Summary of Small Business Clinic Program
The Capital University Law School Small Business Clinic (“Clinic”) was created for two primary reasons. First, it aims to provide a valuable service to the Greater Columbus Community by providing quality pro bono legal services to small businesses (and their owners) and nonprofit organizations that do not have the necessary resources to hire private legal counsel. Second, the Clinic provides third-year law students who have obtained their Legal Intern License from the Supreme Court of Ohio with hands-on experience working with real clients on various business and corporate issues. The Legal Interns work directly with the Clinic’s clients under close supervision of staff attorney Eric R. McLoughlin. Through the Clinic, students are able to apply the legal theories and skills they have learned in the classroom to real world matters, which aids them in their transition from attending Capital University Law School to practicing law in our local communities.
A list of the legal services the Clinic is able to provide to its clients can be found here.
Once the Clinic accepts a new client matter, the client is assigned a third year Capital University Law School student to schedule an initial interview. During the initial interview, the student will gather the client’s background information and any other information necessary to begin moving forward with the client’s matter. Moreover, a formal Engagement Letter will be prepared by the student and delivered to the client. The Engagement Letter will define the scope of the attorney/client relationship between the Clinic and the client. Once this Engagement Letter has been signed by all parties, the Clinic is able to begin work on the client’s matter. Depending on the complexity and cooperation of the client, final work product will vary.
The Clinic expects that its clients to be committed to the attorney-client relationship throughout the course of the Clinic’s representation. Clients demonstrate commitment to the attorney-client relationship by, among other things, thoroughly reviewing letters and other correspondence, returning any and all information requested by the Clinic in a timely fashion, and attending all scheduled meetings.
Although the Clinic does not charge for the legal services it provides, its clients are responsible for all filing fees and other actual expenses incurred in their representation. Whenever possible, the Clinic will provide its clients with an estimate of such expenses when it initially accepts a matter.
The Clinic reserves the right to terminate the attorney-client relationship with any client who does not follow the requirements set forth in the Engagement Letter or with the above stated rules. The Clinic will not act as continuing general counsel for any clients. Instead, the Clinic accepts clients for specific limited legal matters, which will be set forth in the Engagement Letter.