Entrepreneurs in Our Communities

The Entrepreneurs in Our Communities program is a LegalCORPS initiative to make non-litigation business law services more accessible to under-resourced communities throughout Minnesota. We partner with locally focused organizations that have built trusting relationships with their service areas who then refer clients to LegalCORPS when appropriate.

Sound guidance on business law matters is essential to the success of all entrepreneurs, regardless of income. LegalCORPS has an integral role to play in ensuring that entrepreneurs and the small nonprofits who serve our communities, have access to legal assistance even if they cannot afford fee-paying relationships with an attorney. By reducing this critical barrier, our services play a key role in starting, maintaining, and protecting the interests of entrepreneurs and business owners, as well as helping our cultural corridors to thrive.

In addition to free legal advice, such as our Brief Advice Clinics, we offer many educational opportunities to help businesses succeed.

Unfortunately, we are unable to assist individuals who are currently incarcerated.

If you are seeking legal services, click on the Request Assistance button.

Business legal help to low-income entrepreneurs

Video for Spanish-Speakers

El abogado voluntario de LegalCORPS, Inti Martínez-Alemán, nos guiará a través de los pasos para comenzar un negocio en Minnesota en un video completo, que se divide en secciones que abordan temas específicos.

El video completo tiene disponible subtítulos en español. Así mismo, subtítulos en otros idiomas están disponibles a través de la configuración de video de YouTube.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, LegalCORPS assists businesses and nonprofit organizations throughout Minnesota. It is a statewide organization.

The answer will differ for every client, depending on factors that include the nature of the case, attorney availability, the presence of conflicts of interest, and the number of other cases awaiting placement.

LegalCORPS cannot guarantee that a case will be placed but will make a good faith effort to find representation for an eligible client. Some cases may take longer to place than our average week of placement timing.

LegalCORPS does not have ready access to interpreters. We will try to arrange for an interpreter’s services when appropriate.

As part of the legal community, LegalCORPS respects the professional relationships attorneys enter with their clients. If you have worked with an attorney on the same or similar legal issue you are presenting to LegalCORPS, we will notify the attorney and ensure that there is no barrier to LegalCORPS providing representation. We will obtain your permission before contacting the attorney.

LegalCORPS determines a client’s eligibility each time the client applies for assistance. LegalCORPS matches attorneys with clients for each new application. For each attorney-client match LegalCORPS makes, the lawyer and client make a new client representation agreement. It is a good practice to formalize this representation through your own retainers and letters of representation as well.

LegalCORPS understands that attorney-client relationships often build over time and that an attorney and client might want to continue to work together. They certainly can do so through LegalCORPS, if the client meets eligibility criteria. Once a client is no longer eligible for LegalCORPS services, the attorney and client are free to continue their relationship without the involvement of LegalCORPS.

No. Our scope of service does not extend to representing clients in legal disputes, court filings, or lawsuits, including any matters that are or could become the subject of litigation.

If you are currently facing a legal dispute or are involved in a matter that could result in litigation, we advise seeking the guidance of a legal professional who specializes in dispute resolution or court representations.