Student application process

3 credits
Graded
Fall/Spring Semester
8 Third Year Students/Semester

The mission of the Small Business Clinic ("SBC") is to teach our students the skills necessary to excel in the practice of law by providing each student with intensive training and practical experience representing real clients in a simulated law firm environment.

During the course of a semester, each SBC student is assigned two or three clients. Under the direct supervision of practicing business attorneys Jill Fetherstonhaugh and Katherine Moyer, students work with real businesses on their actual legal needs. The clinic students are responsible for scheduling an initial meeting with each client, drafting a limited engagement letter, completing all legal documents, and scheduling a final meeting with the client in which the student presents and explains all legal work completed for the client. Additionally, each SBC student is required to attend a weekly SBC seminar that addresses the practice of transactional corporate law, ethical issues, pragmatic skills, such as drafting, interviewing and counseling clients, understanding the business of operating a law practice and working effectively with staff and supervising attorneys.

Prerequisites
Business Associations 1 and Federal Tax 1

Suggested courses (but not requirements) Tax 2, Business Associations 2, Accounting for Lawyers, Business Planning

Skills Requirement
The Small Business Clinic qualifies for the graduation skills requirement.

Eligibility
Students must be third-year students in good academic standing. Students who are interested in participating in the Small Business Clinic will be chosen through an interview process. Eight students and two alternates will be selected per semester.

Course Expectations

• Attend and actively participate in weekly seminars held Wednesday evenings from 5 to 7 p.m.
• Maintain a minimum of three (3) office hours per week. This time should be during normal SBC office hours (i.e. 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday)
• Plan to work on SBC matters, an average of seven (7) hours per week over a fifteen (15) week period (i.e., a minimum of 105 hours.)

Application Process
Submit a cover letter (250 words or less) and a resume to Laurie Strother, Administrative Coordinator of the Small Business Clinic.

Please indicate if you are in the top 25%, 50%, or lower percentile. GPAs are not required. The Small Business Clinic is located in Suite 220. Resumes will be reviewed and selected students will be scheduled for an interview.

Questions
Please contact Laurie Strother by email or call 346-0037.