Free legal help for nonprofits and low-income owners of small businesses

LegalCORPS unites business law and social justice. It expands access to the legal system for grassroots entrepreneurs – both native-born and immigrant – striving to achieve a real stake in the American dream, and to nonprofits laboring to build and enhance communities in Minnesota.

The legal assistance serves as "preventive medicine" to avoid potentially disastrous problems. The clients served are like:

* the woman who retires from the U.S. Air Force to spend more time with her growing family and – so she can help her family makes ends meet – starts building a service to assist senior citizens and others with limited mobility with errands;

* the East African immigrant opening a dollar store in northeast Minneapolis, putting his experience to work here to be “self-dependent for my income;”

* the young nonprofit working for social and racial justice, economic development and employment opportunities, housing and education – which needs an employee handbook before it makes its first hire;

* the worker dislocated from a longtime job who must transform his woodworking and carving skills into an enterprise that can sustain himself and his household.

In calendar year 2010, LegalCORPS assisted in 618 client matters; in 2009, 503; in 2008, 418; in 2007. Connecting volunteer lawyers with pro bono clients requires administration, which needs financial support.

LegalCORPS has just launched the nation's first patent law pro bono program (our Inventor Assistance Program). It also is developing a regular schedule of brief-advice business law clinics conducted long-distance by video conference, to assist more people throughout Minnesota.