October 30, 2015

Clinic: Small Business Legal Clinic 792-S1

Law-792

Professor: Susan Felstiner
Offered:  Summer Session I

Credits: 3

Room: Downtown, 310 SW Fourth Ave, Suite 1018, Portland, Oregon 97204
Exam: No Exam

Class size limit: 4 student interns

 

Class Meeting Times:  9:00am to 3:30pm, with a half hour break for lunch  

Class Meeting Days:

Week 1:  Tuesday May 31 – Friday, June 3

Weeks 2-5:  Monday - Thursday

The Small Business Legal Clinic (SBLC) provides valuable “hands-on” legal training to second and third-year law student interns. Under the supervision of experienced attorneys, interns take the lead role in the representation of low-income, small, and emerging businesses and not for profit organizations. Interns learn to conduct the initial client interview, problem solve, research client specific issues, draft contracts and other client documents, counsel clients, and close the file. Typical client matters include entity selection and formation, contract drafting, trademark registration, regulatory compliance, corporate and not for profit governance and employee policy drafting.  The SBLC operates as a law firm. Interns learn to bill their time and properly document client files. Interns also participate in community outreach events or other public speaking engagements designed to educate and assist small businesses. 

The Small Business Legal Clinic is a 3 credit, Pass/No Pass course, with no final examination or paper requirement. It is offered only during Summer Session I. Interns must work in the SBLC’s downtown offices 26 hours per week, from 9:00am to 3:30pm. Interns and the clinical professor meet weekly for a seminar to discuss substantive legal issues relating to the client matters. Outside reading, written exercises or other preparation is required.

Interns are evaluated on attendance at and performance in the weekly 26 hour clinical practicum. Since interns participate in the representation of clients, regular attendance at scheduled times is mandatory. Additional information about the SBLC can be found on the SBLC website.

Meeting Times.

Summer Session I.  The SBLC meets from 9:00am to 3:30pm on the following days, with a half-hour break for lunch:

Week 1:  Tuesday May 31 – Friday, June 3

Weeks 2-5:  Monday - Thursday

Seminar sessions take place during meeting times.

The SBLC’s street address is 310 SW Fourth Ave, Suite 1018, Portland, Oregon 97204 (downtown Portland).

Participation in the SBLC does not qualify for the professional responsibility requirement.

Interns may qualify for the WIE writing requirement with prior written permission from the clinical law professor.

Prerequisite / Co-requisite: Business Associations I

 

The American Bar Association accreditation standards require students to regularly attend the courses in which they are registered. Lewis & Clark expects students to attend classes regularly and to prepare for classes conscientiously. Specific attendance requirements may vary from course to course. Any attendance guidelines for a given class must be provided to students in a syllabus or other written document at the start of the semester. Sanctions (e.g., required withdrawal from the course, grade adjustment, and/or a failing grade) will be imposed for poor attendance.