Creighton University Offers Law Clinic for Business Owners

The Community Economic Development (CED) Clinic is offered through the Creighton University School of Law with major financial support from the U.S. Departments of Agri¬culture and Commerce. Senior Creighton law students working under the supervision of a CED Clinic attorney advise and represent small businesses and entrepreneurs across Nebraska.

The students gain valuable hands-on experience in issues affecting small businesses, while people looking to start or maintain a small business who would be hard-pressed to pay for an attorney get first-rate legal representation free of charge. The CED Clinic also offers community education events addressing small business issues.

The CED Clinic is designed to supplement the services that organizations such as the Center for Rural Affairs and REAP offer to small business people with legal advice and representation. It assists both startup and ongoing businesses. Services include:

• Pros and cons, including tax consequences, of various business entities: sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, corporation.

• Creation of a business entity through preparation of organizational documents such as articles of incorporation or organization, legal notices, bylaws, etc.

• Employment law, employee/independent contractor issues, tax withholding requirements for employees.

• Trademark and intellectual property. (The Clinic cannot represent clients seeking to obtain a patent.)
  Legal formalities essential to maintain a given form of business entity such as a corporation.

• Community education presentations in coordination with organizations such as REAP.
  
  The CED Clinic does not apply hard and fast income or asset limitations. Their goal is to help people for whom the cost of an attorney is a substantial hurdle in their efforts to start or maintain a business.
  
  REAP clients needing services can call Milo Alexander, Director of the Community Economic Development Clinic at 402.280.3068 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Central time Monday through Friday. Several general questions will be asked about the client’s situation. The Clinic will then notify the client in writing whether the case is accepted or not.