SMU Small Business Law Clinic is accepting fall clients

By Robert Miller
The Dallas Morning News

The Small Business Clinic at Southern Methodist University’s Dedman School of Law has begun its fall semester and is accepting clients.

The clinic provides free legal services to new and existing small businesses and nonprofit organizations that can’t afford to pay legal fees. At the same time, SMU student attorneys learn from representing the clients.

Larry Jones, director of the clinic, said the cost of the ongoing clinic is $25 plus incidental state fees.

“Many small businesses have a wide range of legal issues,” Jones said. “Student attorneys will assist small businesses and nonprofit organizations with various legal matters that these entities face.

“Student attorneys will advise clients in the startup of their business and assist in preparing necessary legal documents. Student attorneys will learn how to deal with clients involving transactional business law. Student attorneys will have a hands-on experience of representing clients in a wide variety of business issues,” he said.

“For many of our students, this will be their first time to practice law and have an experience dealing with clients. The Small Business Clinic operates as a law firm and will provide students interested in transactional law with practical skills and training in many areas that are used by lawyers in private practice.

The clinic offers the following services: startup services for nonprofit organizations and small businesses, counseling on the type of entity to form, counseling on organizational structure and operation, help in preparing documents to form a business and help for nonprofit corporations that need to apply for tax-exempt status. The student attorneys can also help small businesses with licensing issues, reviewing leases and other contracts and provide counseling on business plans and compliance with state, local and federal law. They can review legal documents and tax issues, negotiate contracts and provide help with copyright and trademark issues.

To learn more, call the clinic at 214-768-8299.