Business Law Pro Bono Project
Contact: Machiko Sano Hewitt
msanohewitt@lawyersclearinghouse.org
In fall of 2001, the Clearinghouse began administering the Boston Bar Association’s Business Law Pro Bono Project (BLP). The project was designed to bring more pro bono opportunities to business and transactional attorneys. While many pro bono projects target litigators to take on pro bono cases in the traditional poverty law areas, limited opportunities exist for non-litigators who want to provide pro bono legal assistance in their areas of expertise. This BBA project addresses this lack of opportunity by matching business attorneys with nonprofit organizations in need of assistance with corporate or business related legal needs.
In order to be eligible for pro bono legal assistance, the organization should:
- be nonprofit or seek to establish nonprofit status, and
- provide services to low or moderate income people, or
- serve a compelling community need, and
- be unable to afford legal services or demonstrate that the cost of obtaining assistance would adversely affect their ability to fulfill their mission.
In the event that a groups seeks assistance with nonprofit incorporation, attendance at a workshop on the subject will be required. A fee of $20.00 per person will be charged ($50 for three). There is a $75.00 - $150.00 administrative fee for successful placement of each case with the volunteer attorney.
The program serves only organizations that do not have access to existing pro bono providers in their areas of operation. To apply for assistance, clients can contact the Clearinghouse for an application. Once a request is received, most organizations are matched with an attorney within two weeks.
