 hours per week outside of their office hours on their client work and assignments.

Interns also attend a seminar on Fridays from 9:00am to 11:00am at the law school or other locations determined by the professor.

Orientation will occur during the first week of classes. Orientation provides the information and skills training necessary for interns to meet their first client as soon as possible. Attendance at Orientation is mandatory.

NOTE: The SBLC strives to be accessible to all students, including evening students. If a student has a conflict with the set office hour schedules, please contact the professor. Alternative office hour schedules may be allowed on a case-by-case basis.

Please note that parking downtown is expensive. Street parking near the office is only for 2 hours. Parking for four hours or more in most downtown lots costs $12 to $13. Parking costs add up. For example: $12/day x 2 days/week x 13 weeks = $312. We encourage students to take public transportation, bike, or carpool.

Summer Session: Interns work in the SBLC’s downtown offices four days a week from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm, with a half-hour break for lunch. Interns typically work Monday through Thursday. The week of Memorial Day, interns work Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. During these hours, interns and the professor also meet for seminars.

• Enrollment: Students register for the SBLC as they would for any other class. The SBLC does not have an application process. The SBLC is a popular class with limited enrollment. Early registration is encouraged. Since attendance is mandatory, students should select a schedule that will permit regular and timely attendance. The Registrar will maintain a waitlist for each section.
• Evaluation Method: Credit/no credit, based on adherence to the Oregon Rules of Professional Conduct and clinic rules, attendance, diligence in client representation, preparation for client meetings, organization and clarity of written work, professional decorum towards SBLC staff, fellow interns, and clients, preparation for and participation in seminars, and maintenance of client files and time records.
• Additional Information: The SBLC website has additional information about the SBLC., https://law.lclark.edu/centers/small_business_legal_clinic/. The SBLC’s address is 333 SW 5 ^th Ave, Suite 400, Portland OR 97204.
• Prerequisite: Business Associations I (may be waived with professor approval)
• Capstone: no
• WIE: yes