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