UMKC Entrepreneurial Legal UMKC Entrepreneurial Legal Services ClinicServices Clinic
MISSIONMISSION
Assist business-start-up owners with Assist business-start-up owners with company formation services, and to company formation services, and to train students to render high-quality train students to render high-quality legal serviceslegal services
UMKC ELS ClinicUMKC ELS Clinic
Coursework requirementsCoursework requirements
Business OrganizationsBusiness Organizations
Federal TaxationFederal Taxation
(both required for graduation)(both required for graduation)
Business Planning (recommended)Business Planning (recommended)
UMKC ELS ClinicUMKC ELS Clinic
Promotes Pro Bono tradition:Promotes Pro Bono tradition: Assist low-income entrepreneursAssist low-income entrepreneurs Form non-profit organizations and Form non-profit organizations and
prepare tax-exempt applicationprepare tax-exempt application Draft co-ownership agreements Draft co-ownership agreements
among multiple ownersamong multiple owners
UMKC ELS ClinicUMKC ELS Clinic
Assist low-income entrepreneursAssist low-income entrepreneurs 80% of median US income80% of median US income Cannot afford legal feesCannot afford legal fees
UMKC ELS ClinicUMKC ELS Clinic
Practical SkillsPractical Skills Interview clientsInterview clients Marshall the factsMarshall the facts Educate clients to understand Educate clients to understand
choices and consequenceschoices and consequences Choice of entity analysisChoice of entity analysis Draft formation documentsDraft formation documents Prepare “owner’s manual”Prepare “owner’s manual”
UMKC ELS ClinicUMKC ELS Clinic
Advice about general business Advice about general business operations:operations:
InsuranceInsurance Income, self-employment, and sales Income, self-employment, and sales
taxestaxes Local regulationsLocal regulations Name selection and trademarkName selection and trademark Entity maintenanceEntity maintenance
UMKC ELS ClinicUMKC ELS Clinic
PROMOTES PRO BONO SERVICE:PROMOTES PRO BONO SERVICE: Appreciate challenges of low-Appreciate challenges of low-
moderate self-employed business moderate self-employed business peoplepeople
Will continue to serve them after Will continue to serve them after graduationgraduation
Clients build wealth and become Clients build wealth and become paying clientspaying clients
UMKC ELS ClinicUMKC ELS Clinic
Form non-profit organizations and Form non-profit organizations and prepare tax-exempt applicationprepare tax-exempt application
Practical Skills: interview, marshall, Practical Skills: interview, marshall, educate, analyze choice, draft educate, analyze choice, draft documentsdocuments
UMKC ELS ClinicUMKC ELS Clinic
AlsoAlso Discuss non-profit program Discuss non-profit program
implementationimplementation Draft organizational documents Draft organizational documents
(articles, by-laws, minutes, conflicts (articles, by-laws, minutes, conflicts policy, SS4) policy, SS4)
Prepare application form 1023Prepare application form 1023 Maintenance memoMaintenance memo
UMKC ELS ClinicUMKC ELS Clinic
Learn non-profit organizations Learn non-profit organizations operation and compliance necessary operation and compliance necessary for acquiring and maintaining tax-for acquiring and maintaining tax-exempt statusexempt status
UMKC ELS ClinicUMKC ELS Clinic
PROMOTES PRO BONO SERVICEPROMOTES PRO BONO SERVICE Not only encourages assistance of Not only encourages assistance of
non-profits as attorneys but also non-profits as attorneys but also expands their education and expands their education and promotes board servicepromotes board service
Gives transactional practitioners a Gives transactional practitioners a way to provide pro bono serviceway to provide pro bono service
UMKC ELS ClinicUMKC ELS Clinic
Draft co-ownership agreements among Draft co-ownership agreements among multiple ownersmultiple owners
Practical Skills: interview, marshall, Practical Skills: interview, marshall, educate, analyze choice, draft educate, analyze choice, draft documentsdocuments
Learn to fit the “form to the business Learn to fit the “form to the business deal” (not the deal to the form)deal” (not the deal to the form)
UMKC ELS ClinicUMKC ELS Clinic
Educate clients about complex Educate clients about complex options (buy-sell, elective tax options (buy-sell, elective tax treatment, management structure)treatment, management structure)
Draft documents faithfully reciting Draft documents faithfully reciting clients’ desiresclients’ desires
UMKC ELS ClinicUMKC ELS Clinic
PROMOTES PRO BONO SERVICEPROMOTES PRO BONO SERVICE Students see promise in assisting Students see promise in assisting
non-paying clients who may later non-paying clients who may later become paying clientsbecome paying clients
Assist capital-strapped entrepreneurs Assist capital-strapped entrepreneurs who cannot afford feeswho cannot afford fees
UMKC ELS ClinicUMKC ELS Clinic
Clients avoid problems of poor Clients avoid problems of poor organization and planningorganization and planning
Better position to attract venture Better position to attract venture capitalcapital
Adds to economic developmentAdds to economic development
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