The Economic Justice team runs the Legal Services for Entrepreneurs (LSE). Which provides free legal services to low-income individuals who want to start or develop businesses; businesses committed to investing in economically distressed communities, including hiring people with arrest and conviction records; and mom and pop shops located in areas where gentrification is a force for displacement.

Need business law advice? We can help!

We serve Bay Area clients that are:

Low-income individuals
Located in low-income communities; and/or

VLA LEGAL FELLOWSHIPS
Legal Fellowships at VLA are available to recent law school graduates and deferred associates who can secure independent fellowship funding. VLA’s Legal Fellows interact daily with clients and gain hands-on experience analyzing, interpreting, and counseling members of New York’s arts community on legal issues pertaining to various areas of law, including intellectual property, contract, and non-profit and for-profit corporate matters.

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

Employer ID Numbers
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is also known as a Federal Tax Identification Number, and is used to identify a business entity. Generally, businesses need an EIN. You may apply for an EIN in various ways, and now you may apply online. This is a free service offered by the Internal Revenue Service and you can get your EIN immediately. You must check with your state to make sure you need a state number or charter.

The Nonprofit & Small Business Clinic provides free corporate legal services to nonprofit organizations and small businesses throughout New York City.

The New York City Bar Lawyer Referral Service helps you, determine whether or not you need a lawyer, free of charge. They will either refer you to a screened and qualified lawyer, or refer you to other helpful, cost-effective resources.

The City Bar Justice Center’s Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project (NELP) provides free legal support to microentrepreneurs of limited economic means who seek to achieve financial stability through entrepreneurship.

For those operating or planning to create a non-profit working to improve life in New York City’s disadvantaged communities

For those looking for more general information on where to find legal aid in New York State.

LawHelpCA.org serves California as the only statewide resource for easy access to self-help information on legal problems and referrals to local legal aid providers and pro bono assistance.